The E.W. Scripps Company has entered into an agreement with the ABC television network to extend the affiliation of six Scripps stations with ABC through Jan. 31, 2015.
The stations involved are WXYZ (Detroit, the country’s 11th-largest market), KNXV (Phoenix, market rank #12), WFTS (Tampa, market rank #14), WEWS (Cleveland, market rank #18), WMAR (Baltimore, market rank #27), and WCPO (Cincinnati, market rank #33). The ABC stations in the Scripps television division cover approximately 8 percent of U.S. households.
The previous long-term affiliation agreement ended on Jan. 31, 2010. The stations had continued operating as ABC affiliates through short-term extensions since that date.
“I’m pleased that we’re able to continue the productive relationship we’ve had with ABC for many more years,” said Brian Lawlor, senior vice president of the Scripps television station group. “This new agreement reflects our shared belief in the power of a high-quality national programming provider combined with local affiliates that have trusted news brands and strong influence in their communities.”
The new agreement includes a license fee paid by Scripps to ABC for the network’s programming. Since the expiration of the affiliation agreement on January 31, the company has been accruing network programming expenses at a rate that is consistent with the new agreement.
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse, 132-year-old media enterprise with interests in television stations, newspapers, local news and information Web sites, and feature syndication. For a full listing of Scripps media companies and their associated Web sites, visit https://www.scripps.com/.