Gray Media and Scripps Agree to Swap Television Stations
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) and The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) have announced a strategic television station swap across five markets. Gray will acquire Scripps' WSYM (Fox) in Lansing, Michigan and KATC (ABC) in Lafayette, Louisiana. In exchange, Scripps will receive Gray's stations in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and Twin Falls.
The transaction involves an even exchange of comparable assets with no cash consideration. Both companies expect to create new duopolies and strengthen their regional presence. The deal is anticipated to close in Q4 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Gray plans to expand news staff and increase live local newscasts at its newly acquired stations, while Scripps aims to enhance local sports and news coverage in its growth markets.
[ "Creation of new duopolies strengthening market presence for both companies", "No cash consideration required due to even exchange of comparable assets", "Gray plans to expand news staff and increase local news coverage", "Strategic geographic consolidation for both companies in their strong regions", "Potential operational efficiencies through market scale improvements" ]Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) e The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) hanno annunciato uno scambio strategico di stazioni televisive in cinque mercati. Gray acquisirà la WSYM (Fox) di Scripps a Lansing, Michigan, e la KATC (ABC) a Lafayette, Louisiana. In cambio, Scripps riceverà le stazioni di Gray a Colorado Springs, Grand Junction e Twin Falls.
L’operazione prevede uno scambio paritario di asset comparabili senza alcun esborso in denaro. Entrambe le società prevedono di creare nuovi duopoli e rafforzare la loro presenza regionale. L’accordo dovrebbe concludersi nel quarto trimestre del 2025, salvo approvazioni regolamentari. Gray intende ampliare il personale di news e aumentare i telegiornali locali in diretta nelle stazioni acquisite, mentre Scripps mira a potenziare la copertura di sport locali e notizie nei mercati in crescita.
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) y The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) han anunciado un intercambio estratégico de estaciones de televisión en cinco mercados. Gray adquirirá la WSYM (Fox) de Scripps en Lansing, Michigan, y la KATC (ABC) en Lafayette, Louisiana. A cambio, Scripps recibirá las estaciones de Gray en Colorado Springs, Grand Junction y Twin Falls.
La transacción implica un intercambio equitativo de activos comparables sin consideración en efectivo. Ambas compañÃas esperan crear nuevos duopolios y fortalecer su presencia regional. Se anticipa que el acuerdo se cierre en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, sujeto a aprobaciones regulatorias. Gray planea ampliar su equipo de noticias y aumentar las emisiones locales en vivo en las estaciones recién adquiridas, mientras que Scripps busca mejorar la cobertura deportiva local y de noticias en sus mercados en crecimiento.
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN)ì™¶Ä The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP)ê°€ 다섯 ê°� 시장ì—서 ì „ëžµì ì¸ ë°©ì†¡êµ� êµí™˜ì� 발표했습니다. GrayëŠ� Lansing, Michiganì—� 있는 Scrippsì� WSYM (Fox)ì™¶Ä Lafayette, Louisianaì—� 있는 KATC (ABC)ë¥� ì¸ìˆ˜í•©ë‹ˆë‹�. ê·� 대가ë¡� ScrippsëŠ� Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Twin Fallsì—� 있는 Grayì� 방송êµì„ 받게 ë©ë‹ˆë‹�.
ì´ë²ˆ 거래ëŠ� ë™ë“±í•� ìžì‚° êµí™˜ìœ¼ë¡œ 현금 ì§€ê¸� ì—†ì´ ì´ë£¨ì–´ì§‘니다. 양사ëŠ� 새로ìš� 듀오í´ë¦¬ë¥¼ ì°½ì¶œí•˜ê³ ì§€ì—� ë‚� ìž…ì§€ë¥� ê°•í™”í•� 것으ë¡� 기대합니ë‹�. 거래ëŠ� ê·œì œ ìŠ¹ì¸ ì™„ë£Œ í›� 2025ë…� 4분기ì—� 마무리ë ì˜ˆì •ìž…ë‹ˆë‹�. GrayëŠ� ì¸ìˆ˜í•� 방송êµì—ì„� 뉴스 ì¸ë ¥ì� í™•ì¶©í•˜ê³ ìƒë°©ì†� ì§€ì—� 뉴스 편성ì� 늘릴 계íšì´ë©°, ScrippsëŠ� 성장 ì¤‘ì¸ ì‹œìž¥ì—서 ì§€ì—� 스í¬ì¸� ë°� 뉴스 ë³´ë„ë¥� ê°•í™”í•� ì˜ˆì •ìž…ë‹ˆë‹�.
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) et The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) ont annoncé un échange stratégique de stations de télévision sur cinq marchés. Gray acquerra les stations WSYM (Fox) à Lansing, Michigan, et KATC (ABC) à Lafayette, Louisiane, appartenant à Scripps. En échange, Scripps recevra les stations de Gray situées à Colorado Springs, Grand Junction et Twin Falls.
Cette transaction implique un échange équitable d'actifs comparables sans contrepartie financière. Les deux sociétés prévoient de créer de nouveaux duopoles et de renforcer leur présence régionale. La clôture de l’accord est prévue pour le quatrième trimestre 2025, sous réserve des approbations réglementaires. Gray prévoit d’augmenter ses effectifs de journalistes et d’intensifier les bulletins d’information locaux en direct dans ses nouvelles stations, tandis que Scripps vise à améliorer la couverture locale des sports et de l’actualité dans ses marchés en croissance.
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) und The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) haben einen strategischen Tausch von Fernsehsendern in fünf Märkten angekündigt. Gray wird WSYM (Fox) in Lansing, Michigan, und KATC (ABC) in Lafayette, Louisiana von Scripps übernehmen. Im Gegenzug erhält Scripps die Sender von Gray in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction und Twin Falls.
Die Transaktion beinhaltet einen gleichen Austausch vergleichbarer Vermögenswerte ohne Barzahlung. Beide Unternehmen erwarten, neue Duopole zu schaffen und ihre regionale Präsenz zu stärken. Der Abschluss der Vereinbarung wird für das 4. Quartal 2025 erwartet, vorbehaltlich behördlicher Genehmigungen. Gray plant, das Nachrichtenteam zu erweitern und die lokalen Live-Nachrichtensendungen bei den neu erworbenen Sendern zu erhöhen, während Scripps die lokale Sport- und Nachrichtenberichterstattung in seinen Wachstumsregionen verbessern möchte.
- None.
- Regulatory approvals required, including waivers of local ownership restrictions
- Transaction completion dependent on multiple stakeholder approvals
- Integration risks associated with station ownership transitions
Insights
Gray and Scripps swap TV stations to create strategic duopolies, strengthening regional presence without cash changing hands.
Gray Media and Scripps have orchestrated a strategic station swap that creates valuable duopolies in five markets without requiring cash consideration from either party. This asset-for-asset transaction represents a creative approach to market consolidation despite regulatory constraints.
Gray will acquire Scripps' Fox affiliate in Lansing, Michigan (DMA 113) and ABC affiliate in Lafayette, Louisiana (DMA 125). These acquisitions strategically complement Gray's existing NBC station in Lansing and strengthen its Southeast regional footprint where it already operates stations throughout Louisiana.
Meanwhile, Scripps gains three stations from Gray: a CBS affiliate in Colorado Springs (DMA 86), where it already owns an NBC station; and stations in Grand Junction, Colorado and Twin Falls, Idaho, bolstering its western regional cluster spanning seven states.
The transaction's structure is particularly noteworthy. By exchanging comparable assets rather than purchasing them outright, both companies avoid capital expenditures while still achieving geographic clustering benefits. This approach reflects the challenging economics facing local broadcasters and their creative solutions to build sustainable operations.
Both companies explicitly stated their intention to expand news coverage and staffing following the transactions, signaling their commitment to leveraging these new duopolies to enhance local content production. However, the deal requires regulatory approval including waivers of certain local ownership restrictions that the companies describe as "outdated" given today's competitive media landscape.
The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025, creating stronger regional clusters for both broadcasters while preserving their ability to produce local news and sports programming amid intensifying competition from digital platforms.
The local broadcasters anticipate these transactions will give them the market scale and depth to strengthen their financial durability, in turn allowing them to preserve and deepen public service to their communities with essential local news and sports programming.
Gray will acquire Scripps' WSYM (Fox) in
"We are very pleased to be executing a successful set of station swaps with Scripps that brings great value to both companies," said Gray President and Co-CEO Pat LaPlatney. "At Gray, due to the strategic nature of these two acquisitions and the benefits to our operations, we anticipate expanding the news staff and hours of live local newscasts on both stations soon after closing the acquisitions."
Scripps will acquire Gray's KKTV (CBS) in
"These new stations will allow Scripps to expand upon our local sports and news strategies in key growth geographies for us," said Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson. "The resulting efficiencies will allow us to further invest in our connection to our communities, offering even richer coverage of these neighborhoods and regions." Â
The swap involves the even exchange of comparable assets. In particular, the consideration for each transaction is the performance of the other transaction. As a result, neither company will pay cash consideration to the other.
Gray and Scripps anticipate closing both sides of the swap simultaneously in the fourth quarter of this year following receipt of regulatory and other customary approvals. The regulatory approvals will require certain waivers of outdated local ownership restrictions that have uniquely restricted local broadcasters' ability to compete in today's dynamic and highly competitive media environment. The parties intend to work closely with regulators, employees and other stakeholders to obtain the requisite approvals and to facilitate the smooth transitions of these stations to new ownership.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on Gray's and Scripps' current expectations and reflect various estimates and assumptions by Gray and Scripps. These statements are statements other than those of historical fact and may be identified by words such as "estimates," "expect," "anticipate," "will," "implied," "assume" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements.  Such risks, trends and uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond Gray's and/or Scripps' control, include the inability to complete the proposed transaction within the expected timeframe, or at all, and other future events. Each of Gray and Scripps is subject to additional risks and uncertainties described in their respective quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including in the "Risk Factors," and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations sections contained therein, which reports are made publicly available via . Any forward-looking statements in this communication should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. This press release reflects management's views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Gray and Scripps undertake no obligation to update or revise any information contained in this communication beyond the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Scripps:
Ìý(±·´¡³§¶Ù´¡²Ï: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating connection. As one of the nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households across the
About Gray Media:
Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) is a multimedia company headquartered in
Contacts:
Scripps: Carolyn Micheli, [email protected]
Gray: Kevin Latek, [email protected]
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company