Scripps confirms job cuts at several local TV stations

The E. W. Scripps Company has acknowledged layoffs at a selection of its local TV stations nationwide, citing adjustments in the media industry as the reason for the workforce reduction. A Scripps employee shared on social media that managers at numerous local TV stations had been informed about upcoming layoffs and instructed not to fill certain job openings. By the subsequent day, a spokesperson from Scripps confirmed the layoffs across approximately twelve of its stations but did not disclose which stations were affected.
The company representative stated that the ongoing fluctuations in the media landscape motivated Scripps to make some role eliminations, emphasizing that these changes were crucial for the company’s ability to adapt and ensure the provision of essential services to their communities in the future. Scripps had postponed the release of its fourth-quarter and annual financial earnings report by a week, explaining that the delay was to facilitate discussions with creditors regarding certain debt restructuring. The financial earnings report is now anticipated to be disclosed in the middle of March.
Scripps had previously laid off about 250 employees and contractors at its national news channel, Scripps News, following which the channel ceased its broadcast over the airwaves and transitioned to operate solely via streaming services with a reduced workforce. The local TV industry has faced challenges as advertising revenues decline in the wake of increased cable and satellite TV churn, affecting broadcasters’ financial standing. Several other media companies, such as Gray Media, Sinclair, Paramount, Allen Media, NBC Universal, and Disney, have also resorted to employee layoffs to address revenue shortcomings.
Efforts by lobbying groups representing commercial broadcasters have been aimed at revamping regulations to create a level playing field between traditional TV firms and major technology companies operating their streaming platforms. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) submitted a petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), advocating for the removal of the national ownership cap that currently restricts broadcasters to reaching no more than 39% of the American TV audience. The NAB contends that lifting the cap would enable broadcasters to compete more effectively with tech giants and lead to increased investments in local news.
Another initiative, spearheaded by independent broadcasters through the Coalition for Local News, urged the FCC to subject streaming cable TV alternatives to the same regulations applied to conventional cable and satellite TV providers. This move, if implemented, would require streaming services to negotiate directly with local TV station owners for the carriage of programming rather than intermediaries, potentially boosting investments in local news coverage. While proponents of the proposal laud the potential for enhanced local news coverage, detractors raise concerns about programming blackouts and escalated subscriber bills.