E.W. Scripps Company Reports Revenue Decline and Operating Income Increase in Q2 2025

The E.W. Scripps Company reported a decline in financial performance for the second quarter of 2025, with total operating revenues of $540.1 million, down 5.8% from $573.6 million in the same period last year. For the first half of 2025, revenues also decreased by 6.2% to $1.064 billion compared to $1.135 billion in 2024. The decline was primarily attributed to a significant drop in political advertising revenue, which fell by 90.7% in the second quarter and 86.4% year-to-date, reflecting the absence of major elections. Core advertising revenue also decreased by 1.9% and 2.5% for the respective periods.

Despite the revenue decline, Scripps reported an operating income of $76.6 million for the second quarter, an increase from $55.7 million in the prior year. The company managed to reduce operating expenses, which fell by 10.5% year-over-year, driven by lower costs in employee compensation and programming. Restructuring costs were reported at $0.6 million for the quarter, down from $1.0 million in 2024, as the company continues to streamline operations following a strategic reorganization initiated in January 2023.

In terms of strategic developments, Scripps completed the sale of its West Palm Beach television station building for $40 million, realizing a pre-tax gain of $31.4 million. Additionally, the company entered into a joint venture with Gray Media, Nexstar Media Group, and Sinclair, aimed at leveraging the ATSC 3.0 transmission standard for data delivery services. Scripps also announced a multi-year media rights agreement with the Las Vegas Aces and a continuation of its partnership with the WNBA for airing regular season games.

Operationally, Scripps reported a decrease in total assets to $5.088 billion as of June 30, 2025, down from $5.199 billion at the end of 2024. The company’s cash and cash equivalents increased to $31.7 million, while long-term debt slightly decreased to $2.545 billion. The company’s employee headcount has been impacted by restructuring efforts, with over 200 jobs eliminated in 2024. Looking ahead, Scripps anticipates continued challenges in advertising revenue, particularly in non-election years, but remains focused on expanding its digital and over-the-air offerings to capture a broader audience.