Scripps Completes $15.8M Purchase of ABC Affiliate WTVQ in Lexington
The acquisition of the Kentucky station from Morris Network, Inc. expands Scripps' broadcast footprint in the region.
Scripps has completed its acquisition of WTVQ, the ABC affiliate serving Lexington, Kentucky, purchasing the station from Morris Network, Inc. for $15.8 million.
The transaction, which had been previously announced, marks Scripps' latest expansion of its television station portfolio. WTVQ operates as the primary ABC outlet for the Lexington market, a mid-sized media region in central Kentucky.
For Scripps, the deal strengthens its presence in the Southeast and adds another affiliate to its growing roster of broadcast properties. The company operates stations across multiple markets and continues to pursue strategic acquisitions that align with its portfolio development goals.
The acquisition follows a period of consolidation in the broadcast television sector, where major media companies have been selectively acquiring stations in key markets. Such deals typically provide operators with expanded advertising inventory, audience reach, and operational synergies with existing holdings.
Why this matters: The completion signals Scripps' continued confidence in broadcast television as a platform despite industry headwinds, and adds another revenue-generating asset to a portfolio increasingly focused on cash-generative properties in mid-sized markets.