The E. W. Scripps Company’s Court TV and Scripps News are partnering on a live television special that will examine the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and his alleged murderer Luigi Mangione.
The special, called “Assassination of a CEO,” marks the first full co-production between Court TV and Scripps News, the company said in a statement. The two channels have shared news reporters and resources in the past to cover crime and legal stories and events, but have not produced a television show together until now.
The special will take a deep dive into Thompson’s assassination earlier this month, which happened outside a New York City hotel just hours before UnitedHealthcare was to hold an investor’s conference. The public execution made international headlines and triggered a multi-state manhunt, which ended on December 9 when Mangione was apprehended at a fast food restaurant in Pennsylvania.
There are still many unknowns in the case, including a definitive motive for the killing, though clues and evidence connected to the alleged assassin coupled with anecdotes from his family and friends have resulted in numerous public theories about why Thompson was targeted.
“Court TV is uniquely positioned to report on this compelling story,” said Ethan Nelson, the Vice President of Court TV. “Our audience knows they can depend on us to be their front row seat to justice, and collaborating with the talented journalists at Scripps News will provide an extra layer of insight into a case that has transfixed the nation.”
The partnership is one example of increased synergy at Scripps, which has sought to build bridges between the news operations at its local and national channels and brands. The company’s Baltimore ABC affiliate, WMAR (Channel 2), will contribute reporting to the special; Mangione’s family is from the Baltimore area.
“The opportunity to join our reporting forces together to go deeper inside this captivating story showcases the power of the Scripps company’s journalism,” said Matt Simon, the Vice President of Scripps News. “We have continued to break developments in this crime since the moments it happened, just steps away from our New York bureau.”
“Assassination of a CEO” will be hosted by former prosecutor and Emmy-award winning legal journalist Vinnie Politan of Court TV. The special airs and streams on Court TV and Scripps News on Wednesday, December 18, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Court TV and Scripps News are free to stream on platforms like Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Vizio WatchFree TV, Xumo Play and Fox Corporation’s Tubi; Court TV is also available on free broadcast TV in most parts of the country.
