The E. W. Scripps Company and its Scripps Sports division will continue offering WNBA games on Ion and some local stations for a few more years.
On Friday, the company announced a new multi-year agreement that allows Ion to continue offering Friday night WNBA double-header games under the “Friday Night Spotlight” franchise. Scripps began offering WNBA games on Ion two years ago, and some Scripps-owned local stations also broadcast games throughout the week.
Scripps has made a significant investment in its WNBA presentation since it started airing games in 2023. The broadcaster produces pre-game and post-game programming for its WNBA events on Ion, and unveiled a new, state-of-the-art production facility and TV studio last year, which help support its live sports programming initiatives.
The timing of the original deal could not have been better: College basketball superstar Caitlin Clark generated a lot of buzz during her first year with the Indiana Fever, and her presence helped boost WNBA ratings across the board, increasing viewership by 181 percent on a year-over basis as of September 2024.
Higher ratings also came with increased interest from advertisers, with State Farm serving as the presenting sponsor of the WNBA Friday Night Spotlight games on Ion. Last year’s WNBA Friday Night Spotlight events saw its viewership jump 133 percent compared to 2023, Scripps said in a statement on Friday. Its games attracted more than 23 million unique viewers across games and shoulder programming.
“The WNBA’s partnership with Scripps has already delivered great results in expanding the league’s reach and visibility,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This new multi-year agreement reflects the growing excitement surrounding the league and the rising demand for WNBA games. Through Scripps’ Ion Network Friday Night doubleheaders, we will continue to showcase the world-class talent of WNBA athletes to even more fans nationwide.”
This year, Scripps Sports will offer more than 50 regular-season games as part of its WNBA Friday Night Spotlight, and will continue to produce its “WNBA on Ion” studio show. The program launched in tandem with Scripps’ clinching of WNBA rights two years ago, and is the first weekly show dedicated to coverage of the WNBA.
“Since 2023, the WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on Ion has enhanced the accessibility and reach of WNBA games for fans nationwide,” said Adam Symson, the President and CEO of Scripps. “Our robust partnership with the league has flourished, and we are thrilled to solidify Ion’s status as the premier Friday night destination for WNBA action for years to come.”
WNBA games offered through Ion are available on free, over-the-air TV stations across the country. All games available through Ion also stream for free on leading ad-supported TV platforms like Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Xumo Play, Plex, Samsung TV Plus, TCL TV Plus, Vizio WatchFree Plus and LG Channels.
