The E. W. Scripps Company’s broadcast network Ion will make its debut as the domestic television partner for Athlos NYC on Friday.
The broadcaster was selected to serve as the national broadcast partner of the women’s-only track and field competition last month. The deal runs for several years, and includes a handful of Athlos competitions that will air and stream on Ion throughout the country.
The inaugural event for Ion will air live on Friday from New York’s Icahn Stadium at 7 p.m. ET.
Brooks Running Shoes has signed on as the presenting sponsor for the telecast, which will feature some of the world’s top track and field athletes.
The lineup includes Faith Kipyegon, Keely Hodgkinson, Masai Russell, Marileidy Paulino and Brittany Brown in track events, with Tara Davis-Woodhall, Jasmine Moore, Monae’ Nichols and Quanesha Burks competing in the long jump. Qualifying for the event will take place Thursday, October 9, in Times Square.
“Brooks Running Shoes is the perfect presenting partner for Athlos NYC on Ion. They are a brand that shares Scripps’ belief that women’s sports deserve the same stage, spotlight and respect as any other,” said Brian Norris, the Chief Revenue Officer at Scripps. “Like Athlos and Ion, Brooks celebrates authenticity, grit and the pursuit of potential. This partnership is about connection – across real brands, real athletes and real purpose. With Athlos NYC on Ion, Brooks is aligning with more than a moment – they are connecting with a movement, and that’s the kind of energy we’re building at Scripps for both brands and fans.”
The broadcast marks the first-ever field competition for Athlos, described by organizers as a new kind of women’s sports league built around competition and community. The event aims to showcase top-tier athletic performances while creating a platform for women athletes to grow their visibility and fan base.
Athlos joins a growing lineup of women’s sports properties under Scripps Sports, which already includes partnerships with the Women’s National Basketball Association and the National Women’s Soccer League. Later this fall, Ion will also air the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off, an early-season college basketball tournament featuring top programs.
Ion is available nationwide through pay TV, connected TV, free ad-supported streaming platforms and over-the-air broadcasts, reaching more than 128 million homes across the United States.
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