Between them, they own or operate nearly 100 TV stations across the country. And with only a handful of hit daytime shows, and many more misses, Raycom Media and The E.W. Scripps Company have decided to bypass the middleman and produce their own daytime TV shows, and they’re asking other media companies to join in.
“The strength of our two companies with a rich history in local broadcasting will bring a financial and creative strength to this development consortium,” said Paul McTear, president and CEO of Raycom Media. “We envision a flourishing partnership with Raycom Media that will lead to relevant content with mass appeal across diverging demographics,” added Brian Lawlor, svp of the Scripps broadcast division.
The graveyard is filled with nationally syndicated shows that didn’t catch on: Queen Latifah, Ricki Lake, Katie Couric, and Meredith Vieira to name a few. Many stations have expanded local news rather than enter into years-long agreements with syndicators. For Raycom and Scripps, it’s about finding, developing and owning the content, which, of course, presents its own challenges. But the companies have done the math and seen the future.
“As the broadcasting industry continues to evolve, we must continue to explore new opportunities to deliver compelling content to our audiences,” Lawlor added.
Raycom and Scripps reach 29 percent of U.S. households, including 12 top 40 markets. Raycom, Scripps and Cox Media Group already have a separate agreement for the syndicated series Right This Minute. Scripps also produces THE LIST and The Now for its stations.