A Message From the Top at Scripps

Scripps CEO Adam Samson sent one of his messages to the staff.

Many on staff have emailed and have basically turned a deaf ear to Samson and his takes. “Most of what he says is complete BS, “ said one Scripps staffer to FTVLive.

Samson talks about what lies ahead in 2026, but honestly, I have a feeling that Scripps will have been sold off, or gobbled up before the end of the new year.

Here is his message:

Colleagues:

As we approach the end of 2025, I want to reflect on what we've accomplished together and express my deepest gratitude for your dedication, creativity and resilience.

When I think about this year, the two words that come to mind are connection and transformation. These aren't buzzwords; they're living proof of how we're evolving and staying true to our mission in an industry that demands constant reinvention.

This has been a year that required us to manage a lot. Our industry faces continued disruption. Market dynamics shift rapidly. And as we've seen even in recent weeks, uncertainty comes from many directions.

But here's what I know with absolute certainty: When we stay focused on our mission and operate as one team, united by our values and commitment to the communities and audiences we serve, we weather every storm.

The Power of Connection

We've proven that our strength lies in our commitment to leverage the power of our platform as we improve the lives of our consumers through connection. We connect people to their communities through the news and information that empowers them to make life better. We connect sports fans to the teams, players and sports that they are passionate about. We connect viewers to one another around the programming that makes them feel seen. And we connect our advertisers to the target audiences they seek in order to create economic value, from Main Street to Wall Street.

This year, our sports portfolio delivered unprecedented reach and engagement. Through partnerships with four National Hockey League teams, Scripps Sports is now the biggest local over-the-air partner to the NHL. We cemented our commitment to women's sports with a new multi-year agreement with the WNBA and partnerships like Athlos NYC and the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off. And the Scripps National Spelling Bee celebrated its 100th anniversary. These aren't just games and competitions; they're cultural moments through which we foster authentic connection.

Our news teams continued connecting communities to critical information during severe weather, political upheaval and rapid change. Our journalists were there when people needed us most. The National Association of Broadcasters recognized our profound public service role with the 2025 Service to America award for our relief efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In addition to keeping viewers informed, local stations and Scripps News partnered with the Scripps Howard Fund to raise $289,000 for disaster relief. That's creating connection with purpose for good.

Leading Through Transformation

To make our connections most impactful, we're transforming how we connect by embracing new technologies that position us for sustainable success.

We're using AI tools to handle routine tasks, giving our sellers more time to sell and freeing journalists to report, investigate and tell stories that matter. Engine Room is helping reporters like WTVF Nashville's Robb Coles uncover stories from meeting transcripts that lead to accountability journalism, enabling us to do even more meaningful work.

We've made significant strides in transforming our content distribution strategy, ensuring great content reaches audiences wherever they are. We’ve launched new neighborhood and beat-oriented social media groups that have organically grown into important ways our audiences are better connected to one another. And the Scripps Networks streaming business is expected to break $120 million in revenue this year.    

Your commitment, focus and hard work are powering this company to steadily pay down debt — our highest financial priority. We're identifying opportunities for station acquisitions, swaps and sales that improve our operating performance and ensure the durability that will carry forward our mission. We're managing with discipline while investing strategically in our future.

Looking Ahead to 2026

While the media landscape will continue to evolve in unpredictable ways, our resolve to fulfill our mission will not change. Our company vision, we create connection, will guide us forward. Authentic connection is what our audiences and advertisers are seeking most from us right now, and this is where we see the greatest opportunity to create value.

That's why 2026 will be about accelerating our transformation and reinvention while staying anchored to what makes us Scripps. We'll continue investing in AI and automation, expand our sports strategy, capitalize on connected TV growth and remain relentlessly focused on serving communities with the journalism and entertainment that connects them to each other, to their families and to their passions that bring them joy.

We will determine our own future from a position of strength, together, as one team.

None of this happens without you. In a year that tested us, you showed up. You adapted. You innovated. You stayed focused on our mission even when the path wasn't always clear. I'm grateful for your partnership, your commitment and your belief in what we're building together.

As you spend time with family and friends this holiday season, take a moment to reflect on what we've accomplished. You should be proud. I certainly am.

Here's to a restful break and an even stronger 2026. And to those of you who will keep our stations and networks going for our communities over this holiday, thank you.

Adam Symson

President and CEO