Key Highlights

  • Revenue was $545 million for the third quarter of 2026.
  • Income attributable to shareholders was $20.7 million, or $0.21 per share.
  • Local Media political Advertising Revenue reached $284 million for the full 2026 election cycle.
  • The company targets $125 million to $150 million of enterprise EBITDA growth by 2028.

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ:SSP) delivered $545 million in revenue for the third quarter of 2026 and reported income attributable to shareholders of $20.7 million, or $0.21 per share. The Cincinnati-based company pointed to political advertising revenue tied to the midterm election cycle and to progress on its company transformation plan, which includes expense reductions and revenue initiatives.

Political Advertising and Local Media

Through Election Day, Scripps generated $284 million in full-year Local Media division political advertising revenue. The company described that total as 44 percent above the 2022 midterm election cycle, which shows how cyclical political spending can lift a broadcast company's revenue in an election year. Political revenue is concentrated in specific periods, so the quarter's results reflect its timing as well as underlying advertising activity.

The release compares the political total with the 2022 midterm cycle, which provides a reference point for the political contribution.

Transformation Plan and Cost Actions

Scripps said it continues to make progress on its company transformation plan and expense reductions, with a target of $125 million to $150 million of enterprise EBITDA growth by 2028. The plan combines cost savings with revenue initiatives. The company expects about $100 million of annual run-rate savings by the end of 2026, and it said the impact will be most visible in fourth quarter results.

During 2026, the company reduced its workforce by about 20 percent, an action that accounts for a substantial part of the cost savings.

Connected TV Growth and Outlook

Connected TV revenue grew 37 percent during the period, and Scripps now expects that line to end the year at about $155 million. That growth rate shows the company's digital revenue becoming a larger contributor to the overall total.

The combination of political advertising, cost reductions and connected TV growth gives the company several sources of change in its financial profile. The next quarter, when the cost savings begin to appear in reported results, will provide the first full view of how the transformation affects earnings.

Final Takeaways

Scripps reported $545 million in third quarter revenue and $0.21 per share in attributable income, while pointing to political revenue, a workforce reduction and connected TV growth. The transformation plan is designed to produce a sizable EBITDA increase by 2028, with its effects expected to show first in fourth quarter results.