Scripps promotes Jonathan Katz to chief operating officer for new national TV networks

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Dec 17, 2020, 10:05 ET

CINCINNATI, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) has appointed television industry veteran Jonathan Katz as chief operating officer and head of entertainment for its new national television networks business.

Katz will report to Lisa Knutson, who Scripps previously announced will lead the newly combined businesses of ION Media, the Katz networks and Newsy. Both appointments will be effective upon the close of Scripps' acquisition of ION Media.

Katz is founder, president and chief executive officer of the Katz networks, which Scripps acquired in 2017. In his new role, Katz will have responsibility for the networks' entertainment brands including Bounce, Laff, Grit, Court TV Mystery and the ION networks as well as Brown Sugar and "The List." He will have additional oversight of revenue, research, marketing and programming for the entire portfolio of Scripps' national networks.

After starting the Bounce network in 2011 as the nation's first-ever over-the-air broadcast television network dedicated to serving African-American audiences, he founded the Katz networks in 2014, expanding the portfolio to several additional niche-targeted over-the-air networks.

In his current role, Katz has steered the multi-platform networks' year-over-year growth, outperforming expectations and delivering over-the-air audience growth while spearheading strategic launches of new networks, including the relaunch of the Court TV network in 2019, its expansion into the United Kingdom this year and the development of true crime-focused Court TV Mystery.

Katz's visionary leadership in the television, news and entertainment industry will help Scripps transform its networks business into a powerful national leader in news and entertainment with broad consumer appeal and reach, said Knutson.

"With his many years of experience in launching, growing and expanding some of the country's most-watched networks and leading best-in-class teams to fuel growth and innovation, Jonathan has proven time and time again his ability to anticipate and super-serve consumers' diverse and evolving interests," said Knutson. "Jonathan is a tremendous asset to Scripps as we bring our national networks businesses together to capture the momentum of over-the-air audience growth and multiplatform TV viewing."

Katz's career includes leadership roles at some of the country's top television networks. Before founding the Katz networks, he was senior vice president and general manager of program planning and acquisitions for all of the Turner Entertainment Networks including TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and TCM, including acquisitions work for the original Court TV and The WB broadcast network. Additionally, Katz oversaw the re-branding and relaunch of WTBS in Atlanta as WPCH/Peachtree TV and led all aspects of the station's operations as general manager.

Before joining Turner's Entertainment Group in 2000, he was vice president of marketing for CNN Newsource.

Katz launched his career in local TV with roles in programming, advertising, publicity, promotion, production and news at WTOG in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida; WJZY in Charlotte, North Carolina; WDBB in Birmingham, Alabama; and WCFT in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is one of the nation's leading media companies, focused on creating a better-informed world through a portfolio of news, information and entertainment brands. Scripps will become the nation's largest television broadcaster, reaching 73% of U.S. television households through 108 stations in 76 markets, pending regulatory approval of its acquisition of ION Media. Committed to serving local audiences through objective journalism, Scripps operates 60 local TV stations in 42 markets. It is creating a national TV networks business that will include ION Media's entertainment programming, Newsy's straightforward headline and documentary news content and the five popular Katz broadcast networks including Bounce and Court TV. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way."

SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company