Scripps Sports acquires broadcast rights for Denver Summit FC, debuting in 2026, enhancing local women's soccer coverage.
Quiver AI Summary
Scripps Sports has obtained exclusive local broadcast rights for Denver Summit FC, the new National Women’s Soccer League team set to launch in 2026. The E.W. Scripps Company will air all non-nationally exclusive matches on its local channels, Denver7 and The Spot Denver 3. This agreement expands Scripps Sports’ existing partnership with the NWSL and highlights the company's commitment to women’s professional sports, which also includes coverage of the WNBA and Major League Volleyball. Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, expressed pride in connecting Denver fans to their new team and showcasing women's soccer talent. The full local broadcast schedule will be announced after the NWSL national calendar is released, with the regular season commencing on March 13, 2026.
Potential Positives
- Scripps Sports has secured exclusive local broadcast rights to the new Denver Summit FC franchise, enhancing its portfolio in women's professional sports.
- This multiyear agreement allows Scripps Sports to air all non-nationally exclusive matches, increasing local engagement with the Denver soccer community.
- The deal complements Scripps Sports' existing national partnerships, reinforcing its commitment to promoting women's sports through extensive coverage.
- The collaboration aims to showcase women's professional soccer talent, potentially boosting viewership and making Scripps a key player in the growing market for women's sports.
Potential Negatives
- The press release does not provide any financial details regarding the terms of the broadcasting rights deal, leaving uncertainty about its potential profitability or costs associated with the partnership.
- There is no mention of viewership expectations or strategies to effectively promote the matches, which raises questions about the potential audience engagement for the inaugural season.
- The announcement highlights Scripps Sports' commitment to women's sports but lacks specific metrics or evidence to demonstrate past success in these partnerships, which may undermine confidence in its effectiveness.
FAQ
What is the Denver Summit FC?
Denver Summit FC is Colorado's newest women's professional soccer club, set to launch in 2026.
When does the regular season for Denver Summit FC start?
The regular season for Denver Summit FC begins on March 13, 2026.
Where can I watch Denver Summit FC matches?
All non-nationally exclusive matches will be broadcast on Denver7 (KMGH-TV) and The Spot Denver 3 (KCDO-TV).
Who owns Denver Summit FC?
Denver Summit FC is owned by Rob Cohen and a group of dedicated investors.
What is Scripps Sports' role with the NWSL?
Scripps Sports has exclusive local broadcast rights for NWSL matches, expanding its partnership with the league.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
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Full Release
DENVER and CINCINNATI, Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scripps Sports has secured exclusive local broadcast rights to Denver Summit FC, the National Women’s Soccer League’s newest franchise, launching in 2026.
Under the multiyear agreement, The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) will air all non-nationally exclusive matches on its local stations Denver7 (KMGH-TV) and The Spot Denver 3 (KCDO-TV).
The deal builds on Scripps Sports’ existing NWSL national partnership, where ION broadcasts premier Saturday evening double-headers throughout the league’s regular season. It also reinforces the company’s commitment to women’s professional sports, including national coverage of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Major League Volleyball (MLV), ATHLOS track and field and the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off college basketball tournament. Scripps Sports is also the local television partner for the WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces.
“From the national stage to the heart of Denver, Scripps Sports is proud to expand our successful NWSL partnership by becoming the local TV home to Denver Summit FC in its inaugural season,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “This collaboration will connect Denver’s passionate soccer community to their new team while showcasing the exceptional talent that defines women’s professional soccer.”
The complete local broadcast schedule for Denver Summit FC will be released after the full NWSL national calendar is announced. The regular season begins March 13, 2026.
Media contacts: Jim Weiss, 770-722-2142, [email protected]
About Denver Summit FC
Denver Summit FC is Colorado’s women’s professional soccer club. Owned and operated by Rob Cohen and a group of passionate, local and national investors. Denver Summit FC’s aim is to engage Denver’s vibrant and diverse communities to build the best professional soccer club in the world. For additional information please visit DenverSummitFC.com.
About Scripps Sports
Scripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach. Scripps Sports currently has partnerships with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the National Hockey League’s (NHL) 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, the new Utah Mammoth, the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and the NCAA’s Big Sky Conference. Scripps Sports is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64dc34be-bef3-44cb-9ce0-263564043763