E.W. Scripps to migrate multicast networks to newly acquired ION stations

E.W. Scripps Co. is migrating carriage of its five multicast networks to the company's newly acquired ION Media Networks Inc. stations, beginning March 1.

The rolling transition will continue over the next five years as affiliation agreements for the networks — Bounce, Court TV, Court TV Mystery, Grit and Laff — expire, E.W. Scripps said in a Jan. 14 statement.

E.W. Scripps will keep operating the ION Television network through its 48 primary channels; however, the company will stop operating ION's multicast networks ION Plus, Qubo and SHOP ION effective Feb. 28.

The broadcaster also cut about 120 jobs across its national networks and corporate workforce as part of cost-saving measures following the ION acquisition, which closed earlier this month. E.W. Scripps expects to exceed its initial estimates of $500 million in deal-related synergies over the next six years.