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The GIST:<\/strong> Fridays are officially for the WNBA. Yesterday, the league inked a multiyear agreement<\/a> with Scripps to televise games nationally and regionally on Friday nights. The deal is Scripps\u2019 first with a sports league since the company launched its new sports-specific division last December.<\/p>\n The broadcaster:<\/strong> Scripps runs numerous local TV stations across the U.S., as well as national entertainment network ION. The company expanded into sports<\/a> last year and plans to strike relevant deals for both ION and its local channels.<\/p>\n The details:<\/strong> Through WNBA Friday Night Spotlight<\/em>, ION will dedicate two time slots a night to WNBA games during the regular season. Scripps\u2019 national and regional properties will promote the company\u2019s new basketball offerings, including Scripps News and African American broadcast network Bounce<\/a>.<\/p>\n The why:<\/strong> In an exclusive chat with The GIST, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the deal is \u201ca sign that companies are valuing our content\u201d and<\/em> the league\u2019s audience. \u201cPeople who watch women’s sports are more of a lifestyle viewer, not just a sports viewer. We have plenty of sports viewers too, but you [have] to appeal to a broader audience.\u201d<\/p>\n Zooming out:<\/strong> This deal comes with more screen time and revenue for the WNBA and<\/em> allows Scripps to tip off its sports division with a bang. The league not only delivers on the TV audience<\/a> side but will also lift Scripps\u2019 national visibility and cultural relevance as it charts its own rise. Talk about a win-win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n