Fox News Media will launch a 90-second news-focused, “Fox News Report,” daily on 18 Fox-owned stations beginning February 24. Anchored by congressional correspondent Bill Melugin, the segment will run just before 6p ET. This newsfeed will also be available to independent Fox affiliates.
Scripps agreed to sell Court TV to Law&Crime, a multiplatform true-crime and legal content studio founded and led by Dan Abrams (ABC News Chief Legal Analyst and Mediaite founder). Law&Crime is itself owned by the media creator holding company Jellysmack (which acquired Law&Crime in 2023 for around $125 million).
Key details from reports across sources like The New York Times, Variety, Deadline, and Scripps’ own press release
The deal values Court TV at less than $125 million (per anonymous sources cited in multiple outlets; official financial terms were not disclosed).
Court TV will remain a standalone brand focused on gavel-to-gavel trial coverage, live courtroom proceedings, investigative reporting, and expert legal analysis.
It includes a three-year distribution agreement with Scripps, ensuring Court TV continues airing on basic cable through existing partnerships for the near term.
The new owners plan to expand its presence on streaming/digital platforms (e.g., YouTube and others), building on Law&Crime’s strong online audience (over 8 million YouTube subscribers and heavy viewership in live trials, commentary, and crime docs).
This fits Scripps’ strategy to streamline operations, strengthen its balance sheet, and focus on core assets amid industry shifts (they relaunched Court TV in 2019 after acquiring rights from Turner Broadcasting, covering major cases like Depp v. Heard, Alex Murdaugh, and Derek Chauvin).
Some reports mention impacts on staff, including layoffs at Court TV’s Atlanta operations (where it’s based), with indications that only a small number of positions may be retained under the new ownership, though anchors like Vinnie Politan are expected to continue in some capacity. There are also mentions of potential transitions for the linear TV channel, but the core brand and trial coverage are set to persist under Law&Crime.
Dan Abrams has a historical tie to the brand—he got his start covering the O.J. Simpson trial for the original Court TV in the 1990s. As of this week, the deal appears to have closed or is in the final stages
