CINCINNATI—Scripps Sports continues to add to its sports portfolio with an exclusive broadcast deal with Major League Volleyball (MLV) to bring the league’s championship to ION.
ION will carry the MLV’s two semifinal matches live on Thursday, May 7, 2026, as well as the championship on Saturday, May 9, with the host city to be announced.
“Volleyball is exploding in popularity worldwide, and MLV is driving the future of professional women’s volleyball in the U.S.,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “Bringing the 2026 MLV championship to our national audience is exactly what Scripps Sports is built for – showcasing elite women athletes and their sports that inspire millions of fans.”
The MLV is the latest to join Scripps Sports’ robust portfolio of women’s sports, which includes the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The MLV partnership announcement also follows Scripps Sports’ recent coverage of Athlos NYC 2025, a first-of-its-kind women’s-only track and field event, in October. Also coming this fall to ION is the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off – a premier early-season college basketball tournament held Thanksgiving weekend.
Scripps cited its sports programming as a factor in a 2% increase in core advertising in Q3 2025 in its local media group.
The deal also comes at a time of major change in professional volleyball. Last summer, Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) and Major League Volleyball announced plans for a single, united league poised to elevate professional women’s volleyball in the United States.
Beginning play in January 2026, MLV is an evolution of PVF, and the upcoming campaign will be recorded as the league’s third season. The league will feature eight teams based in Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando and San Diego and will grow to 10 in 2027 with additions in Northern California and Washington, D.C. The selection of the next set of outstanding players to join Major League Volleyball will take place on Monday, Nov. 24, as the latest group of newcomers is chosen by teams during the 2025 MLV Draft.
Additional details, including on-air talent and broadcast times, will come at a later date, Scripps said.
