Scripps Sports announced that it has secured exclusive broadcast rights to Major League Volleyball’s (MLV) 2026 championship, with the two semifinal matches slated for Thursday, May 7, 2026, and the final on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The rights will be carried on ION, the company’s national network that reaches every U.S. television household across over‑the‑air, pay‑TV, and connected‑TV platforms.
MLV, which will launch its inaugural season in January 2026 with eight teams, plans to expand to ten teams in 2027. The championship’s host city has not yet been announced, and the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the partnership positions MLV as a growing professional women’s volleyball league in the United States.
The deal adds MLV to Scripps Sports’ growing lineup of women’s‑sports properties, which already includes the WNBA and the National Women’s Soccer League. By bringing the MLV championship to ION, Scripps expands its national reach and reinforces its strategy of positioning ION as a premier destination for women’s sports content, a segment that has seen accelerated growth and advertising demand.
Management emphasized the strategic importance of the deal, with Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor noting that “volleyball’s popularity is exploding and MLV is driving the future of professional women’s volleyball in the U.S.” The exclusive rights are expected to attract new viewers, boost connected‑TV engagement, and generate additional advertising revenue, supporting the company’s broader goal of driving growth through high‑visibility sports programming.
While the financial terms remain undisclosed, the partnership underscores Scripps Sports’ commitment to expanding its portfolio of marquee women’s sports events and leveraging ION’s nationwide reach to capture a growing audience for professional volleyball.
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