Brian Lawlor, 57, was named President, Scripps Sports, in December 2022, responsible for the strategic focus and development of partnerships for all sports rights for The E.W. Scripps Company’s ION Network and its local television stations.
Prior to stepping into this role, Brian spent 14 years leading Scripps’ Local Media division, which included oversight of the company’s 61 television stations as well as local digital and OTT operations and Scripps’ local programming initiatives.
As president of Local Media, Brian oversaw the rapid growth of the company’s broadcasting assets from 10 TV stations in 2009 to its current portfolio of 61 stations, which makes Scripps one of the largest owners of TV stations in the country. He also oversaw the acquisition of the Katz multicast networks and the launch of Court TV. He had responsibility for the company’s 35 radio stations from 2015-2018, when Scripps exited the radio business.
In 2012, Broadcasting & Cable magazine named him “Broadcaster of the Year” and one of the “80 Most Influential People in Television.” In 2021, Radio & Television Business Report named him “Broadcast Television’s Best Leader.” He has been the driving force in the successful launch of Scripps’ national programming, which includes “Right This Minute” and “The List.”
He is a past chairman of the ABC Board of Governors and a former president and chairman of the NBC Affiliates Board. He also previously served as the television board chairman for the National Association of Broadcasters.
Brian serves on the board of Misfits Gaming, one of esports’ top gaming companies, with professional teams in the League of Legends, Overwatch and Call of Duty Leagues. He is a board member of the NAB and the Broadcasters Foundation of America. Brian serves on the advisory board of the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
Brian holds a bachelor’s degree from King’s College and an MBA from the University of Miami. He is the father of three and an accomplished triathlete and Ironman.