Editing Ion Television (section)

===Purchase by Scripps===
On September 24, 2020, [[E. W. Scripps Company]] agreed to buy [[Ion Media]] for $2.65&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Scripps creates national television networks business with acquisition of ION Media|url=https://scripps.com/press-releases/scripps-creates-national-television-networks-business-with-acquisition-of-ion-media/|date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> The transaction, which closed on January 7, 2021,<ref>{{cite web|title=E.W. Scripps Completes Acquisition of Ion Media|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ew-scripps-completes-acquisition-of-ion-media|first=Jon|last=Lafayette|website=Broadcasting & Cable|date=January 7, 2021}}</ref> saw Ion Television and its sister networks absorbed into Scripps' [[Katz Broadcasting]] subsidiary, which already operates five [[Digital subchannel#Specialty programming|specialty networks]], most notably [[Bounce TV]] and [[Court TV]]. In regards to Ion Television's programming, Scripps indicated it would maintain the status quo, with no plans at the time to invest in original content or deviate from the channel's off-network programming approach.<ref>[https://www.nexttv.com/news/no-retrans-no-problem-for-scripps-ion-deal "No Retrans, No Problem for Scripps' Ion Deal,"] from ''Broadcasting & Cable'', September 25, 2020</ref> To get FCC approval for the transaction, 23 Ion Television stations were sold by Scripps to [[Inyo Broadcast Holdings]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=January 2021|first=Jon Lafayette 07|title=E.W. Scripps Completes Acquisition of Ion Media|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ew-scripps-completes-acquisition-of-ion-media|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=Broadcasting Cable|date=January 7, 2021|language=en}}</ref>

On April 8, 2024, Scripps announced that they would reposition Ion into a general entertainment channel, turning [[Scripps Sports|live sports broadcasting]] as a tentpole of the network with [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) and [[National Women's Soccer League]] (NWSL) games occupying weekly slots in the programming lineup and to launch a refresh of their brand identity and new year-long brand campaign based on the new tagline from the new branding being "Ion. It's On", replacing "Positively Entertaining" after 16 years. Sister channels Ion Mystery and Ion Plus would also be rebranded with similar graphics based on Ion's branding.