Who is John Katz the CEO of Teton Ridge? Jonathan Katz Leaving Scripps To Start New Business Venture By Jon Lafayette Courtesy of Broadcasting & Cable
Exec sold Katz Networks for $302 million in 2017
Jonathan Katz, who launched Bounce TV, rebooted Court TV and sold his digital over-the-air startup to E.W. Scripps, has resigned from Scripps to start a new company. Katz Networks has been a pioneer in starting digital over-the-air networks, and when Scripps paid $302 million million for the company in 2017, that signaled that it was a serious business. Last year Katz Networks generated $257.5 million in revenue, up 13.4%. Along with Ion Media, purchased by Scripps this year, the Katz Networks are now part of Scripps Networks, the TVstation owner’s new national networks division.
Scripps is not the only broadcaster looking to profit from their secondary digital channels. For example, Sinclair Broadcast Group has Comet, Charge and TBD and Tegna bought Quest and Justice for $77 million in 2019 and launched Twist in January. Katz told Broadcasting+Cable he’s leaving Scripps to return to being an entrepreneur. “I do plan on creating a new company and just like the Katz Networks, that new company will start with the consumer,” he said. “It’s a lesson that I have certainly learned that success and scale are always driven by delighting consumers and serving their
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More “Guts and Glory” on Sun. Jan. 30 featuring competitors vying to compete at The American
Ultimately the Top 10 athletes overall that make it to The American’s final field on Sunday, March 6 will be eligible for their discipline’s $100,000 prize money and will also have their shot at the bonus millions – making the stakes higher than ever for these hopefuls. About INSP: INSP is available nationwide to nearly 62M households via MVPDs including DISH (channel 259), DIRECTV (channel 364), Comcast Xfinity, Cox Communication, Charter Spectrum, National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), Verizon Fios (channel 286), AT&T U-verse (channel 564) and on vMVPDs including SLING TV, fuboTV, Philo, Frndly TV, Vidgo, SelectTV and Evoca. Click here to find INSP in your area. INSP provides a trusted viewing experience with a lineup of exclusive and original series, timeless Westerns, action-filled dramas, and films focused on adventure and heroic characters. About Teton Ridge: Teton Ridge is a multi-platform, wholly American-owned brand devoted to the iconic American western way of life and western sports. Teton Ridge’s Sports division was created with the singular focus of elevating classic western sports and America’s western culture on the world stage, while broadening audiences around the globe as well as at home. In 22
needs. And that is my plan.” He declined to say when the new company will launch or exactly what business it will be in. Katz said he was grateful to Scripps for investing in his company and subsequently buying it. “I enjoyed being part of the world-class team at Scripps,” he said. “The company has been extremely profitable, growing double digits every year for Scripps,” he added. “I look forward to working in the same space and who knows? Maybe be partners again, someday.”
“The mission of Teton Ridge is to make western culture, lifestyle and sports more accessible to more people. The vast reach of INSP, a network beloved by millions of western fans, makes it the perfect place for consumers to watch this largerthan-life original series and the unforgettable live action of The American,” JOHN KATZ – CEO, TETON RIDGE
2021, Teton Ridge acquired The American, the iconic event of the rodeo circuit, to continue to expand the audiences for rodeo sports and make it the world’s premiere western culture event. For more information about Teton Ridge, please visit tetonridge. com or @tetonridge on Instagram @tetonridgeusa on Facebook. For more information on The American, please visit americanrodeo. com or @TheAmerican.TR on Instagram @The AmericanTR on Facebook and Twitter. About The American: The American, is an annual western sports and entertainment experience that occurs each year at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and represents the richest singleday event in all of western sports. Over the course of qualifier events across the country, competitors will all battle for what could be the biggest single-day paycheck of their careers. Owned by Teton Ridge, The American is a true open competition in format, the iconic event brings together top professional rodeo athletes and honest, hardworking cowboys and cowgirls in a winner-take-all showdown, meant to crown the finest talent the world has to offer.
FEBRUARY 2022
