The E.W. Scripps Co.’s Scripps Sports unit has secured a broadcast partnership with Major League Volleyball (MLV) that will bring the league’s championship to ION Television, the publicly traded broadcast media company’s nationally distributed network.
Specifically, 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.
Financial terms are not being disclosed.
“Volleyball is exploding in popularity worldwide, and MLV is driving the future of professional women’s volleyball in the U.S.,” said Brian Lawlor, the President of Scripps Sports who formerly ran the company’s local media properties. “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’ 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.
Beginning play in January 2026, MLV is an evolution of Pro Volleyball Federation (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.
