He’s presently Senior Director of Revenue Strategy for the Scripps Local Media division and before that was Director of Sales for WMYD-TV and ABC affiliate WXYZ-7 in Detroit for The E.W. Scripps Co.
Now, like Brian Lawlor, this longtime Scripps leader is shifting from the local media group to Scripps Sports to serve as its VP for Sports Revenue and Sponsorships.
Making the move is Tony Lamerato, who will be tasked with the execution of a strategic plan “that helps model and value sports rights opportunities for Scripps.”
Once acquired, assuming such a task is completed by Scripps Sports, Lamerato will be responsible for the development of the sports revenue plan, the creation of pricing and sponsorship opportunities, and the advancement of the sales process across the company.
Lamerato has experience in the sports television arena, and was once a Local Sales Manager for Fox Sports Detroit. And, that couldn’t be more important for Scripps Sports given the chatter surrounding the regional sports networks formerly tied to Fox Sports and now owned by a Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary, branded as Bally Sports. With a possible Chapter 11 restructuring for Diamond Sports Group and Associated Press reporter Joe Reedy reporting that DSG will be unable to make a $140 million interest payment this week, this would “put the company closer to filing for bankruptcy.”
It’s a stunning turn of events in the sports rights world, as Nexstar Media Group in September 2022 gained notice by announcing that select Los Angeles Clippers regular season games would air on West Coast flagship KTLA-5, bringing play-by-play to a free-to-air channel for a National Basketball Association game for the first time in many years.
The potential bankruptcy for DSG has Major League Baseball on red alert, with several teams expressing concerns regarding the ability to continue with Bally Sports agreements.
Enter Scripps Sports, which believes it has an opportunity — especially as it has invested heavily in digital multicast networks with its Ion Networks acquisition. As The E.W. Scripps Co. explains, it launched Scripps Sports in December 2022 “to further leverage its local market depth and national broadcast reach for partnerships with sports leagues, conferences and teams.”
Lawlor, who has led the company’s Local Media division since 2009, is already president of Scripps Sports.
Now, he has a sales leader ready to swing and hit home runs as the race for team contracts is on.
