In one of the biggest network deals of the year, The E.W Scripps Company has acquired ION Media for $2.65 billion, combining ION’s 71 broadcast television stations with its own Katz networks. While OTT assets are increasingly the root cause of consolidation, it seems that this is not the case in this instance. Scripps is touting a “renaissance” of OTA consumers seeking out programmed television once they cut the cord, a phenomenon from which it says it can drive and develop ATSC 3.0 adoption. However, this all sounds a bit far-fetched. Undoubtedly OTA is growing, but it is hardly set to become the prized format of the video industry. A forecast from Faultline’s research wing Rethink TV estimates that the…