Born In Cincinnati, Scripps Networks Heads For The Hills: Ohio Newspaper Chain Spinoff Is Moving To Knoxville, Tenn.



Scripps Says Bam! To Cincy



CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The spin-off is a publicly traded corporation (SNI: NYSE) that is a powerhouse in lifestyle television.  Its success in cable broadcasting made Emeril a celebrity chef.  The stable includes HGTV, Travel Channel, Great American Country and DIY Network.  Now Scripps Network Interactive Inc. is switching off its downtown Cincinnati office tower for new headquarters digs in Knoxville.  Scripps Interactive separated from the newspaper chain in 2008 -- that legacy business, the E.W. Scripps Co., stays behind.  Here's the full text of the press release from Scripps Interactive. Some pertinent paragraphs:

"The decision to designate Knoxville as the company's headquarters coincides with the completion of the new 150,000-square-foot Scripps Networks operating facility in West Knoxville. Final touches on the new facility, a large part of which has been occupied since March, were completed this month


'Knoxville is where it all began and where the company's future is being charted,' said Kenneth W. Lowe, chairman and chief executive officer of Scripps Networks Interactive. 'We've come a long way since launching HGTV and our Knoxville operations have become increasingly important. Making Knoxville and Tennessee the focal point of our global operations is a logical step in the company's ongoing evolution.'


"About 850 of the company's 1,950 employees worldwide work in Knoxville where HGTV and DIY Network were created and continue to be based. The company's technical center, including satellite uplink operations, a control center for all of its television networks and a wide range of other administrative, business and creative functions are also based in Knoxville."

Oho Media Giant Scripps: Stop The Presses!!! News Biz Being Spun Off

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- An Ohio media giant that built a publishing and broadcasting realm by starting with newspapers, and then local TV outlets like Channel 5 in Cleveland, plans to divide itself into two separate entities. The split sets the old media properties on an independent road during an uncertain time. Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Co. made the announcement this morning. It means the company's leadership sees more upside growth potential in the $1.4 billion Scripps Networks, which include HGTV, Food Network and Internet-businesses like Shopzilla.

Scripps owns newspapers across the nation, including Denver and Cincinnati, where the afternoon Cincinnati Post has been in decline and is set to close forever in December. Meanwhile, Scripps has been building a new headquarters for its Scripps Neworks Interactive operations in Knoxville, Tenn., where HGTV and the other shows are produced. Scripps CEO Kenneth W. Lowe said the split makes good sense for shareholders by sharpening business focus on the new media, which is growing and extremely profitable.

"This is an important and logical next step for our shareholders, employees and all other stakeholders who have a direct interest in the success of our media business, It is our intention to create two publicly traded companies, each with a sharpened strategic focus that would foster continued growth, solid operating performance and a clear vision on how best to build on the specific strengths of our national and local media franchises.

"The new company that would be created by the transaction -- Scripps Networks Interactive -- would be anchored by two of America's most-watched and most successful table television networks -- HGTV and Food Network -- and would benefit from the rapidly growing popularity of its newer lifestyle brands, DIY Network, Fine Living, and Great American Country."

Bottomline: Scripps was the media company whose most beloved and noted journalist was Ernie Pyle, the columnist who covered World War II and became the voice of the common man. He was killed in the Pacific while on assignment with the troops. The new Scripps is built around figures like Emeril, the chef. Good-bye, Ernie. Bam!!!