Scripps Networks Interactive

Last updated

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.
Company type Public
Nasdaq: SNI
ISIN US8110651010  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Industry
  • Broadcasting
  • Digital media
Predecessor E. W. Scripps Company
FoundedJuly 1, 2008;16 years ago (2008-07-01)
DefunctMarch 6, 2018;6 years ago (2018-03-06)
FateAcquired by and merged into Discovery Communications
Successor Discovery, Inc. (2018–2022)
Warner Bros. Discovery (2022–present)
Headquarters Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Key people
  • Kenneth W. Lowe (Chairman, President & CEO)
  • Burton Jablin (President, Scripps Networks)
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$ 2.5 billion (2013) [1]
Increase2.svg US$ 958.5 million (2013) [1]
Decrease2.svg US$ 683 million (2013) [1] cs
Total assets Increase2.svg US$ 4.4 billion (2013) [1]
Total equity Increase2.svg US$ 2.1 billion (2013) [1]
Number of employees
3,600 [2]  (2017)

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) was an American mass media company, which was formed on July 1, 2008, and acquired by and merged into Discovery Communications on March 6, 2018. It was formed in 2008, through the spin-off of the E. W. Scripps Company's cable television networks and online assets. Discovery Communications completed its acquisition of SNI after receiving approval from the United States Department of Justice and European Commission on March 6, 2018. It was the owner of several major factual television cable channels, including Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, and operated or held stakes in localized international versions of these brands. SNI also owned Polish broadcaster TVN and half of the British channel group UKTV.

Contents

SNI was headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company had additional office locations in New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Chevy Chase, Maryland; Atlanta; Detroit; Nashville; Cincinnati; and offices in São Paulo (Brazil), London (UK) and Singapore.

History

In 1994, Scripps acquired the Knoxville-based Cinetel Productions to serve as a production base for a new home lifestyle-oriented cable network, which would eventually launch in December as HGTV. Scripps later acquired a stake in the Food Network, and launched a spin-off of HGTV known as DIY Network (now Magnolia Network). [3] [4] [5]

On July 1, 2008, Scripps spun out its cable networks and online properties as a new, publicly traded company known as Scripps Networks Interactive. The split was performed to reduce the financial burden of Scripps' broadcast television and print assets on its profitable cable network properties. [6] [7] [5]

The company acquired a majority interest in the Travel Channel from Cox Communications for a reported $975 million in late 2009, [8] and the following year rebranded Fine Living Network as Cooking Channel.

In April 2011, the company announced the sale of Shopzilla to Symphony Technology Group for $165 million. From within its Travel Channel unit, Scripps also invested in Oyster.com, a hotel research and booking site. [9]

In 2011, Virgin Media agreed to sell its 50% stake in UKTV to Scripps Networks Interactive for $495 million (£339 million). [10] Completion of the transaction was contingent on regulatory approvals in Ireland and Jersey, which was received on October 3, 2011. [11]

On March 22, 2012, Scripps Networks Interactive announced that it had agreed to pay £65m (US$102.7m) to acquire Travel Channel International Limited (TCI), the UK-based broadcaster that ran travel-themed television channels under the Travel Channel brand across the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific markets, but had no connection with the American television channel of the same name until that time. [12] The deal was completed on May 1, 2012, following regulatory approval. [13] The channels ran by TCI were rebranded after the American channel since then.

In May 2013, Scripps Networks Interactive announced that it would open a Brazilian headquarters, in São Paulo, [14] and had appointed the former vice-president of strategy of Fox as managing director, [15] broadcasting its channels to the entire Latin America region. [14]

On June 5, 2013, the company launched ulive, a digital-only lifestyle video brand that combined video content from the company's media brands with third-party videos and original series. Later rebranded as Lifestyle Studios, his video portal and distribution network expanded on the company's food, home and travel verticals, adding coverage for topics including parenting and wellness. [16]

By way of its acquisition of Polish company N-Vision, Scripps Networks Interactive gained a 52.7% controlling interest in Polish broadcaster TVN in March 2015 for $615.3 million (€584 million) from ITI Group and French media giant Vivendi. [17] [18] The company bought out TVN's remaining owners, ITI Group and Canal+ Group in July 2015. [19]

On May 3, 2017, Scripps acquired millennial-targeted food website Spoon University. [20]

Acquisition by Discovery

On July 31, 2017, Discovery Communications announced that it would acquire Scripps Networks Interactive for $14.6 billion in a cash and stock deal. [21] Discovery will establish an operational hub in Knoxville, but the company also announced plans to relocate its worldwide headquarters from Silver Spring, Maryland to New York City in 2019. [22]

On February 6, 2018, the European Commission approved the deal. Since Liberty Global, which operates pay television services in Poland under the UPC Polska brand, is a major shareholder in Discovery Communications, the EU required that Discovery ensure the continued availability of TVN24 and TVN24 BiS to third-party television providers. [23] [24]

The purchase was approved by the U.S. Department of Justice on February 27, 2018, [25] and was completed on March 6, 2018; at that time, the company also changed its name to Discovery, Inc. [26] SNI's chief programmer Kathleen Finch was retained as Discovery's Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer, overseeing the former SNI channels, as well as Discovery lifestyle networks such as TLC. [27] In turn, Discovery, Inc. merged with WarnerMedia in April 2022 to form Warner Bros. Discovery; Finch was subsequently promoted to head of U.S. Networks, overseeing all non-premium cable networks run by Warner Bros. Discovery (besides Magnolia Network, which reports to HBO head Casey Bloys). [28] [29] [30]

Assets

United States

International

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TLC (TV network)</span> American multinational pay television channel

TLC is an American multinational cable and satellite television network owned by the Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. First established in 1980 as The Learning Channel, it initially focused on educational and instructional programming. By the late 1990s, after an acquisition by Discovery, Inc. earlier in the decade, the network began to pivot towards reality television programming — predominantly focusing on programming involving lifestyles and personal stories — to the point that the previous name with "The Learning Channel" spelled out was phased out in favor of its initialism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food Network</span> American basic cable channel Launched in November 23 1993

Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks and Nexstar Media Group. Despite this ownership structure, Warner Bros. Discovery has operating control of the channel, and manages and operates it as a division of the Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Networks Group. The channel airs both special and regular episodic programs about food and cooking.

UKTV Media Limited, trading as UKTV, is a British multi-channel broadcaster, which, since 2019, has been wholly owned by BBC Studios, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. It was formed on 1 November 1992 through a joint venture between the BBC and Thames Television. It is one of the United Kingdom's largest television companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discovery, Inc.</span> American factual media company (1985–2022)

Discovery, Inc. was an American multinational mass media factual television conglomerate based in New York City. Established in 1982, the company operated a group of factual and lifestyle television brands, such as the namesake Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and TLC. In 2018, the company acquired Scripps Networks Interactive, adding networks such as Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel to its portfolio. Since the purchase, Discovery described itself as serving members of "passionate" audiences, and also placed a focus on streaming services built around its properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVN (Polish TV channel)</span> Polish commercial television network

TVN is a Polish free-to-air television station, network and a media and entertainment group in Poland. It was co-founded by Polish businessmen Mariusz Walter, Jan Wejchert and Swiss entrepreneur Bruno Valsangiacomo. It is owned by TVN Group, which as of April 2022, is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Current CEO is Katarzyna Kieli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel Channel</span> American pay television channel

Travel Channel is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which had previously owned the channel from 1997 to 2007. The channel is headquartered in Manhattan, with offices in Silver Spring, Maryland and Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great American Family</span> American digital cable and satellite television network

Great American Family is an American cable television network. Owned by Great American Media, it broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnolia Network</span> American cable television channel

Magnolia Network is an American basic cable network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and Chip and Joanna Gaines. It broadcasts personality-based lifestyle programs related to topics such as home construction, renovation, and cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel Channel International</span> Television channel

Travel Channel International is a commercial television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and broadcasting travel-themed programmes in the EMEA regions and Asia Pacific, spanning 21 on-air languages.

RIVR Media is an American-based TV production company, specializing in reality and documentary programming. RIVR is responsible for Fixer to Fabulous, Whale Wars, Trading Spaces, Escaping Polygamy, Fat Guys in the Woods, Renovation Realities, Going RV, Friday Night Impossible with Jerry Rice, Great American Heroes featuring Trace Adkins, Run My Renovation, and much more. It provides programming for cable networks, including A&E, HGTV, DIY Network, GAC, Lifetime Movie Network, MTV, Fine Living, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Weather Channel, History Channel, ESPN, Animal Planet, Game Show Network, TLC, Nickelodeon, Food Network, Court TV and TNN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HGTV</span> American pay television

HGTV is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The network primarily broadcasts reality programming related to home improvement and real estate.

James Donald Samples Jr. is an American businessman and media executive. He is best known as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of TNT Latin America and Cartoon Network Latin America from 2000 to 2001, the General Manager and Executive Vice President of The Cartoon Network, Inc. from 2001 to 2007, the President of HGTV from 2007 to 2011, the President of Scripps Networks International since 2011, and the President of the Management Board at TVN Group from 2016 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVN Group</span> Polish media company

TVN S.A. is a Polish media and entertainment group established in 1995 as TVN Sp. z o.o. The CEO of TVN Group is Katarzyna "Kasia" Kieli, president and managing director of TVN Warner Bros. Discovery. Its TV channel, TVN, is their flagship.

Susan Packard is an American business executive and author who was a cofounder of HGTV, DYI Network and several other Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) network channels.

This is a timeline of Discovery, a network of television channels owned by Discovery Inc. that broadcast in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Bros. Discovery</span> American mass media and entertainment conglomerate

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It was formed from WarnerMedia's spin-off by AT&T and merger with Discovery, Inc. on April 8, 2022.

Warner Bros. Discovery International, formerly known as Turner Broadcasting System International and WarnerMedia International, is an international unit of Warner Bros. Discovery led by president Gerhard Zeiler. The division oversees the production, broadcasting and promotion of key WBD brands outside of the United States. These brands include Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, HBO, TLC, TBS, TNT, and Warner TV, as well as Polish owned TVN Group channels and has a stake of some networks operated by CTV Speciality Television Inc., a joint venture between Bell Media and ESPN Inc. such as Discovery and Animal Planet.

Warner Bros. Discovery Networks, formerly known as WarnerMedia Entertainment and WarnerMedia Studios & Networks, is an American mass media division of Warner Bros. Discovery that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and assets owned and operated in the United States. Its related international division is Warner Bros. Discovery International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVN Warner Bros. Discovery</span> Polish media company

TVN Warner Bros. Discovery has been subsumed into Warner Bros. Discovery in Poland, alongside other group assets including Eurosport and HBO Max.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scripps Networks Interactive". Forbes .
  2. "Scripps Networks Interactive". Fortune. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  3. "Susan Packard Drove Home HGTV's Culture While Ratings Sprouted". Investors.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  4. "Susan Packard of HGTV and Scripps Networks Interactive shares advice at Business Women First event". Albuquerque Business First. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Lail, Jack D. (July 26, 2017). "Scripps family considers offers for Knoxville-based Scripps Networks Interactive". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  6. "Scripps spins off interactive company". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  7. Staff, Edit (October 16, 2007). "E.W. Scripps to Split in Two; Scripps Networks Interactive to be Spun Off to Shareholders". Gigaom. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  8. Yarow, Jay (November 5, 2009). "Scripps Picks Up The Travel Channel In $975 Million Deal". Business Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  9. "Travel Channel Invests in Oyster.com". The New York Times. April 25, 2011.
  10. Szalai, Georg (April 29, 2016). "UKTV: Future of Scripps, BBC Joint Venture in Focus". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  11. "Scripps Networks Interactive and Virgin Media Complete UKTV Transaction". MarketWatch. October 3, 2011.
  12. "Scripps buys Travel Channel Int'l". C21Media. March 22, 2012.
  13. "Scripps Networks Interactive completes Travel Channel International acquisition". New York Times. May 1, 2012.
  14. 1 2 Kimenez, Keila. "Chega ao Brasil nova programadora de TV paga". Folha de S. Paulo . Folha.com. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  15. "Scripps Networks contrata Márcio Fonseca como "managing director"". Tela Viva. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  16. "Scripps Networks Interactive Debuts ulive Video Site". October 13, 2013.
  17. "Scripps buys majority stake in TVN". C21media. March 16, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  18. "Scripps Networks Interactive sfinalizował przejęcie TVN" . Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  19. Dickens, Andrew (July 2, 2015). "Scripps completes TVN purchase". C21media. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  20. "Scripps Networks to buy Spoon University in online push". Reuters . May 3, 2017.
  21. Szalai, Georg (July 31, 2017). "Discovery to Acquire Scripps Networks for $14.6 Billion". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  22. Steinberg, Brian (January 9, 2018). "Discovery Communications to Shift Headquarters to New York City". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  23. "Case M.8665 – Discovery / Scripps" (PDF). European Commission. February 6, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  24. "European Commission Clears Discovery Deal to Buy Scripps". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  25. "Discovery Gets Justice Department Clearance to Buy Scripps". The Hollywood Reporter. February 27, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  26. Szalai, Georg (March 6, 2018). "Discovery Closes Scripps Acquisition, Creating Non-scripted Content Giant". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  27. Hipes, Patrick (March 1, 2018). "Rich Ross Out At Discovery In Exec Shakeup; Scripps' Kathleen Finch Adds To Oversight". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  28. Maas, Jennifer (April 8, 2022). "Discovery Closes Acquisition of AT&T's WarnerMedia". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  29. Maas, Jennifer (April 8, 2022). "What Warner Bros. Discovery Looks Like on Day 1". Variety. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  30. Hayes, Dade (April 9, 2022). "Warner Bros Discovery Merger: Who's In, Who's Out In The Executive Ranks". Deadline. Retrieved April 9, 2022.