CINCINNATI, Ohio – The E. W. Scripps Company’s consolidated revenues rose 12 percent in August to $96.7 million, compared to $86.3 million in August 1996. Newspaper advertising revenue increased nearly 15 percent to $44.4 million and total newspaper revenues moved up 13 percent to $59.7 million. Revenues from the television station group increased 5.8 percent to $25.3 million. The year-ago month included $1 million in political advertising versus $100,000 this year. Entertainment division revenues moved up 22 percent to $11.7 million. The E. W. Scripps Company operates nine television stations; daily newspapers in 16 markets; United Media, a worldwide syndicator and licensor of news features and comics; two television production companies, Scripps Howard Productions and Cinetel Productions; and the Home & Garden Television network. Scripps has announced an agreement to acquire the daily newspapers now operated by Harte-Hanks Communications and a separate agreement to acquire controlling interest in The Food Network from Belo Communications.