CINCINNATI – Mark Hale, who helped launch Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and guided the design and construction of the Scripps Networks technology center in Knoxville, Tenn., has been named vice president of technology operations for The E. W. Scripps Company, effective immediately.In his new role, Hale will oversee the Scripps information technology group, which provides strategic technological support for all of the company’s national and local media businesses. Hale, 46, also will continue to serve as executive vice president of operations for Scripps Networks, which includes the company’s growing portfolio of national television networks and other electronic content services. In addition to HGTV, Scripps Networks lifestyle television brands include Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living and Great American Country.“Mark Hale has a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities that are driving media businesses in this age of rapid technological change,” said Kenneth W. Lowe, president and chief executive officer for Scripps. “As a recognized leader in media technology development, we’ve relied on his knowledge and expertise to help build our successful Scripps Networks division. Our intention now is to leverage Mark’s talent across the entire enterprise.”Hale succeeds B. Jeff Craig, who has chosen to leave the company after serving four years as chief technology officer. Hale has 20 years experience developing and overseeing media technologies. He was a member of the original Scripps management team that oversaw the launch of HGTV in 1994. He currently is steering the company’s intended launch in 2006 of two high definition television services – HGTV-HD and Food Network-HD.As executive vice president of operations for Scripps Networks, Hale oversees the division’s content development unit – Scripps Productions – and is responsible for property development and facilities management of the division’s nation-wide offices, headquarters and state-of-the-art technical center in Knoxville. He also oversees Scripps Networks technical facilities in New York and is responsible for the division’s information technology, broadcast operations, network transmission and engineering.Hale also oversees production, broadcast operations and engineering for Shop at Home, the company’s television commerce subsidiary, as well has having oversight responsibilities for Shop at Home’s five affiliated broadcast television stations. Before joining Scripps in 1994, Hale worked seven years building, engineering and overseeing operations for E! Entertainment Television’s production facility in Los Angeles. He also was a member of the start-up management team for the Movietime cable television network. Hale and his family reside in Knoxville. About ScrippsScripps is a diverse media concern with interests in national lifestyle television networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television, television retailing, interactive media and licensing and syndication. All of the company’s media businesses provide content and advertising services via the Internet.Scripps is organized into the following operating divisions. Scripps Networks, including the company’s growing portfolio of popular lifestyle television networks. Scripps Networks brands include Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country (GAC) and HGTVPro. Scripps Networks Web sites include FoodNetwork.com, HGTV.com, DIYnetwork.com, fineliving.com and gactv.com. Scripps Networks programming can be seen in 86 countries.Scripps Newspapers, including daily and community newspapers in 19 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service. Scripps newspapers include the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel and the Ventura County (Calif.) Star. Scripps Television Station Group, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent. Scripps operates broadcast television stations in Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Tampa, Baltimore, Kansas City, Mo., West Palm Beach, Fla., Tulsa, Okla., and Lawrence, Kan.Shop at Home, the company’s television retailing subsidiary, which markets a growing range of consumer goods directly to television viewers and visitors to the Shop at Home Web site, shopathometv.com. Shop at Home reaches about 53 million full-time equivalent U.S. households, including 5 million households via five Scripps-owned Shop at Home affiliated television stations.United Media, a leading licensing and syndication company. United Media is the worldwide licensing and syndication home of Peanuts, Dilbert and about 150 other features and characters.