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Scripps Networks taps Yahoo! exec to head interactive group

March 20, 2007
 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Monday, March 19, 2007) – Scripps Networks, which has doubled its interactive ad sales revenue in each of the last two years, has hired Deanna Brown for the newly created position of president, Interactive Group. Scripps Networks, the leading developer of lifestyle media for television, the Internet and other emerging platforms, is the fastest growing division of The E.W. Scripps Company, posting revenues of more than $1 billion in 2006.

Brown brings to Scripps Networks more than 20 years as a strategic business executive with expertise in new businesses in media, entertainment and technology. Most recently, Brown served as the general manager of Yahoo! Media Group’s Lifestyles business unit, where she repositioned healthy.yahoo.com and launched food.yahoo.com. Her previous experience includes serving as vice president/general manager of the Life Management division of AOL, where she led numerous initiatives including a Diet/Fitness area, a Billpay product and a coupon offering. Brown also was responsible for the re-launch of AOL’s Food, Finance, Research & Learn as well as Home and Real Estate verticals.

“Deanna is exactly the person we need to add to the tradition of innovation and growth that Scripps Networks has built in the interactive space,” said John Lansing, president of Scripps Networks. “With her experience and leadership skills, we will continue to extend our interactive business beyond our existing brands to include the entire food and shelter categories.”

Scripps Networks’ flagship brands, HGTV and Food Network, are not only popular television networks, but also are the leading Web sites in the home and food genres. The robust interactive properties created by Scripps, which include a dozen broadband channels focused on topics such as kitchen, bath design, gardening, crafts and healthy eating, attracted an average of more than 13 million unique visitors per month in 2006.

Brown, whose career also included development of several interactive brands at Conde Nast and a stint as president of Brill Media Holdings, said the timing is right to make the move to Scripps Networks, where she will report directly to Lansing.

“Scripps Networks is fast becoming synonymous with all things food and shelter, which presents a tremendous opportunity in the media marketplace,” Brown said. “I certainly will miss my team at Yahoo!, but I am looking forward to being a part of such a dynamic organization at Scripps.”

About Scripps Networks

In addition to HGTV and Food Network, Scripps Networks also owns DIY Network, FINE LIVING TV Network, and country music network Great American Country (GAC). Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Scripps Networks employs close to 1,500 people, with offices in New York, Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Brown will be based in the New York office.

Scripps Networks is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP), a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks and interactive media.  Based in Cincinnati, The E.W. Scripps Company operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations, Scripps Howard News Service, United Media and two new interactive businesses, Shopzilla and U-Switch.