By Deana DiSalvio
Logo, SNI
9721 Sherrill Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37932 865.694.2700
www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com
Scripps Network Interactive (SNI), a leader in cable television network, advancing digital media platforms, publishing, and a developer in lifestyle programming across multiple communication mediums. Specializing in lifestyle content through cable networks, such as The Cooking Channel, The Travel Channel, and HGTV. The company also has minority interest in regional sports network, FOX Sports Net South, and internationally, with a significant stake in the United Kingdom television broadcaster, UKTV. The company has made significant strides in branding their own products, such as Food Network Kitchenware, and by teaming up with well-known brands, such as, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams.
Logo, Diversity Lives Here
Priding itself on diversity, SNI aims to drive the behaviors and success in the workforce and marketplace. Combined with the consumer-centric philosophy, focusing on delivering content, products, and services whenever and wherever a consumer wants it, that very focus established and continues to sustain the company as a leader in lifestyle. [1]
History
SNI began as a Cleveland, Ohio The Penny Press, started in 1878 by Edward W. Scripps. The newspaper had increased post-war publishing success, and the Scripps Company moved toward the business of locally operated television. Prompted by the desire to not depend on advertising revenue [2], the company established itself in cable; buying and building television systems. By the 80s, the company’s reputation was one of America’s largest cable operators.
Innovations in technology began to excel in the 1990s, and the Scripps Company began to immerse themselves even more within cable television. Scripps began building the company further by purchasing Cinetel Productions, a Knoxville, Tennessee based cable programmer, and shortly after announced the launch of the Home and Garden Television. Taking the first steps with HGTV, the company began to carve out a defined reputation formed around lifestyle programming.
The company’s shift from newspaper to broadcast television, cable programming to the Internet, was complete. The creation of long-term value for their shareholders, moved the company into the future of the technological age. A separation that divided the company’s television lifestyle brands, and global Internet services occurred in 2008, which created two publicly-traded companies. [2]
SNI, Brands
Now a leading media enterprise, that still publishes magazines, SNI has a significant presence in television broadcasting, as well as a strong hold over the advantageous ways of the Internet in interactivity, marketing, and accessibility.
Key People
The current President of Scripps Network Interactive is John F. Lansing. The current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Scripps Network Interactive is Kenneth W. Lowe, and who is credited for building the company into the success brand it is today. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is Joseph G. Necastro.
Products
Ad., HGTV
Ad., Do It Yourself
The major brands of SNI include variety and insights to approaches in lifestyle. The Networks first major brand is Home and Garden Television (HGTV), which is a leader in home and lifestyle television programming. Some television shows include House Hunters or Kitchen Cousins, which include remodeling, refurbishing, and decorating households by expert designers. HGTV products are sold, from home decor for bathrooms and bedrooms, to advice from professional interior designers and landscapers.
Along similar lines of home decoration and improvement, the brand Do It Yourself (DIY), which provides ‘How To’ descriptions and videos for household renovations online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlrE0A_NBiw&feature=share&list=UUgezeU5ToWz2Eg5JjuIctng
Ad., Food Network
Food Network, includes Chef’s advice, recipes, entertaining tips on decorations as a host, and restaurant recommendations online and in their subscriber magazine, Food Network Magazine. Popular television shows include The Next Iron Chef, a competitive culinary showdown that selects the next best chef to take the honorable position and title of Iron Chef. Renowned chefs and recognizable personalities are also associated with the network, such as Giada De Laurentiis, with her own show, Giada at Home. Other popularized personalities include the likes of; Mario Batali, Rachel Ray, and Paula Deen.
Host, Giada De Laurentiis
Ad., Cooking Channel
The Cooking Channel, which has online recipes and cooking videos, as well as television programming, focusing on the culinary aspect of creating and eating healthy, enjoyable food. Some familiar hosts are Bobby Flay, who has a T.V. show, Brunch @ Bobby’s, as well as Emeril Lagasse, who has a show, Fresh Food Fast. CityEats is also a brand, in partnership with the Food Network, in which brings light to the public, the world of restaurants with quality food, experience, and the experimentation of chefs, nationwide. The brand aims to provide the consumer with a genuine and overall enjoyable experience of dining out, while diversifying palate and cultural exposure through gastronomy. [4]
The Great American Country is a brand of the Scripps, which broadcasts country music entertainment, such as live concerts and country artist music videos. Television programming consists of shows like, Great American Heroes, hosted by country singer and philanthropist Trace Adkins, as well as the show Living Countryfied, which highlights food, festivals, and traditions across the nation.
Ad., Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is another brand that explores the world at large; from hotel booking and destination advice, to VIP Sweepstakes Vacation Prizes, the brand ultimately brings different cultures and places to the consumer. Television shows include writer and chef Anthony Bourdain’s, No Reservations, as well as the competitive show, Man vs. Food with Adam Richman. Whether an individual needs to take a business trip in a city they’ve never been, or one would like historical tour of a European city, the network provides rankings and reviews for the latter. The network has introduced The Layover App, for iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch, which provides consumers with the ability to plan their trip on-the-go, equipped with maps and timelines anywhere: the ultimate travel guide. The app coincides with The Layover, which premiered this fall.
Major Competitors
Some of the company’s top competitors are NBCUniversal Media, LLC, Discovery Communications, Inc., and MTV Networks Company.
Finances
This year, 2012, the company reported to the Wall Street Journal above the expected net income for the second quarter (August). The company’s net income rose from $142.4 million, compared to last year’s second quarter, which was reported at $77.4 million. [5]
Wall Street Journal, Interactive Chart
The company continued to maintain strong profits in the third quarter (November). Scripps reported that net income rose about 20.1% to $118.4 million, compare to last year’s third quarter, reported at $98.6 million. [6]
Recent News
In the beginning of 2012, the company acquired the company RealGravity Inc., which specializes in online video publishing technologies. Scripps hopes to benefit from the innovative platforms that RealGravity develops, creating an stronger interactive digital team. [7]
Also this year, the company reached a long-time agreement with Comcast Xfinity, to bring more of Scripps television programming to different media platforms. “This agreement benefits our viewers and Comcast customers, making available on multiple platforms – both in home and out of home – our lifestyle programming that viewers are so passionate about,” said Henry Ahn, executive vice president of distribution strategy at SNI. [8]
More recent, the The Edward W. Scripps Trust ended, which controlled SNI since 2008, when the company became independent publicly traded. The grandson of the founder of the company, Robert P. Scripps, passed away, and was the last of the descendants upon which the trust was based. Meetings to distribute the assets have been underway, however will not occur immediately due to customary legal proceedings. [9]
Most recent, A.B. Cruz III, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at SNI, announced his resignation. He is stepping down because he wishes to fulfill his military responsibilities as a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Cruz held his position at SNI for 8 years, and his successor, Cynthia L. Gibson, member of the Senior Management Team at SNI, was appointed shortly after his announcement. [10]
Community Involvement
The company is extremely involved in the community. One effort is through the national partnership between the company and Share Our Strength. The organization aims to end childhood hunger in America by ensuring healthy food every day. [11] In 2011, Scripps provided 3.5 million meals to children at the risk of hunger, as well as invested $20 million dollars in educational and entertaining promotional value for healthy eating.
Logo, Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together. Scripps also pledged $15 million dollars in 2011 to support the program Rebuilding Together, in which provides extensive home rehabilitation and modification services to homeowners in need. [3] The partnership aided in the completion of 10,000 construction projects. Some other partnerships that the company has solidified are; American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Environmental Media Institution.
Due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy 2012, the company donated to the Disaster Relief Effort $250,000, through the American Red Cross, to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Along with this corporate donation, Scripps Networks Interactive is matching dollar-for-dollar employee donations to the American Red Cross through its corporate social responsibility program, Change the World. [12]
Reference
1. http://www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/our-company/diversity/
2. http://www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/our-company/history/
3.http://www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/outreach/home/
4. http://www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/our-brands/cityeats/
11.http://www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/outreach/food/