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Discovery, Scripps merger gets approval from European Commission
Discovery Communications Inc. announced today that the European Commission has approved its acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive. The merger was announced last July and both companies' shareholders voted to approve the $14.6 billion deal in November. Discovery, which owns TLC, Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel will gain Scripps holdings such as HGTV, Food Network and the Travel Channel and once combined, the company will control around 20 percent of ad-supported, pay-TV audiences in the US.
Discovery acquires HGTV parent company in $14.6 billion TV deal
Discovery Communications is acquiring Scripps Networks Interactive in a $14.6 billion deal announced today. Once finalized, Discovery will produce around 8,000 hours of original programming yearly and 7 billion short-form video streams monthly. It will also control approximately 20 percent of ad-supported, pay-TV audiences in the US and host eight of viewers' top 10 favorite channels.
Scripps Networks channels (Food, HGTV, etc.) restored to AT&T's U-Verse
That was fast. HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and GAC are back on the dial for U-Verse customers now that parent company Scripps Networks and AT&T have worked out an agreement. Unfortunately, there's no fiery press release to remark on this time, AT&T's website only says that it's satisfied to reach a fair deal that "helps us with important strategic content initiatives." 'Nuff said. [Thanks, Jay]
U-verse loses HGTV, Food & other Scripps networks during latest carriage dispute
Well, we can't say we weren't warned. It appears AT&T and Scripps Networks have been unable to reach a price for the family of TV channels including HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and GAC, resulting in them disappearing at 1 a.m. last night. Naturally, each side has issued press releases (included after the break) and put up websites accusing the other of being unreasonable, unfair, and undoubtedly being the cause of the mess though curiously this time around it's the content provider Scripps claiming U-verse refused an extension while negotiations continued. In the meantime, AT&T suggests subscribers check out TLC and others on a free preview to fill the gap -- we'll see how long that lasts, it's the real Bobby Flay or nothing where we come from.
Food Network, HGTV are back on Cablevision
It took three weeks, but Scripps & Cablevision have settled their differences, allowing Food Network and HGTV to return to New York area cable customers this afternoon. Both sides had plenty of tough talk New Year's Day when the channels disappeared, but all that's faded into the general "we're glad to be back on" PR-speak. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed but we hear Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri will be suiting up for the Knicks tonight, which could explain the lengthy negotiations.
