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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.
Lovefilm now streaming food and travel shows in the UK thanks to Scripps deal
Whether you're into comedy, drama, sci-fi or Vikings, Lovefilm Instant is slowly amassing TV content across a number of genres. Today, a deal with Scripps is adding shows from the Food Network and Travel Channel to Amazon's streaming service in the UK, much to the satisfaction of sofa-based jetsetters, wannabe chefs, and those who like to watch others battling with the meat sweats on Man v. Food Nation. Hundreds of episodes are available to watch right now, should you need inspiration for your next holiday or what to cook for dinner tonight. If you're like us, though, you'll just end up ordering pizza when you find you don't have the rare selection of spices needed to do that unpronounceable foreign delicacy justice.
Comcast, Scripps deal brings more internet streaming video on Xfinity TV
While some pay-TV providers are tied up in nasty battles with the studios that provide them content, Comcast and Scripps have just inked an agreement to bring the company's lifestyle programming to cable subscribers over the internet. As noted in the press release (embedded after the break) the multi-year deal brings HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country to Comcast's TV Everywhere portal, via mobile (and "other" devices) and on Scripps websites. Probably not a minor element in the deal is the inclusion of support for Comcast's on the fly ad-insertion for VOD, which should push the efforts of both partners along, although potentially unskippable ads could be less viewer friendly.
Time Warner Cable iPad app adds channels to replace pulled ones
I never thought I'd be writing about Time Warner Cable as an advocate for consumers getting more content, but sure enough, that's what the cable provider has become. After being forced to remove some channels from its newly-introduced streaming iPad app, TWC has added a whole list of new channels into the app for viewing at no extra charge, including A&E, Disney, Bravo, SyFy, Travel Channel and USA. TW even gets a little confrontational on its official blog, going poetic on the channels that they were forced to remove from the app: "Instead of rowing down the river of history and into the future, these programmers have chosen to sit on the bank and kick rocks." Them's fightin' words, and it's pretty impressive to hear from a company that has traditionally gotten a bad rep from even its own customers. Of course, all of this is great news for iPad owners with a Time Warner cable subscription, and it's good news for the rest of us anyway, as more choices in content for Apple's devices benefits most everyone. If you've got the iPad app and the service, you can get started watching right now. [via Engadget]
Travel channel's Bourdain hits EA Vancouver studio, lands role in Boll's Far Cry
Anthony Bourdain is probably the flyest guy you've never heard of -- he's a life long student of the culinary arts, star of the popular show "No Reservations" on the unpopular Travel Channel, and is smarter and better-traveled than a handful of Ernest Hemingways. On top of a stack of best selling books and a successful culinary career, Bourdain now has a few more feats to tack on to his resume following his show's recent trip to Vancouver -- he's a special guest in EA Sports' FIFA Street 3, and and extra in Uwe Boll's next box office train wreck, "Far Cry".Yes, during his trip to the Great White North, Bourdain not only had the opportunity to have a (hideous) character modeled after him at EA Vancouver's swanky headquarters, he also got to drop by the Far Cry set (check it out after the jump), where it seems he received a fairly cold reception from Boll. That's okay, though -- before taking the stage as "Dr. Gets Shot in the Chest", Bourdain added his own commentary about Boll's burgeoning career -- "Perhaps you know his work from such films as 'House of the Dead' and 'Bloodrayne'.""And then," he says with a smug grin, "maybe not."
Travel Channel HD launches
Just as promised, Travel Channel HD has debuted in the first quarter of 2008. It's a happy coincidence -- a survey showed that the Travel Channel was the most anticipated HD programming among existing HD subscribers, and now it's arrived ahead of schedule. HD and exotic locales go hand in hand, and the clarity of HD definitely helps transport the viewer out of the living room. Not surprisingly, the ad campaign being rolled out behind the new channel is themed "Some Things Are Meant for HD." Look (or just start asking) for it from your provider soon!
Discovery Channel added to US iTMS
Today, the Discovery Channel has added a slew of shows to the iTunes Music Store, including the great Mythbusters [iTunes link], plus shows from Discovery Health [iTunes link], Discovery Kids [iTunes link] and The Travel Channel [iTunes link]. I'm glad about it, as most of the shows I watch are on cable.
