Scripps Networks Going Broadband

Scripps Networks said Monday that it will launch several broadband channels over the next year.

The programmer said each broadband service will feature “highly specific programming within its existing lifestyle categories for direct delivery to targeted consumers and affinity groups via the Internet.”

Scripps said the first broadband channel it will develop will focus on kitchen design -- an area that has demonstrated a high degree of interest on HGTV.com (www.hgtv.com) and DIYnetwork.com (www.diynetwork.com) -- and the second will be project- or hobby-related, while the third is likely to be related to food.

Scripps also made some personnel moves to support its broadband rollout.

Burton Jablin, president of Home & Garden Television, was recently named executive vice president of Scripps Networks, overseeing the programmer’s broader content strategy, and Peter Clem shifted from Scripps Productions, where he was a leading producer, to VP of broadband programming and production.

“With more and more people accessing video through high-speed-Internet connections, we see an opportunity to expand our reach by offering new online channels programmed to targeted niche audiences within the home, food and lifestyle categories," Scripps Networks president John Lansing said in a prepared statement.

“We will be leveraging the power of our lifestyle brands and their popular Web sites to ‘super serve’ audiences with specific passions related to our cable networks,” he added.

Scripps Networks is the parent of HGTV, Food Network, Do It Yourself, Fine Living, Shop at Home and Great American Country.