Advanced Television

Scripps wins Travel

November 6, 2009

Scripps Networks, the owner of the Food Network and HGTV, snapped up a majority stake in the Travel Channel. Cox Communications will keep a 35% stake. The agreement between Scripps and Cox concluded a long series of bids by Scripps, the News Corporation and a number of private equity groups.

"Combining the Travel Channel with Food Network and HGTV will make our fast-growing, young company the undisputed global leader in lifestyle programming," Kenneth W. Lowe, the chairman of Scripps Networks, said in a statement.

The joint venture values the relatively low-rated Travel Channel at $975 million — a price many investment bankers and analysts say they believe is rich for the current market.

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