Scripps Networks Launches Food Network HD; Lands International Licensing Agreement in Japan

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2006--Scripps Networks' high definition networks, HGTV HD and Food Network HD, are going global.

Food Network HD will launch June 30, joining HGTV HD as Scripps' second high definition network to launch in the last three months. In addition to its carriage in the U.S., programming from both networks will be seen internationally following Scripps Networks' first international high definition programming agreement with Japan News Broadcasting Corporation. The agreement brings high definition programming from HGTV, Food Network and FINE LIVING TV NETWORK to the Foxlife Channel.

“The number of high definition sets in Japan continues to increase, therefore we have to increase the programming we offer”

"HGTV HD has been very popular since its launch in April, and we fully expect Food Network HD will be widely accepted as well," said John Lansing, president of Scripps Networks. "Both satellite and cable distributors in the U.S. continue to express interest in carrying these two networks, and obviously with this agreement, international distributors are just as interested."

Already, Scripps Networks has reached an agreement for carriage of both HGTV HD and Food Network HD with one of the large satellite providers, giving the new networks a national footprint. Additional cable providers that will distribute the high definition networks include Wide Open West in the Chicago, Detroit, Columbus and Cleveland DMAs, Buckeye Cable in the Toledo, Ohio area and Sunflower Broadband and Everest Connections in the Kansas City DMA. Scripps Networks international group also has an agreement to distribute HGTV and FINE LIVING programming in high definition in Japan.

Among the high definition programs which will be seen in Japan are Extreme Homes of Europe, Offbeat America, reZoned and Small Space/Big Style from HGTV, Everyday Italian, Good Deal with Dave Lieberman and Giada's Italian Holiday from Food Network and Dwell from FINE LIVING.

"We're seeing a surge in the popularity of high definition worldwide," said Kristen Jordan, senior vice president of international development for Scripps Networks. "International broadcasters are seeking high definition programming that is not only beautiful but also substantive, offering both entertainment and information. Scripps Networks has a large catalog of programming to offer from all of our lifestyle brands that meet this need."

Chris Forrester, author of The Business of Digital Television, said, "Consumers in Japan have embraced high-def as enthusiastically as their counterparts in the U.S. The InterBee Expo held late in 2005 in Makuhari, Japan, featured halls full of the latest tempting high-definition equipment, including a 2,000-line 'super HD' set," Forrester said. Standard definition televisions typically feature 480 lines of detail, while most HDTV sets are 1,080 lines.

"The number of high definition sets in Japan continues to increase, therefore we have to increase the programming we offer," said Yoshitsugu Koizumi, senior vice president/general manager of News Broadcasting Co., Ltd. "We're thrilled to be able to offer our viewers something other than the typical sports and movies programming."

News Broadcasting Japan Co., Ltd. (NBJ) is a Japanese subsidiary of the Fox International Group, Inc., which is part of the FOX Entertainment Group. The FOX Entertainment Group is principally engaged in the development, production and worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television broadcasting and cable network programming within News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A). NBJ operates and distributes the FOX and National Geographic channels in Japan through the satellite TV platform "SKY PerfectTV!" as well as through cable TV and various other broadband services. NBJ distributes the FOXlifeHD channel exclusively on cable TV.

About Scripps Networks

Scripps Networks is comprised of the lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, FINE LIVING TV NETWORK and country music network Great American Country (GAC). Scripps is the leading developer of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, where on-air programming is complemented with online content.

In addition, Scripps Networks has launched HGTV and Food Network in high definition, and is aggressively developing its emerging media platforms for broadband and video on demand. Scripps Networks' brands collectively are available in more than 160 countries and territories on all seven continents. They also are distributed to more than 1,000 outlets on U.S. military bases and U.S. embassies around the world via the American Forces Radio and Television Service.

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Nashville and San Francisco, Scripps Networks is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP), a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks and interactive media. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations, Scripps Howard News Service, United Media and Shopzilla.com.