KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shannon O’Neill, who has been central to the strategic evolution and development of Travel Channel, has been named president of the network.
O’Neill takes the helm after serving three years as Travel Channel’s senior vice president and chief financial officer. He was appointed today to the top leadership role by Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (NYSE: SNI), Travel Channel’s controlling and majority owner.
As Travel Channel president, O’Neill will be responsible for furthering the network’s ongoing transformation into a powerhouse lifestyle media brand.
Travel Channel, which reaches more than 96 million U.S. television households, is one of three fully distributed television networks owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, a leader in developing lifestyle programming for television, the Internet and mobile platforms. The company also owns and operates HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.
O’Neill will report to Burton Jablin, president of the company’s Scripps Networks operating division. His appointment is effective immediately.
“Shannon is an outstanding leader and strategic thinker with extensive experience creating new media businesses, building audiences and growing revenues,” Jablin said. “His mission as president of Travel Channel will be to deliver programming that embraces and celebrates travel as a video content category, while increasing the network’s audience profile of upscale, educated and highly valued viewers.”
In his role as senior vice president and chief financial officer for the network, O’Neill has led strategic planning and core financial reporting and provided analysis and insight into the network’s overall performance. He also has been leading Travel Channel’s digital strategy and operations.
“Our mission at Travel Channel is to build a team of engaging, expert hosts who accompany our viewers on amazing journeys, adventures and experiences,” O’Neill said. “We’re harnessing and building on travel’s power as a transformative force in our lives and its value as a growing consumer lifestyle category. With our focus on quality, original programming we celebrate the fundamental need human beings have to connect with other people, places and cultures.”
Before joining Travel Channel, O’Neill served three years as senior vice president and general manager of Golf Channel’s digital media business. Under his direction, Golf Channel’s digital revenues grew tenfold. He had previously served as vice president of emerging networks for Comcast’s programming group, where he was responsible for developing and launching new media businesses. In that role he guided the launch of FEARnet, the first multi-platform horror genre network, in partnership with Sony and Lionsgate.
O’Neill is a graduate of the University of Delaware and the Cable Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is based at Travel Channel headquarters in Chevy Chase, Md.
About Scripps Networks Interactive
Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) is one of the leading developers of engaging lifestyle content in the home, food and travel categories for television, the Internet and emerging platforms. The company's lifestyle media portfolio comprises popular television and Internet brands HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country, which collectively reach more than 170 million consumers each month. Companion websites complement on-air programming with video and social media that inform and inspire. Scripps global networks reach millions of consumers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For more information, please visit scrippsnetworksinteractive.com.
