Food Network “Too Profitable” Says TV Food Fan
01 12 2007A post over at TV Food Fan titled Food Network — Too Profitable?!? caught my attention today. And yes, I agree with them. TVFF talks about the strong market Scripps (FN’s parent company) has seen in the cable network industry. I’ve posted about it before, in my entry titled I Want My Food Network?! – a businessweek article talks about how Scripps is seeing much more success with FN, which is saving the company. Their other cable network channels are also seeing success (who hasn’t heard the catchy “you should see what’s on H-G-TV!”) through their other cable network markets – HGTV and DIYNetwork. Wholy crap! They own Fine Living, GAC too!
This is just a side comment – but do you guys notice how much Scripps channels market their sister channels? They do it quite often.
One other strong point TVFF mentions is the move to online media – I agree that this will be a very strong market for FN, and I’m sure they know that, too. As far back as I can remember, when Alton Brown had a thick head of hair and before Rachel Ray even thought of the “yumm-o” catchphrase, they were pushing “log onto foodtv.com for more”. So, obviously, Foodnetwork has seen value in online media, and that’s great. It’s a much better market rather than their newspaper business. Who reads those old things, anyway? 
