Scripps Networks' Do It Yourself is doing things with someone new in charge
for the first time since its December 1999 launch.
Taking charge of the channel as president this week is Bob Baskerville.
He's not unfamiliar with matters there, having served previously as senior
vice president of production with Scripps Productions, which supplies many
series to DIY, as well as to sister Scripps services Home & Garden
Television, Food Network and Fine Living. The unit is responsible for 80% of
DIY's programming, according to Scripps Networks president Ed Spray.
Earlier, Baskerville spent six years at E! Entertainment Television on
various assignments.
Jim Zarchin, DIY's president from the start, will continue on with Scripps in
a senior-management role for Shop at Home, the broadcast/cable-distributed home
retailing venture acquired earlier this year.
"The network is clearly focused on its mission, programming and target
audience," Baskerville said in a prepared statement. "I'm coming in at an
opportune time."
DIY can be seen in about 17.5 million households nationwide, and it
anticipates distribution beyond 20 million households by the end of the
year.
