The Scripps Interactive portfolio of cable networks will look to continue its run of strong ratings with a bevy of news shows set to debut in 2016-17, officials said during the company’s upfront presentation Tuesday morning in New York.
Scripps rolled out new content for HGTV, Food Network, DIY, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country during the presentation as it builds on the groups’ ratings momentum with a stable of hit shows that both attract adults and families along with advertisers.
“We’ve been successful by laser focusing on single genre networks in the home, food and travel categories,” said Jon Steinlauf, president of national ad sales and marketing for Scripps Networks Interactive. “By staying in those lanes and making the best products that we can, the results are a collection of iconic brands that our viewers have come to love and trust.”
Leading the way is HGTV, which set a ratings record during the first quarter 2016 and will premiere 17 new series throughout the years. New shows include Listed Sisters, which follows real-estate and home design sisters Alana and Lex LeBlanc; Good Bones, which features mother/daughter home flipping duo Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak, and renovation series Home Town, Masters Of Flip and Vintage Flip. The network is also planning an as-yet-titled project featuring actress Gabrielle Union and her husband, NBA star Dwyane Wade.
Sister home improvement-themed network DIY Network has ordered 360 hours of original home improvement programming, including new series Sight Unseen and Nashville Flipped, said officials.
Food Network and Cooking Channel TV combined will add more than 30 news series including such series as 12 Hungry Yelpers, in which online reviewers help restaurants in need of a reputation upgrade; Cake Masters, starring cake master Duff Goldman, and Cooks vs. Cons, in which home cooks are pitted against professionals, said network officials.
Travel Channel will add several celebrity names to its lineup of programming with new shows The Best Place To Be, from actress/entrepreneur Queen Latifah; and Celebrity Adventure Club, featuring actors John Cryer, Terry Crews and Eric Stonestreet.
Great American Country will bring back series such as Going RV and Lake Guys as part of the network’s 470 hours of lifestyle programming, said network officials.
