Contact Information: Contact: Josh Cramer-Montes (212) 275-1375
WEA Corp. Announces National Distribution Agreement With Scripps Networks
Will Distribute Popular Programming From HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network and FINE LIVING TV NETWORK
| Source: Warner Music Group
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - June 5, 2007) - WEA Corp., Warner Music Group Corp.'s (NYSE : WMG ) U.S. sales and retail distribution company, and Scripps Networks, the
leader in lifestyle media and parent company of cable giants HGTV and Food
Network, today jointly announced an exclusive agreement to market and
distribute select DVD titles of programs from Scripps Networks' line of
lifestyle brands.
The first titles available are from Food Network and include episodes of
programs such as "30 Minute Meals" with Rachael Ray, "Paula's Home Cooking"
featuring Paula Deen, "Boy Meets Grill" hosted by Bobby Flay and "Quick Fix
Meals" with Robin Miller. As part of the agreement, WEA will subsequently
distribute DVD content from all of Scripps' other lines of lifestyle brands
including HGTV, DIY Network, FINE LIVING TV NETWORK and Great American
Country (GAC).
In making the announcement, John Esposito, President and CEO, WEA Corp.,
said, "Scripps Networks continues to develop innovative lifestyle
programming with break-out television personalities. WEA is delighted to
work with Scripps' exciting roster of lifestyle brands and offer them our
sales and marketing expertise along with our extensive distribution
network."
Doug Hurst, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Non-Linear
Distribution, Scripps Networks, added, "As our company continues to grow
and evolve, teaming with a strong distributor such as WEA allows us to have
our leading lifestyle content and popular programs available on DVD in a
variety of national retail outlets."
This agreement represents the first nationally branded television product
to be distributed by WEA Corp., which also distributes other non-music
products including documentaries, theatrical films, comedy, sports,
children's, lifestyle and Japanese animation among others.
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 170 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 18 newspapers,
10 broadcast TV stations, Scripps Howard News Service, United Media,
Shopzilla.com and USwitch.
About WEA Corp.
WEA Corp. was the first major music distribution company in the U.S. and
has continued to set the standard for sales and marketing in the music
industry for more than thirty years. In addition to the Warner Bros.,
Elektra and Atlantic labels, WEA distributes audio and video releases from
Rhino Entertainment, Asylum Records, East West Records, Word Entertainment,
Time-Life Music, Warner Music Latina and Curb Records, as well as several
other labels. WEA Corp.'s e-Commerce department works with online and
traditional retailers for all commercial, digital and wireless transactions
on behalf of WMG's U.S. labels. The department develops and delivers sales
and marketing programs to promote WMG's artists to online retailers and
other partners.
Headquartered in New York, WEA Corp. has regional offices in Atlanta, Los
Angeles, New York and Minneapolis.