Business/Finance
Strong 1Q performance by Scripps Nets again helped offset other lagging Scripps segments such as newspapers and broadcast TV stations. Scripps Nets’ ad rev rose 10% to $206mln, affil fee rev jumped 20% to $58mln and segment profit increased 20% to $107mln. Rev was up at HGTV (12%), Food Net (15%), DIY Net (8%), Fine Living (24%) and GAC (18%). — Citing a desire to "focus all efforts and resources entirely on our core operations at Outdoor Channel," Outdoor Channel Holdings announced the sale of its membership division segment to vice chmn Thomas Massie for $3.6mln in cash. — LodgeNet reported a 7.3% increase in 1Q rev to $75mln and a net loss of $28K, compared to a $654K net loss a year ago. Guest pay rev/room rose 3.3% as the room base expanded by 6K net rooms and digital rooms increased by 26K net rooms. Numbers don’t reflect the addition of more than 800K interactive TV rooms added through the recent On Command acquisition.