KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – (September 24, 2002) – Just six months after launching, Fine Living – the newest of Scripps Networks’ lifestyle-oriented television networks – has completed a distribution agreement with DIRECTV, Inc. that will boost its availability to more than 12 million U.S. households.Fine Living will be added to the DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE® programming package by Oct. 1 on DIRECTV channel 232, according to an agreement just signed between Scripps Networks and the nation’s leading satellite television provider. This is the most widely distributed DIRECTV package, extending Fine Living’s reach into an additional 10.7 million homes, most of which fit the upscale demographic that the new network’s programming targets. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.“This is an important step in the development of Fine Living,” said Susan Packard, president of new ventures at Scripps Networks, the division of the company responsible for the development and distribution of new services. “With the DIRECTV agreement, Fine Living, along with our other networks, can be seen in virtually every market across the country.”DIRECTV vice president of programming acquisitions Dan Hartman said Scripps Networks has been a long-time, valued partner of DIRECTV. “Scripps Networks consistently delivers high-quality programming that discerning viewers can enjoy,” said Hartman. “The addition of this new Scripps Networks channel, Fine Living, is in keeping with our philosophy of providing our customers with the best value in multichannel television.” DIRECTV delivers all four of the Scripps Networks brands – Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY–Do It Yourself Network and now Fine Living. “DIRECTV really worked with us to provide the widest possible distribution for Fine Living and to place it within the right family of channels,” said John Baird, senior vice president of affiliate sales for Scripps Networks. “This is an important distribution deal that continues to build on the momentum that Fine Living has experienced since going on the air six short months ago.”The widespread distribution is key to advertising sales for Fine Living, which signed on more than 35 advertisers before its March 17 launch, including Coca-Cola, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Kraft and a number of financial institutions and insurance companies.“The national advertising community clearly sees the quality of the programming and rich contextual environment of Fine Living, and now they will be able to reach a much larger audience at this early stage than was originally expected,” said Steve Gigliotti, senior vice president of advertising sales for Scripps Networks. “Even better, it’s the right audience with a disposable income, which really gives those charter advertisers a nice return on their investment.”Ken Solomon, president of Fine Living, added, “This is strong reinforcement for the Fine Living brand as the right concept at the right time. Our network gives viewers distinctive lifestyle programming with a personal point of view, and that’s something that really seems to be resonating on all fronts.”Covering five lifestyle areas – Adventure, Personal Space, Transport, Favorite Things, and Every Day – Fine Living is the ultimate multi-platform resource for active consumers looking to pursue their passions, realize their dreams and make the most of their precious free time. The multi-platform network is complemented by its companion website, FineLiving.com.About DIRECTV, Inc.DIRECTV is the nation’s leading digital satellite television service provider with more than 10.7 million customers. DIRECTV, the Cyclone Design logo and TOTAL CHOICE are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. HUGHES is the world’s leading provider of digital television entertainment, broadband services, satellite-based private business networks, and global video and data broadcasting. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at DIRECTV.com.About Scripps NetworksScripps Networks is comprised of Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY–Do It Yourself Network and Fine Living, with branded programming available in 25 countries. The company is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP), a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks, interactive media and plans to enter the television-retailing market. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations and four cable television networks. In addition to its current national television networks, the E.W. Scripps Company has announced its intention to acquire the Shop at Home television-retailing network. The acquisition is pending approval by Shop at Home shareholders.Scripps also operates Scripps Howard News Service, United Media, the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT, and 31 websites, including hgtv.com, foodtv.com, diynet.com, fineliving.com and comics.com.