• B&C, Monday, April 25, 2011 12:12 PM

Getting into the hotel-booking business, Travel Channel is buying a minority stake in Oyster.com. With the investment, "The Scripps Networks Interactive channel is branching out into the online travel transaction business in search of new revenue streams," writes Broadcasting & Cable. "This is so much more than just growing a linear channel," Travel Channel President Laureen Ong tells B&C. "At Scripps, it's all about owning your category."

Oyster.com is a 3-year-old content and commerce site funded by Bain Capital Ventures. In the short term, Travel Channel plans to make money on trips booked through Oyster.com via Travelchannel.com. As a part owner, it will also share in Oyster.com's growth and profits over the long term, according to B&C. "The main thing Travel Channel, which is in nearly 100 million homes, can do for Oyster is increase awareness of Oyster.com, whose paid investigators visit and take pictures of the hotels they review and rate." No word on the financial terms of the deal.

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