• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, September 13, 2007

In a striking move on multiple levels, Scripps' HGTV has tapped a new chief who resigned from his previous post after a marketing campaign caused a bomb scare in Boston. Jim Samples--who helped turn Cartoon Network into a notable challenger to Nickelodeon and launched the successful Adult Swim block on the channel--takes over the home and garden network.

As president of HGTV, he replaces Judy Girard, who is retiring after leading both Scripps' principal growth engines: the Food Network and now HGTV. He starts Oct. 1, and will oversee its on-air and online initiatives.

As he did at Cartoon, he will oversee HGTV's on-air and digital ventures--the network is in 95 million homes and the Web site generates considerable traffic. The network boasts a hit in reality-competition series as "HGTV Design Star" and "House Hunters."

Not only is the programming on HGTV different from Samples' previous post, but the target of male-skewing 18- to-34-year-olds on Adult Swim and kids on Cartoon differs from HGTV's female 25-to-54 sweet spot.

Still, the move apparently is a testament to Samples' perceived skills as an overall leader and nimble, adaptable strategist--seemingly irrespective of a network's focus.

"What impressed us about Jim is he is an extraordinary leader and he also has great ability to really serve and understand a niche audience and what works and what doesn't," said John Lansing, president of Scripps Networks.

Samples left his post in February as head of Turner's Cartoon Network following a guerrilla marketing effort for Adult Swim's "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" that featured electronic light boards placed randomly in 10 cities. Nine of the cities showed a measured, if any, reaction. But a flurry of activity followed in Boston, as some high-ranking officials thought the devices may be bombs, and the mayor and state governor went on high alert. They called in a bomb squad and suggested terrorism may be involved.

Samples' role in the snafu was never clear. Two local men were charged, then showed bizarre behavior in the aftermath; the campaign was the brainchild of a New York marketing concern. But as head of the network, he said he felt "compelled to step down, effective immediately, in recognition of the gravity of the situation that occurred under my watch." Samples had been at Cartoon Network for six years.

Some Turner officials referred to his resignation as a classy, courageous move. The company paid Massachusetts entities $2 million to help cover expenses involved with the public safety activity.

Samples will report directly to Burton Jablin, executive vice president of Scripps Networks who oversees all the networks.