• January 9, 2009

Despite some minor setbacks, Scripps Networks Interactive president and CEO Kenneth Lowe painted a rosy picture for the company at Citi's Global Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference on Thursday.

"It's worth mentioning that we finished the year on a very high note," said Lowe. "It's a real testament to the sales staff." Still, Lowe conceded: "We are seeing some softening going into '09, which makes it difficult to say what we're going to do in (the) first quarter."

The company's media portfolio includes: Lifestyle Media, with lifestyle television and Internet brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living Network and country music network Great American Country; and Interactive Services, with online search and comparison shopping services, Shopzilla and uSwitch.--Gavin O'Malley