A few weeks back the folks at HGTV had some pretty strong things to say about the creep of product placement into knowledge oriented cable networks. The gist was "we value the trust relationship we have with our viewers more than any few dollars we'll get from product placement."

It was an great statement, but seemed to have more behind it than just standing on cerimony.

Well it turns out - they've got a pretty big jump on the narrowcast IPTV business as reported by hoovers - LINK

Take a look at th site: LINK

Scripps Takes Latest Channel Direct to Web
March 20, 2005 10:52pm
AP Online

KNOXVILLE, Tenn._Seizing on the success of its Home & Garden Television brand, E.W. Scripps Co. has gone directly to the Internet with its latest channel that combines tips for building professionals and the power of streaming video.

HGTV Pro.com, the company's first independent e-offering, began in January with dozens of three-minute videos on best practices in homebuilding, accompanying text and chat rooms. The ad-supported site will soon offer hundreds of new product demonstrations from a "virtual trade show" and Spanish translations.

Already, more than 110,000 contractors and nearly 1.2 million consumers have registered for its free electronic newsletter. With 380,000 "unique visits" in its first 19 days, HGTV Pro's popularity is nearly that of established residential construction Web sites, such as Hanley Wood LLC's.

"We like to say we are at that intersection where the contractors and the consumers meet," said Jim Zarchin, senior vice president of HGTV Pro at Knoxville-based Scripps Networks. More