Discovery eyeing Scripps merger

DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS APPEARS to be in talks to acquire HGTV and Food Network owner Scripps.According to a Reuters report, Scripps is seeking a buyer at a time when it and other smaller media companies are under pressure to grow to give them negotiating power with TV service providers. A deal between Discovery and Scripps would create a US$19 billion cable network that specializes in non-scripted shows.Sources quoted in the report say that this is the third time that Discovery has held talks to buy Scripps.