Travel Channel fills top job

Shannon O’Neill has been promoted to president of Travel Channel by Scripps Networks Interactive.

O’Neill spent the last three years as the channel’s senior VP and chief financial officer but has now moved into the top role. He replaces Laureen Ong, who left the position in October after a three-year stint.

In his previous job, O’Neill led strategic planning and financial reporting, providing analysis and insight into the network’s performance, as well as leading its digital strategy.

He will report to Burton Jablin, president of the Scripps Networks operating division, who had been overseeing the channel on an interim basis since Ong’s departure.

Jablin said. “His mission as president of Travel Channel will be to deliver programming that embraces and celebrates travel as a video content category, while increasing the network’s audience profile of upscale, educated and highly valued viewers.”

O’Neill previously spent three years as senior VP and general manager of Golf Channel’s digital media business. Prior to that he was VP of emerging networks for Comcast’s programming group, where he developed and launched new media businesses including multi-platform horror network FEARnet, in partnership with Sony and Lionsgate.

Scripps also owns and operates HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.