HGTV founder Ken Lowe has never forgotten his North Carolina roots. Growing up in the small town of Mount Airy – basis for the fictional Mayberry – Lowe was exposed to a small town lifestyle that to this day he still credits to his business success.
 
“My career grew from my North Carolina seeds that I sowed throughout the state,” Lowe said at the WilmingtonBiz Conference & Expo, where he was featured as the keynote speaker Wednesday.
 
During his speech at the Wilmington Convention Center, Lowe credited his home state with establishing the down-to-earth qualities that influenced his career, namely in the founding of HGTV.
 
Launched in 1994, HGTV initially was shown in 8 million U.S. households. The channel, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, now broadcasts to 100 million households, Lowe said.
 
Along with five other lifestyle media channels, including the Food Network and Travel Channel, it falls under parent company Scripps Networks Interactive, which is based in Knoxville, Tenn. Last year, Scripps Networks Interactive reported $2.5 billion in revenue.
 
Speaking to about 550 people Wednesday, Lowe discussed his success in television and how he operates Scripps Networks Interactive as its board chairman, president and CEO with an eye on the future.
 
In the early ‘90s when Lowe was still describing himself as a “frustrated architect,” he worked for The W.E. Scripps Company’s local television group where it was his responsibility to identify possible television shows to pick up for syndication.
 
He said during that time shows such as The Jerry Springer Show were popular, making him nostalgic for the family-friends shows he watched as a boy.
 
“The truth is I was not interested in a lot of content that was coming across my desk,” he said, adding that he wanted to create something that people could watch without being embarrassed if their kids walked into the room.
 
Soon after the idea grabbed hold of him, Lowe was out to dinner with his then-boss, Frank Gardner and pitched him the idea for HGTV, a network that would focus on the American home.
 
The rest is history. Since its start, HGTV has become a success and remained on air even as other niche cable channels folded.
 
Lowe said the channel has been “successful beyond my wildest dreams.”
 
“We have a high level of engagement with our viewers that I’m especially proud of,” he said.
 
When it came to business practices, Lowe related his concept of the six C’s: conception, champion, capital, courage, company and competitive advantage.
 
Each is important to discovering the potential of one’s company, Lowe said.
 
“Courage, by that I mean a willingness to accept risk,” he said. “Any good idea needs a company … I’m talking about a company of people who are smarter than you, who can take your idea in directions you didn’t dream about.”
 
Lowe credited Judy Girard, former president of HGTV and the Food Network, as one of those who helped build the networks in the beginning. Girard, who is retired and now lives in Wilmington, introduced Lowe at Wednesday’s event.
 
“I hope you have knowledge that you have someone in your community who is a game changer,” Lowe said about Girard.