USA Networks Buying 2 Cable Networks

USA Networks Inc., the media and electronic commerce company run by Barry Diller, said it bought two cable television networks for about $100 million to increase the variety of its cable programming. USA acquired the Trio Network, an arts and entertainment channel, and News World International, a news channel, with the purchase of North American Television Inc., a joint venture of Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and closely held Power Broadcasting Inc. The two 24-hour networks are available in about 13 million U.S. homes by satellite or cable systems that have been upgraded to digital from traditional analog. USA Networks shares rose 19 cents to close at $20.56 on Nasdaq.