Friday, January 1, 2010

Cablevision drops Food Network

*Update*
“We reached out to Cablevision and had a constructive meeting in Bethpage [N.Y., Cablevision headquarters] today,” Scripps Networks spokeswoman Cindy McConkey said. “We made some limited progress and we continue to hope we can move this discussion forward.”
According to a statement by Cablevision, "... Scripps has decided to stop distributing HGTV and Food Network to Cablevision customers upon the expiration of our current agreement at midnight, December 31 [2009]. We are sorry that Scripps’ current financial difficulties are making it impossible for them to continue our relationship on terms that are reasonable for Cablevision and our customers. We wish Scripps well and have no expectation of carrying their programming again, given the dramatic changes in their approach to working with distributors to reach television viewers," in New York City, Long Island and the Tri-State Region.

For further explanation from Cablevision, click here. To contact Cablevision, click here.

Scripps is the parent company of HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, country music network Great American Country, the Fine Living Network (soon to be rebranded as the Cooking Channel) and recently has become part owner of the Travel Channel.

From ILoveFoodNetwork2009's YouTube Channel, a statement from Food Network and HGTV:



Scripps suggests interested Cablevision customers send an eCard from www.ilovefoodnetwork.com or call 866-695-BEST (2378) to voice your concerns. Click here to read a press statement from Scripps.

Guy Fieri's reaction to Cablevision's decision to drop Food Network (and HGTV) from their programming:

Uploaded December 31, 2009, approximately 5pm ET


Uploaded January 1, 2010, approximately 12:30am ET


Or should I say "pre-action." These videos were taped in early November, 2009, when Guy was in New York doing a media blitz for the Guy Fieri Road Show and his book, More Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

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