I Want My HGTV

On Jan. 1, South Orange Cablevision subscribers turned to Channel 29 and found Food Network missing. Channel 30 was also static, as HGTV was also gone. Scripps Network Interactive, headquartered in Knoxville, TN, which owns both networks, pulled the programming after its contract with Bethpage, LI-based Cablevision expired on Dec. 31, 2009. However, there may be hope for the 3.1 million subscribers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut; Food Network President, Brooke Johnson, appeared on FoxBusiness.com to report that late on Jan. 7, "Cablevision finally sat down with us."

Locally, viewers took to the internet to comment. MaplewoodOnline hosted a lively thread on its discussion board. Some residents drafted emails to both companies that they asked friends to forward. NJ.com hosted more than 100 comments, some from viewers anxious to watch Iron Chef and Househunters, two popular programs. 

The issue, not surprisingly, is money. Scripps provides Cablevision, and numerous other companies, with networks that include HGTV and Food Network. Those networks produce programming. Consumers who subscribe to cable service pay a monthly fee. That fee, to Cablevision, in this case, includes payments to networks. According to a New York Times analysis, customers pay a dime or quarter per month for most cable channels included in their package. 

ESPN costs the most, $4.10 on average, according to the research firm SNL Kagan. Food Network cost Cablevision about .08 per month under the expired contract; Scripps is hoping to renegotiate for more. Numerous published reports suggest that Scripps is looking for .25 per month; Food Network president Brooke Johnson declined to confirm the amount, but noted that the fee is for both HGTV and Food Network.

Food Network, Cablevision and Scripps aren't negotiating quietly. Scripps has launched a call center and two websites — ilovefoodnetwork.com and ilovehgtv.com — to help field questions and generate support. Links lead viewers to contact information for Cablevision. Likewise, Cablevision's website notes that the two channels are no longer available; a link leads viewers to a page listing email addresses and phone numbers for Scripps. 

Jim Maiella, spokeman for Cablevision responded to an email query with the following comment, "Scripps Networks pulled its channels off Cablevision, we didn't.  We have called upon Scripps Networks to put the channels back on while we negotiate, but they have refused.  Scripps has demanded a $20 million rate increase, from Cablevision and our customers, that's not 'pennies.' as they claim.  If Scripps really cared about their viewers they would put Food Network and HGTV back on and negotiate a new agreement.  We believe it was irresponsible for Scripps to take the channels off, and it is irresponsible for them not to put the channels back on." Scripps has not yet replied, as of this writing. 

Higher costs are generally felt by the viewer, whether sooner or later. Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and AT&T's customers are facing rate hikes this winter. Cablevision has been silent on what will happen if a new agreement is reached that results in higher rates paid to Scripps.

In the meantime, viewers who missed Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America Event on Jan. 3, will have another chance. The much-anticipated, highly-advertised show, which stars popular chefs Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse and  features White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, was watched by some 4.5 million viewers the first time around, despite the absence of South Orange Cablevision viewers. For them, and for the rest of the Tri-State area who missed it, WPIX, Channel 11, will air the special episode on Sun., Jan. 10 from 8:00 p.m.-10 p.m. WPIX, headquartered in Manhattan, is a network channel, available to anyone with a television and an antenna. In other words, in South Orange and beyond, Channel 11 is free.