I Want My HGTV!

When Cablevision — the digital cable provider for much of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey — was unable to reach an agreement over licensing fees with Scripps Network, HVTG and Food Network vanished into the ether as of midnight on Dec. 31, channels 29 and 30 went dark.

Cablevision's Web site explains: "[Our] contract to carry HGTV and Food Network expired on Dec. 31. Unfortunately, Scripps chose to remove the channels from the system after we did not accept their demands… for more than a 200% fee increase — $20 million annually. Scripps is effectively holding their own viewers hostage."

Scripps countered by stating, "Repeated requests to sit down together to discuss a fair market price for our networks have been rejected – even as recently as Sunday afternoon. Cablevision's approach was take it or leave it and would still make Food Network – a Top 10 network – one of the lowest paid channels on its lineup."

Hal Levy, chair of the Area Nine Cable Council, a local industry advisory group, says "This happens all too often. Apparently, there's enough of an uproar in this case that Cablevision will want to get it resolved. One side is at 25 cents [fee per subscriber], the other side is at 75 cents. I think there's room for them to come to an agreement."

The entire mess has left many residents feeling like peace on earth and goodwill toward men were ideals abandoned back in 2009.

Here are some reactions from people out and about town:

"I am disgusted. I don't know all the facts, but am seriously thinking about
dropping Cablevision if this isn't resolved. I hate to admit it, but those
two channels are the ones I view regularly. ... I'm watching nothing now. CNN."

— Ellen DeHuff, preschool director of Saugatuck Nursery School


"This is what happens when we all use DVRs and bypass the commercials.
There's lower advertising revenue and rising programming costs, which the
network is trying to pass on to its customers. This is just the first of
many."

 — Andrew Nixon, digital marketer


"My six-year-old daughter and I miss the food channel, especially 'Last Cake
Standing.' It's absolutely fascinating. But honestly I haven't paid enough
attention to know what's going on, why and how long it might last."

— Alanna Conte, consultant


"I'm not going to be able to stand it. I used to have Food Network on all
day while I worked. Now I have to turn off the TV and listen to music
instead. I really miss Paula Deen and Ina Garten. I'd switch to ATT but I
had them before and they were horrible. I wish Cablevision would take
out all the other crap like the golf and just give me back my Food
Network."

— Lauren Eason, marketer


"When I turned on the TV on New Year's Eve and it was gone, I had to sit
down and have a little moment. It's ruined our family life! We all used to
watch 'House Hunters International' and 'Bang for Your Buck' together. Now what am I going to do, watch 'Law & Order' with my kids?

— Stephanie Lantier, interior designer


"All I have to say is get those horrible [I love Food Network] commercials
off the radio! I've heard them 9 million times."

— Sophie Blondeau, life coach for women



"What is the Food Network?"

— Jenny Bony, mom (and recent transplant from Paris)