Cablevision, Scripps reach deal over fee dispute; Food Network, HGTV return in NY region
By APThursday, January 21, 2010
Cablevision, Scripps reach deal over fee dispute
NEW YORK — Cablevision customers in the New York Tri-State area can watch the Food Network and HGTV again beginning Thursday.
Cablevision Systems Corp. and Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. said Thursday they reached an agreement allowing for the return of the popular channels to Cablevision’s customers in the area.
They did not give terms of the agreement.
Cablevision had dropped the channels for its 3.1 million subscribers on Jan. 1 in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in a fee dispute with Scripps.
On Jan. 3, Cablevision said Scripps was demanding a 200 percent fee increase, which would drive up customer rates if the company accepted.
Scripps said at the time it continues “to engage Cablevision in meaningful discussions so that we can right this situation and get Food Network and HGTV back on the Cablevision channel lineup.”
Shares of Scripps Networks rose 38 cents to $44.81 in after-hours trading.
Shares of Cablevision climbed 9 cents to $26.58 after hours.
