Food Network and HGTV – went off the air on Cablevision systems in New York City, Long Island and the Tri-State Region at midnight New Year’s Eve after the cable operator failed to negotiate acceptable rates for the programming distribution rights. Cablevision’s contract allowing it to carry Food Network and HGTV expired at midnight, Dec. 31.

As a result of Cablevision’s decision not to negotiate new distribution agreements, Food Network and HGTV were dropped from the cable operator’s channel lineup.

Brooke Johnson, president of Food Network, noted that Scripps Networks invest distribution fees it receives from Cablevision and other cable and satellite companies in developing on-air hosts and in creating the relevant and entertaining programs that keep viewers coming back to watch Food Network and HGTV.

“It’s hard to maintain delivery of programming that viewers rate among their favorite shows when we’re getting short changed – and I mean significantly underpaid in the case of Cablevision – when compared to what this cable company is paying other, comparable networks for programming,” Johnson said. “We’re hoping the viewers can convince Cablevision to get Food Network back on the air so that they won’t miss the great shows coming up in the New Year, including Worst Cooks In America and the huge Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef Event.”

Lansing stressed that Scripps Networks Interactive remains open to negotiating new distribution agreements with Cablevision.