Amid Cablevision Dispute, Scripps Partners with Local Stations

KNOXVILLE: After pulling Food Network and HGTV from Cablevision in a dispute over carriage fees, Scripps Networks Interactive is partnering with local stations in New York and Connecticut—areas serviced by the cable operator—for encore broadcasts of two recent specials.

Food Network’s Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America Event will air January 10 at 8 p.m. on New York station WPIX-TV and Hartford’s WTXX-TV. The special, which premiered on Food Network on January 3, stars Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford in a culinary competition. HGTV Dream Home 2010 Tour, meanwhile, will air this Friday at 3 p.m. on WPIX.

"We have the greatest fans in the world," said Brooke Johnson, the president of Food Network. "Nobody likes the situation, with Cablevision customers being the only viewers in the country who can’t watch our networks as we introduce a number of new specials and series in January. These encore presentations are just a small way to say ‘thank you’ for their support and understanding while we do everything we can to get our networks back on Cablevision."