Fox, Cablevision dispute hits fans

Associated Press

NEW YORK

For the fourth time this year, Cablevision’s 3 million subscribers in New York and Philadelphia are at the mercy of one of its disputes with networks, and caught in the middle are sports fans who missed playoff baseball and Sunday’s New York Giants game.

Negotiators for Cablevision and Fox parent News Corp. failed to reach an agreement over rates Sunday, more than a day after their deal expired amid negotiations for a new one.

Cablevision has blacked out Fox’s channels and programming while they discuss how much Cablevision will pay to carry them.

The two sides will meet again today, Fox spokesman Scott Grogin said. “House,” the drama that’s among Fox’s highest-rated shows, airs tonight at 8 EDT.

Cablevision spokesman Charles Schueler reiterated that arbitration would be “the fastest and fairest way to return Fox programming to Cablevision customers.”

Fox 5 and My9 in New York and Fox29 in Philadelphia were dark, as well as cable channels Fox Business Network, NatGeo Wild and Fox Deportes.

Cablevision subscribers have been victims of multiple blackouts this year. In March, customers lost their ABC station in New York in the hours leading up to the Oscars.

Viewers missed the first 15 minutes of the awards show before Cablevision and Walt Disney Co. reached a tentative deal.

Scripps Networks Interactive Inc.’s Food Network and HGTV also went dark for three weeks in a similar dispute.