Headline: Food Network Canceled

Scripps Pulls the Plug on Food Network - Network to Sign-off at the End of the Month.
By: Stuart Reb Donald
 
April 1, 2010 - PRLog -- 04/01/10

POPULAR FOOD NETWORK TO BE CANCELED AT MONTH'S END

Alton BrownNew York City - The E.W. Scripps Company announced today that after 17 years in production their popular Food Network will cease programming at the end of April. The move took many in assembly by surprise. The press conference was held at Chelsea Market on 75 9th Avenue, home of the Food Network Studios.

Milton Funderburk, Acting Assistant Vice-Chairman of Cable Programming for Scripps was asked why the media conglomerate was closing the doors on its most popular cable franchise, "The time is right. After all when we purchased TFN back in '97 we thought it would fail miserably.  That was the plan.

"We acquired the Network as a tax right off. We never dreamed anyone would actually watch it. Our thought was why would anyone want to watch someone else cooking on TV? I mean if they wanted to see someone cook, they could just go cook something.  Apparently we under estimated the American public's desire to live vicariously."

Since the Food Network began programming in 1993 viewership has continued to grow though it was shaky in the beginning.  Those first shows featured chefs who were virtual unknowns like Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Emeril Legasse.  Now it is one of the most successful cable channels in television history which fueled more questions about why Scripps was giving TFN the axe.

Funderburk explained, "It wasn't long after we took the Network over that we realized, we may have stumbled onto something here.  Viewership was growing exponentially and other vicariousity networks were springing up.  Not only were viewers watching people cooking instead of cooking themselves but they were watching the Travel Channel instead of going on vacation, eschewing exercise for the Fitness Channel and watching HGTV  in living rooms that were literally falling apart around them.

"The trend even crossed over into mainstream media.  Instead of keeping up with politics America was watching The West Wing.  There was no reason to invite the annoying neighbor over when you could tune into Jay Leno.  Why watch fact-based news programming when there was Dan Rather?"

When asked about the future of Food Network Canada Funderburk replied, "That's toast, too.  Not that anyone will notice, it's Canada.  I know it's the largest state in the US but hardly anyone lives there.  Let's be honest if it wasn't for the band Rush America would have never bought Canada from the Alaskans."

The ultimate reason Funderburk offered for 86'ing their most popular holding was it's very popularity.  The demand for food programming is so high that not only have other cable channels like Bravo and TLC entered the market but so have mainstream networks NBC and FOX.

Funderburk, noticeably angry, proclaimed, "If there is one thing I can't stand it is being copied.  If everyone is going to dabble with food programming then we'll just wash our hands of the whole thing.  It doesn't matter to us.  We've always got our newspaper division.  That's not going anywhere."

# # #

Wannabe TV Chef is one of the most beloved food blogs on the net. Recipes, food and other stuff.
WannabeTVchef.com
End
Source:Stuart Reb Donald
Email:***@wannabetvchef.com Email Verified
Tags:Bobby Flay, Bravo, Chelsea Market, Dan Rather, E.w. Scripps, Emeril Legasse, Fitness Channel, Food Network, Foo
Industry:Food, Tv, Chef
Account Email Address Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share