No signs of movement in the contract spat between Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) and Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which means more than three million households are still sans HGTV or The Food Network 20 days into 2010. The companies have spoken several times—twice last week, according to Scripps. We “are more than a little disheartened that we haven’t been able to make more progress in the conversations,” a Scripps spokeswoman told me, but said they are still trying. Cablevision declined comment on the negotiations but had a fair amount to say about Scripps’ latest move: putting more programming on local TV.

Scripps said late Wednesday that once again this weekend, it will a deal to air an hour of HGTV and an hour of the Food Network on the local station on Sundays. WPIX (New York) and WTTX (Hartford) showed a re-run of Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America Event and HGTV Dream Home 2010 Tour on Jan. 10 in what was supposed to be a one-time special airing. It’s unclear if Scripps is being paid for the programming.

Cablevision’s reply: “If Scripps wanted people in this market to see their programming they shouldn’t have irresponsibly yanked Food Network and HGTV off Cablevision, effectively holding their own viewers hostage in pursuit of a 200 percent rate increase. If Scripps really cared about their viewers they would put their channels back on Cablevision while we negotiate an agreement that is fair for everyone, something we have repeatedly urged them to do.”

Scripps execs have said all along that they want an increase that matches the popularity of the networks. Cablevision was paying about 25 cents for the two channels combined.

• No End In Sight For Scripps-Cablevision Spat; No HGTV, Food Either
• News Corp, Time Warner Cable Reach Deal Without Blackouts; Scripps Still On Bubble
• TWC-News Corp. Extend Talks; Scripps’ HGTV, Food Go Dark On Cablevision