NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement on the contract negotiations between MSG Networks and Altice, which owns Optimum:
“As two major corporations engage in contract talks, the people who are impacted the most are everyday New Yorkers who simply want to watch sports and enjoy television programming. Altice, which owns Optimum, and MSG Networks, which provides sports coverage for some of New York’s favorite sports teams, are struggling to reach a final agreement, and consumers who expect the programming and games they paid for are the ones missing out. I will be monitoring this situation closely to ensure New York customers receive the services they are paying for. I urge both companies to work together to reach a fair, final agreement so New Yorkers can get back to rooting for the home teams.”
Optimum vs. MSG Networks: Why Are My Knicks Games Gone?!
Hey everyone,
Have you noticed something missing from your Optimum cable? If you’re a New York sports fan, you probably are! Optimum, your cable company, and MSG Networks, the channel that shows Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils games, are in a HUGE fight. This means no more watching your favorite teams on TV!
It’s called a “carriage dispute,” and it’s basically a disagreement over how much money Optimum should pay MSG Networks to show their channels. Think of it like this: MSG Networks is like a store selling awesome sports games, and Optimum is like a shopping mall that wants to sell those games to you. They can’t agree on the price!
MSG Networks says Optimum just walked away from the negotiating table, leaving them and their viewers in the dark. Optimum hasn’t said much publicly, making things even more confusing. This isn’t the first time this has happened either. Optimum also had a fight with Nexstar, another company, and now you can’t watch 63 other channels, including NewsNation!
This is a big deal for MSG Networks because Optimum is a huge customer – they get about a third of their money from Optimum subscribers. So, this fight is costing them a lot of cash! It’s also a big deal for you, the viewer. You’re stuck in the middle, missing your favorite games.
Why are these fights happening so often? Basically, both cable companies and channels are trying to get the best deal they can. It’s a complicated business, but the bottom line is: we, the viewers, are often the ones who suffer. Hopefully, they’ll work it out soon so we can get back to watching our sports!
Let me know in the comments if you’re also affected by this blackout!
