New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is threatening to haul Optimum cable and its guardian firm Altice earlier than her administration over its “ridiculous dispute” with Madison Sq. Backyard Networks that has saved 1,000,000 households blacked out from watching Tri-State space sports activities groups for greater than a month.
Hochul on Monday voiced frustration over the continuing dispute between MSG Networks and Optimum TV, which has left subscribers with out entry to main sports activities programming since Jan. 1. She known as on each corporations to achieve an settlement over carriage charges.
The governor directed the Division of Public Service to intervene, guaranteeing shoppers are handled pretty.
“Enough is enough!” Hochul wrote in a information launch first obtained by Newsday.
In keeping with Hochul, the DPS despatched a proper request to Altice demanding a response outlining a plan to assist prospects who pay month-to-month subscription charges.
If Altice doesn’t reply inside that point interval, Hochul warned that public hearings can be scheduled.
The blackout started at 12:01 a.m. on New Yr’s Day when Altice eliminated MSG Networks from Optimum TV.
Since then, negotiations over a brand new carriage settlement have stalled, leaving followers unable to observe New York Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils video games.
“New Yorkers are proud sports fanatics, and blocking Knicks, Rangers, and Islanders fans from watching programming they’ve paid to watch is simply unconscionable,” Hochul mentioned.
“Denying fans access to live sports because of a ridiculous dispute between Optimum and MSG is unfair to New Yorkers and our patience has expired. This has gone on for long enough — it’s time for both sides to get back to the negotiating table and resolve this for the good of New Yorkers!”
A spokesperson for MSG welcomed Hochul’s assertion, telling The Publish: “We applaud Governor Hochul’s engagement and ensuring local sports fans have access to MSG Networks’ programming.”
“We remain ready to negotiate with Optimum or enter binding arbitration to immediately bring our games back on the air.”
The Publish has sought remark from Altice and Hochul.
The letter from DPS CEO Rory Christian to Chris Bresnan, Altice’s senior director of presidency affairs, outlined particular calls for, asking Altice to clarify what cost-neutral choices it plans to supply affected prospects, when they are going to be obtainable, and the way prospects can enroll.
Alternatively, Optimum was requested to acknowledge if it intends to supply refunds for misplaced companies and element the way it will talk this data to its subscribers.
“In the event that your response does not demonstrate customers are being held harmless during this dispute, you are hereby notified that the Department will conduct hearings as part of its ongoing review of this matter,” the letter acknowledged.
Christian strengthened Hochul’s stance, saying, “Governor Hochul is giving voice to New York sports fans who are frustrated that they cannot view all their cable channels and who should be entitled to a refund for services they are unable to access or be provided with cost-neutral alternatives.”
“The Department of Public Service will work diligently to ensure the cable companies protect customers,” Christian wrote.
In response, Altice issued a press release to Newsday emphasizing its efforts to attenuate disruptions, stating, “Since January 1, Optimum has been focused on limiting customer disruption by proactively engaging with customers to provide personalized assistance and alternative solutions for sports fans and non-sports fans alike.”
The corporate additionally known as for modifications to the broader cable programming mannequin, arguing that “MSG Networks has done nothing to make their content more affordable and has made no effort to assist impacted fans.”
The dispute has additionally drawn scrutiny from New York Legal professional Common Letitia James and her counterparts in New Jersey and Connecticut, who just lately urged Altice to challenge refunds for the missed programming.
Whereas Altice has provided some affected prospects invoice reductions and, in sure instances, present playing cards value a whole lot of {dollars}, it has not issued a common refund for subscribers who misplaced entry to MSG Networks.
The dispute highlights ongoing challenges within the cable trade, as each corporations battle with the rising development of “cord-cutting” that has reshaped tv consumption.
Roughly a million households within the New York metropolitan space have been affected, with Lengthy Island notably impacted attributable to its excessive focus of Optimum TV prospects.
“We agree with Governor Hochul that local sports fans who want MSG Networks’ content should have access to it, which is why we were asking MSG to reach a deal for our customers who want it. In the meantime, we have been making sure our customers don’t miss a game, spending millions of dollars to help sports fans and non-sports fans alike,” Optimum responded to Publish.
“We stay up for working with Governor Hochul to repair the outdated programming mannequin that doesn’t align with how shoppers watch TV as we speak. Within the meantime, whereas we assist prospects with choices, MSG Networks has executed nothing to make their content material extra reasonably priced and has made no effort to help impacted followers.
