Knicks and Rangers video games on Optimum have been set to go darkish Wednesday as contract talks between the cable operator and MSG remained at an deadlock forward of a deadline earlier than the ball drops.
As of press time Tuesday, neither facet appeared keen to budge a lot over the carriage charges paid by Optimum mother or father Altice to broadcast MSG Networks, which is run by Knicks and Rangers proprietor James Dolan.
Within the present deal that expires at midnight, Optimum pays MSGN $10 per subscriber, a supply near the state of affairs instructed The Put up.
The cable operator, which has about one-third of the roughly 3 million subscribers within the New York Metropolis space, is trying to scale back that payment within the new contract.
On Tuesday, MSGN sweetened a proposal it floated weeks in the past that might contain permitting Optimum to maneuver it from the essential tier, that means subscribers must pay an extra payment for the channel, the supply stated.
MSGN declined remark.
Optimum didn’t reply for remark in regards to the newest provide.
“MSG Networks is demanding exorbitant programming fees – which could raise our customers’ cable bills,” the corporate stated in an announcement on Monday.
If no deal is reached earlier than midnight, it’ll power Knicks followers to scramble to seek out one other supplier so as to watch the New 12 months’s Day matchup in opposition to Utah.
MSG Networks additionally broadcasts video games for the Islanders and the first-place New Jersey Devils, who take the ice Wednesday in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings.
Greater than half of Optimum clients are in areas which might be lined by Verizon’s Fios, sources stated.
MSG additionally is on the market by means of its Gotham Sports activities streaming service, which prices $29.99 per 30 days.
