New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is threatening to haul Optimum cable and its guardian firm Altice earlier than her administration if it doesn’t settle 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.
The governor directed the Division of Public Service to intervene, guaranteeing customers are handled pretty.
“Sufficient is sufficient!” Hochul wrote in a information launch first obtained by Newsday.
Based on Hochul, the DPS despatched a proper request to Altice demanding a response outlining a plan to resolve the matter inside 5 days.
If the dispute isn’t resolved inside that point interval, Hochul warned that public hearings could 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 look at New York Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils video games.
“New Yorkers are proud sports activities fanatics, and blocking Knicks, Rangers, and Islanders followers from watching programming they’ve paid to look at is just unconscionable,” Hochul mentioned.
“Denying followers entry to dwell sports activities due to a ridiculous dispute between Optimum and MSG is unfair to New Yorkers and our endurance has expired. This has gone on for lengthy sufficient — it’s time for either side to get again to the negotiating desk and resolve this for the great of New Yorkers!”
A spokesperson for MSG welcomed Hochul’s assertion, telling The Publish: “We applaud Governor Hochul’s engagement and guaranteeing native sports activities followers have entry to MSG Networks’ programming.”
“We stay prepared to barter with Optimum or enter binding arbitration to instantly carry our video games again 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 offer refunds for misplaced providers and element the way it will talk this data to its subscribers.
“Within the occasion that your response doesn’t display prospects are being held innocent throughout this dispute, you’re hereby notified that the Division will conduct hearings as a part of its ongoing evaluation of this matter,” the letter said.
Christian strengthened Hochul’s stance, saying, “Governor Hochul is giving voice to New York sports activities followers who’re pissed off that they can not view all their cable channels and who needs to be entitled to a refund for providers they’re unable to entry or be supplied with cost-neutral alternate options.”
“The Division of Public Service will work diligently to make sure the cable firms defend prospects,” Christian wrote.
In response, Altice issued a press release to Newsday emphasizing its efforts to reduce disruptions, stating, “Since January 1, Optimum has been targeted on limiting buyer disruption by proactively participating with prospects to offer personalised help and different options for sports activities followers and non-sports followers alike.”
The corporate additionally known as for adjustments to the broader cable programming mannequin, arguing that “MSG Networks has accomplished nothing to make their content material extra reasonably priced and has made no effort to help impacted followers.”
The dispute has additionally drawn scrutiny from New York Lawyer Basic Letitia James and her counterparts in New Jersey and Connecticut, who just lately urged Altice to problem refunds for the missed programming.
Whereas Altice has supplied some affected prospects invoice reductions and, in sure instances, present playing cards price 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 firms 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 significantly impacted as a result of its excessive focus of Optimum TV prospects.
“We agree with Governor Hochul that native sports activities followers who need MSG Networks’ content material ought to have entry to it, which is why we had been asking MSG to achieve a deal for our prospects who need it. Within the meantime, we now have been ensuring our prospects don’t miss a recreation, spending tens of millions of {dollars} to assist sports activities followers and non-sports followers alike,” Optimum responded to Publish. “We sit up for working with Governor Hochul to repair the outdated programming mannequin that doesn’t align with how customers watch TV right now. Within the meantime, whereas we assist prospects with choices, MSG Networks has accomplished nothing to make their content material extra reasonably priced and has made no effort to help impacted followers.