A group of Connecticut lawmakers has put out a call for Altice (Optimum) and MSG Entertainment to “resolve their ongoing dispute that has left Connecticut sports fans unable to watch their favorite teams.”
The letter to the two companies, specifically to Altice Chairman and CEO Dennis Mathew and MSG Entertainment Executive Chairman and CEO James Dolan, was signed by Democratic state Sens. Bob Duff, James Maroney, Milford; Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, Trumbull; Herron Keyon Gaston, Bridgeport; Julie Kushner, Danbury; Ceci Maher, Wilton; and Patricia Billie Miller, Stamford.
In a statement, the senators said they are frustrated “with the prolonged negotiations, which have blocked access to critical sports programming. Fans of the New York Rangers, Knicks, Devils, and other teams remain caught in the crossfire as the companies fail to come to terms.”
“Fans of the Rangers, Knicks, Devils and many other teams in Connecticut are unable to watch their teams as the competition heats up in both leagues,” the letter says. “The constant gamesmanship by all sides in the television wars must stop. We need to put customers first. With the escalating costs we are all paying, there is no excuse for viewers to be without access to their sports teams.
“We ask that you immediately begin giving viewers access to the Madison Square Garden channel through Optimum while your negotiations continue,” the letter says. “If this does not happen, we demand that they receive refunds and reduced bills in the future for the content that they are paying for but are not receiving. Your customers are not the only potential losers in your disagreement. This disagreement will result in both of your companies losing paying customers who decide they are better off finding their entertainment and relaxation in other ways.”
Optimum said in a recent statement that it and MSG Networks have “been negotiating.”
The statement, dated Jan. 16, said Optimum had over a period of two weeks, “hosted MSG Networks’ executives in its offices twice and hosted multiple calls trying to find a solution that would bring MSG Networks’ content to fans and prevent non-viewers from having to pay for what they do not watch. MSG Networks has refused all offers. Perhaps MSG Networks is purposely trying to tank the deal to get customers to pay three times more for their own app AND save the Sphere by bankrupting MSG Networks?
“As MSG Networks continues to deflect responsibility for its ongoing blackout of Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils games, today, Optimum has called on the programmer to refund customers upwards of $125 million — representing the estimated $10 per month per subscriber MSG Networks announced its sports programming is worth,” the statement said.
Asked about the lawmakers’ letter, a spokeswoman for Optimum said the company “remains open to reaching a fair and equitable deal with MSG Networks, despite them refusing to engage in meaningful, consumer-friendly negotiations. Throughout our conversations, MSG has been asking for an old model from before streaming solutions like the Gotham Sports app and others – a model that forces non-fans to pay for content that they don’t want.
“Video is clearly not a one-size-fits-all model, yet since day one, Optimum has been offering solutions so fans never have to miss a game,” the spokeswoman said. “This means pointing viewers to other streaming options, including Gotham Sports – MSG’s own app – which puts money back in their own pockets, and working directly with our customers to help offset and defray these costs.”
The spokeswoman also noted, “we are saving non-fans from paying for the content that they do not watch and have multiple new, affordable video solutions for them, starting at only $30/month.
A spokesperson for MSG Networks said, “We agree with the letter we received from the Connecticut State Senators and would be happy to have our games restored in Connecticut as well as all the other Optimum areas.
“We’ve already offered multiple options, all of which Altice has declined:
1. A short extension (which we are prepared to offer again tied to binding arbitration);
2. A renewal on the exact same terms as our previous agreement;
3. A deal on the same terms we recently agreed with another major operator; or
4. A renewal accepting the same terms and conditions that Altice just recently concluded with the YES Network.
“However, while our goal has been to get our programming back on, Altice has shown no motivation in solving this. We also agree that Altice should be proactively reducing their customers’ monthly bills for programming they are not receiving but are still being charged for. We appreciate their attention to this matter.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James today Jan. 13 said in a 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.”
The Connecticut lawmakers said, “We will not take any side in this dispute except that of our constituents, who pay significant amounts of money for the content you both provide but cannot view the athletic events that give them joy.”
“The constant gamesmanship by all sides in the television wars must stop,” the senators wrote. “Time for both sides to play ball so our residents can get back to the game.”
