Public officials are now getting involved in the heated dispute between MSG Networks and Altice USA, operator of the Optimum cable service.
The Attorneys General of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey released a statement on Thursday urging MSG Networks and Optimum to reach a resolution to end the network’s blackout on Optimum’s platform, and issue refunds to customers who have been denied access.
The joint statement comes after the AGs sent a letter to Optimum’s owner, Altice, demanding the refunds.
“New York sports fans are being put in the penalty box, forced to shell out their hard-earned money for television channels they cannot even watch,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. “Optimum customers have paid for channels to watch their home sports teams, but their cable company is not offering these channels while charging them anyway. I am determined to secure a solution for New Yorkers who have had to endure these unfair blackouts and I urge Optimum and MSG to finally reach a deal so New Yorkers can watch their home teams.”
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong similarly encouraged the two sides to reach a resolution.
MSG Networks have been unavailable for Optimum customers since the start of the new year. It’s believed that the cable company, who is saddled in debt, is saving in the neighborhood of $10 million per month by not carrying the channel. MSG parent company Sphere Entertainment has a similarly ugly balance sheet, with investors indicating a preference for the regional sports network to enter bankruptcy to alleviate the company’s debt load.
As such, neither side is in a position to give many concessions in a negotiation.
Last week, the New York Post reported that Amazon could be interested in striking a deal with MSG that would allow its content to be streamed on Prime Video. Such an agreement may help prevent MSG from entering bankruptcy proceedings.
The group of public officials are not the only ones clamoring for a resolution. Earlier this week MSG Networks play-by-play announcer Mike Breen said he felt “awful” for New York sports fans that are unable to watch games.
However much public outcry there is, analysts suggest a resolution between the two sides seems unlikely, at least anytime soon.
