If New York sports fans don’t know whether to take the side of MSG or Optimum in their carriage dispute, maybe they’ll take the side of their beloved announcers like Sam Rosen.
MSG Networks has been blacked out for Optimum subscribers since January 1, as both sides continue a carriage dispute that’s forcing New York Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and New Jersey Devils fans to suffer.
The crux of their dispute reportedly stems from the Altice-owned Optimum wanting to make MSG part of a premium subscription package, while the sports network would prefer to continue collecting fees from a broader base of subscribers. MSG has accused Altice of walking away from negotiations and declining to take their dispute to an independent arbitrator. Altice has said MSG’s arbitration proposal was “nothing more than a PR stunt.”
How’s this for a PR stunt?
MSG just dropped a commercial that features legendary voice of the Rangers Sam Rosen dumping Optimum for Verizon in hopes of recruiting sports fans to join him in hitting the cable company where it hurts most.
Optimum subscribers! Follow Sam’s lead and switch to Fios TV on Verizon today. Don’t miss another game! Visit https://t.co/uyCbBpjYAA. pic.twitter.com/p3b0uXanEq
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) February 13, 2025
“Because of Optimum dropping MSG, I’ve lost a big part of what I love the most and that is games,” Rosen says as he’s seen awaiting the Verizon technician from his coach. “Knicks games, Rangers games, got to the point where it was time for a change.”
“Today, I get my MSG Networks back!” Rosen added with excitement as the technician gets to work. “Don’t be without your MSG Networks. Do what I did. Switch to Verizon Fios.”
Optimum’s Rangers fans are missing out on listening to Rosen’s final season of his broadcasting career. Optimum’s Knicks fans are missing out on watching the team’s best start to a season since 1972-73, which also happens to be their last championship in franchise history.
MSG makes it looks so easy, as Rosen sits on his house with a cup of coffee and enjoys making the hassle-free switch to Verizon. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy for every New York sports fan. Where I live on Long Island, Verizon Fios is not available. Sure, I can purchase an additional streaming service to go along with the cable I already pay for to watch Knicks games, but I shouldn’t have to. I can also ditch my Optimum fiber and cable for Verizon DSL, if I want to revert back to decades-old internet speed. But I can’t do what Rosen just did.
It is interesting to see MSG recruiting its announcers for some dirty work in their attempts at pushing fans to Fios. Maybe Mike Breen and Walt Frazier will be next. But MSG can recruit every announcer they have, it still won’t make Fios an option for everyone.
