The cable TV sports channels programmed by MSG Networks that feature the New York Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and New Jersey Devils among other teams have returned to Optimum cable TV as of Feb. 22. The channels had been taken down in a contract dispute over carriage rights and fees.
Optimum subscribers were without the MSG channels for 52 days, prompting calls from various elected officials for Optimum to issue automatic refunds to its customers for channels for which they were being charged but could not view. As of Feb. 22, automatic refunds had not been issued. The start of the MSG blackout was followed by a 10-day blackout of Nexstar channels including WPIX Channel 11 in New York in a similar dispute surrounding rights and fees.
“After 52 days in the penalty box, New York sports fans will finally be able to watch the Knicks, Rangers and Islanders again,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “I directed the Department of Public Service to call for public hearings on how consumers are being shortchanged by weeks of corporate bickering. I’m going to keep fighting like hell for New York consumers.”
In a statement announcing the return of the MSG channels, both parties said, “MSG Networks and Optimum are pleased to announce they have reached an agreement for the relaunch of MSG Networks on Optimum video lineups. MSG Networks and Optimum would like to thank everyone for their patience as we partnered to reach this new agreement to benefit our fans and Optimum subscribers.”
The announcement did not contain terms of the deal that was reached.
During the time that the channels were blacked out, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin had demanded in a letter to Optimum’s owner, Altice, that automatic refunds be issued to customers who have been denied access to the MSG channels they paid for as part of their cable plans.
“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,” James said at the time. “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.”
