After months of negotiations, MSG Networks and Optimum have reached an agreement, ending a standoff that disrupted sports fans in New York and New Jersey. With the new deal in place, viewers can now watch the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils on the Optimum channel lineup.
According to Gothamist, the agreement came just in time for the Rangers' game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed her satisfaction, saying, "After 52 days in the penalty box, New York sports fans will finally be able to watch the Knicks, Rangers and Islanders again." This followed public pressure from the governor, who supported consumers throughout the dispute.
While details of the deal are limited, it is expected that Optimum subscribers will have more options for receiving content. As reported by the New York Post, Optimum will now offer lower-priced packages that exclude MSG, which was previously part of its basic tier. MSG Networks agreed to lower their per-subscriber fee to about $8, down from the previous rate of $10.
The new arrangement includes three service tiers: Entertainment TV, Extra TV, and Everything TV. The latter will feature MSG and other sports channels, such as the YES Network and SNY. In a memo to employees, Altice USA Chairman and CEO Dennis Mathew praised the deal, saying, "I’m pleased to say that after several months of negotiations with MSG Networks, today they have agreed to a deal that we believe sets the stage for a broader change within the TV industry," in a statement obtained by the New York Post.
Earlier in the dispute, state attorneys general from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut pressured Optimum to offer automatic refunds to customers who had been paying for MSG Network channels during the blackout. Gov. Hochul also took action, filing a petition with the state Department of Public Service for public hearings to address consumer concerns. She told the New York Post, "I’m going to keep fighting like hell for New York consumers — no matter which team they root for."
During the negotiations, MSG Networks ran an ad featuring Rangers announcer Sam Rosen switching TV providers to Verizon Fios. Earlier this month, after reports of Altice raising the salaries of its top executives, MSG Networks urged Optimum subscribers to switch to Fios. Now that the deal is finalized, subscribers no longer need to switch providers to watch their teams for the rest of the regular season.
