Customers in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut who pay for MSG Network channels but have been denied access since January are facing a refund demand from their state attorneys general. The dispute between Optimum and MSG Networks stems from a contract disagreement that has led to the blackout of channels featuring coverage of the New York Rangers, Islanders, Devils, and Buffalo Sabres. While both sides continue to blame each other for the situation, the attorneys general are urging a quick resolution and restitution for affected subscribers.
Three state attorneys general are demanding Optimum , a cable company, automatically refund customers who have been paying for MSG Network channels but have been denied access to the programming since the start of January. The channel blackout stemmed from an ongoing contract dispute between Optimum 's parent company, Altice, and MSG Networks.
Customers lost access to the MSG Networks channels, which provide exclusive coverage of the New York Rangers, Islanders, Devils, and Buffalo Sabres, at the beginning of the year. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut attorneys general argue that customers have continued to pay for channels they can't use and their money should be returned without the need for individual requests. '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,' said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement. James added that she is 'determined to secure a solution for New Yorkers who have had to endure these unfair blackouts' and urged Optimum and MSG to finalize a deal so New Yorkers can watch their home teams. A letter sent by the attorneys general to Altice makes no mention of legal action they might take to compel a resolution. However, both sides have been pointing fingers over the channel blackout since its inception, and this latest demand for refunds has done little to quell the tension. In a statement on Thursday, MSG Networks spokesperson Dan Schoenberg applauded the attorneys general for demanding that Altice 'do right by its subscribers and either issue a full refund or immediately reach an agreement to return MSG Networks to Optimum subscribers.' Optimum, on the other hand, argues that MSG Networks unfairly insists that many of its customers pay for the sports channels, even if they don't watch them. They claim MSG should agree to a contract that allows Optimum subscribers more flexibility to subscribe or opt out of the programming. Optimum also alleges that MSG is overcharging customers for access to its content and is unwilling to negotiate a deal that would lower costs in a changing media landscape. They also assert that, according to their own calculations, MSG should be the one refunding customers for the lost service. 'It is this antiquated model, one that forces high fees and minimum penetration rates, that continues to drive up the costs of legacy video packages and gives distributors like us little flexibility to adjust prices – especially in an evolving TV landscape where consumers now have more choice than ever before,' said Optimum spokesperson Stephen Stokes in a statement.
Cable TV Channel Blackout Contract Dispute MSG Networks Optimum Refund Sports Programming
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