Verizon protests arrangements for Hofstra debate

The expected dust-up at the New York gubernatorial debate to be held at Hofstra University Monday had some preshow fireworks - among cable operators over the event's broadcast.

Verizon Communications Inc. protested a decision by Bethpage-based Cablevision Systems Corp. not make its sponsored broadcast of the debate available to Verizon's Fios 1 cable news channel.

"We reached out to Cablevision directly, but our request was flatly denied," the New York-based telecommunications company said in a news release.

Verizon noted that Cablevision allowed Time Warner, another cable operator, to air the debate, by picking up what is called a "pool feed."

Verizon said it was reaching out to elected officials and others on Long Island and around the state for support in broadcasting the first gubernatorial debate, which features Democratic candidate Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, his Republican challenger Carl Paladino and several minor-party candidates.

"Verizon Fios TV customers and millions of other viewers served by other providers across the state have essentially been blacked out of the debate, denying them their rights as citizens and voters," Verizon said.

In response to Verizon, a spokesperson for News 12 Long Island - a Cablevision property and one of the organizers of the debate along with Hofstra and Newsday, also a Cablevision division - noted that the debate will also be available to NPR stations across the state. And it said that "Fios 1 has the same access and use of the gubernatorial debate as every other news organization including the network affiliates and national news channels."

Cablevision provides a feed that other news organizations can use up to 5 minutes of after the debate has ended.