MSG Networks-Altice dispute continues as sides go back and forth over arbitration offer
The logos for MSG Networks, left, and Altice USA.
MSG Networks has offered to submit to binding arbitration to resolve its three-week-old contract impasse with Altice, the parent company of Optimum TV – a move Altice called “a PR stunt.”
In a statement released on Tuesday night, MSG Networks said, “Our goal is to make sure our Knicks, Rangers, Devils, and Islander fans who are Optimum subscribers don’t have to miss another game.
“To that end, we are willing to agree to a short extension tied to resolving our dispute through binding arbitration by a neutral, third party. This will enable Optimum subscribers to watch their favorite sports programming while we resolve our outstanding issues.”
Altice responded with a statement of its own that read, in part, “Truth is, MSG’s statement is nothing more than a PR stunt.”
Altice said it has hosted MSG executives in its offices “numerous times” and that the sides were close to an agreement on Friday before MSG walked away from it.
MSG responded to that assertion by saying a deal “was never close.”
MSG has said it agreed to be carried on Altice’s new “Everything” tier, which costs $160, and where other local sports channels are positioned. It is less clear where the sides stand on negotiating MSG’s placement and price on older tiers.
Altice consistently has argued that it is trying to protect customers from getting channels they do not watch.
“We are ready to put the games on tonight for customers who want it,” Altice’s statement said. “All MSG needs to do is give us the green light, but they won’t because they want to continue to charge those who do not watch it.”
Tuesday night’s Knicks-Nets game was on TNT, not MSG, which allowed some fans who have been shut out of Knicks games to watch the team play.
Altice has encouraged customers to watch Knicks, Rangers and Islanders games on the Gotham Sports app or fuboTV. MSG has steered them toward Verizon Fios, a key competitor of Optimum TV.
HOW TO WATCH THE GAMES
- Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils games can be streamed through the Gotham Sports App.
- For households in Altice’s geographical footprint, MSG also can be accessed via Verizon Fios, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and fuboTV.
- More details here. | AG monitoring situation
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
