MSG Networks Thanks New York Congresswoman Malliotakis And New Jersey Congressman Van Drew For Protecting Their Residents From Being Taken Advantage Of By The Greed Of Altice USA
NEW YORK (January 16, 2025) – MSG Networks released the following statement regarding their ongoing carriage dispute with Altice USA:
“We thank Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York and Congressman Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey for their leadership in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action to protect the more than 1 million Optimum customers in the tri-state area who have lost valuable programming that they are continuing to pay for. As their letter states, ‘consumers should not pay the same fees for diminished service, and providers should proactively issue rebates when significant content…is removed.’ Instead, Altice is pocketing the money to the tune of more than $120 million in annual fees they should be reimbursing customers for the MSG Networks and other programming they are no longer carrying. They have already taken more than $5M in just two weeks by cutting off MSG Networks and keeping their subscribers’ money. This is unacceptable.
As Congresswoman Malliotakis and Congressman Van Drew’s letter states, ‘Altice USA’s handling of negotiations with MSGN…appears inconsistent with the Commission’s guidance’ and calls for the FCC to consider ‘legislative remedies to address these issues.’”
The full text of Congresswoman Malliotakis and Congressman Van Drew’s letter can be found here.
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About MSG Networks
MSG Networks, a pioneer in sports media, owns and operates two award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks (MSG and MSG Sportsnet) and MSG+, a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming offering (included in the Gotham Sports App), that serve the nation’s number one media market, the New York DMA, as well as other portions of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The networks feature a wide range of compelling sports content, including exclusive live local games and other programming of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, as well as significant coverage of the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. This content, in addition to a diverse array of other sporting events and critically acclaimed original programming, has established MSG Networks as the gold standard in regional sports. MSG Networks is part of the Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR).
Contact:
Dan Schoenberg ([email protected])