New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James pressed MSG Networks and Altice — the dad or mum corporate of Optimal — to settle the continuing dispute that has left Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils lovers with out the power to look at native video games since middle of the night on Jan. 1.
“As two primary companies have interaction in contract talks, the people who find themselves impacted probably the most are on a regular basis New Yorkers who merely need to watch sports activities and experience tv programming,” James mentioned in a commentary Monday. “I can be tracking this case carefully to make sure New York consumers obtain the products and services they’re paying for. I beg each firms to paintings in combination to succeed in an excellent, ultimate settlement so New Yorkers can get again to rooting for the house groups.”
New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James makes a statement on Jan. 8, 2025. Paul Martinka
James commented days after MSG Networks and Optimal exchanged scathing statements Friday in regards to the saga, with MSG Networks accusing Optimal of pulling its newest proposal and strolling clear of negotiations.
Of their earlier deal, Optimal paid MSG Networks $10 according to subscriber, The Submit’s Josh Kosman in the past reported.
Optimal govt vp of communications Lisa Anselmo then adopted together with her personal commentary hours later Friday that ripped MSG Networks for “pushing out deceptive narratives to the media” and rejecting all in their proposals.
A normal view of a MSG Networks signal as noticed in New York, NY on December 27, 2024. Christopher Sadowski
Anselmo mentioned Optimal invited MSG Networks to their workplaces closing week and had been, on the time, nonetheless looking ahead to a reaction to their request for a follow-up assembly.
MSG Networks launched a commentary of their very own following James’ remark, pronouncing that Altice must be refunding its consumers.
“We thank New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James for stepping in on behalf of Optimal subscribers who aren’t getting what they’re paying for,” MSG Networks mentioned in a commentary Monday. “We are hoping the Legal professionals Normal in New Jersey and Connecticut do the similar, in addition to different officers and advocates around the tri-state space. MSG Networks calls on Optimal consumers to succeed in out to their Legal professionals Normal, client advocates, and different Federal and State officers to call for Altice USA both repair MSG Networks and its protection of the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils or robotically cut back subscribers’ per thirty days expenses by way of the volume Altice USA saves by way of not sporting this programming.
“Altice USA is making the most of its subscribers, making an attempt to pad their suffering corporate’s base line by way of pocketing the greater than $10/month they must robotically be reimbursing to its greater than 1 million subscribers whilst MSG Networks stays darkish. That’s MORE THAN $120 million in annual charges Altice USA’s Optimal subscribers proceed to pay for content material they aren’t getting. … You must now not be a pawn in Altice USA’s recreation.”
Altice — Optimal’s dad or mum corporate — and MSG Networks were in a dispute. Christopher Sadowski
Anselmo replied to James’ feedback in a brand new commentary to The Submit on Monday.
“Optimal concurs with the Legal professional Normal that lovers must have the ability to proceed to look at their favourite groups,” Anselmo mentioned, “and Optimal continues to barter in just right religion to succeed in a deal that restores programming for lovers and guarantees that non-viewers — which constitute part of the client base — don’t need to pay for it. Within the intervening time, we’ve answers for all of our consumers, and they are able to be told extra at optimal.com/msg.”
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