Time Warner/MSG Dispute Could Last Through April
Karen Matthews at the AP reports that MSG Media President Michael Bair says the dispute with Time Warner could last through the end of the NBA and NHL regular seasons in April."We have not had any meaningful conversations in quite some time," Bair said Thursday. "We have made numerous proposals for more than two years and they have rejected every single proposal."
Time Warner spokeswoman Maureen Huff agreed that "there really hasn't been any marked progress."
Huff said MSG is demanding a 53 percent increase in the price Time Warner pays for its programming. Bair called that figure "simply incorrect" but didn't say how large a hike MSG was seeking.
A number of TheNYRBlog readers contributed their thoughts to the story including Carl Tirella who said...
"It's miserable. I'm a die-hard Rangers fan. I can't watch any Rangers games. ... I thought it was going to get resolved quickly but it's been a month, a month and a half."
...i feel absolutely awful for any Rangers fans who have Time Warner, I'm not sure how I'd survive without my Rangers. Let's hope the Rangers success along with the phenomenon that is Linsanity helps get a deal done soon.
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@thenyrblog little disappointed no article mentions that MSG is owned by a rival cable provider. #conflictofinterest
Whatever. I'm sick of both MSG and time Warner. Even though I live in Albany, MSG plays the sabres over the rangers when their schedule overlaps.
MSG's bargaining position was weak because the Knicks were shitting the bed, but that's changed with the emergence of Jeremy Lin and so many people . And if it were truly a free market, people would switch. But most people in NYC are relegated to whichever cable provider monopolizes their region. NYC residents can't just mount a satellite dish on their fire escape (I tried years back, was immediately informed it was illegal) to get Direct TV. And Verizon FIOS is only in select areas. I was luckily able to switch to FIOS from TW last year. Anyway, I dunno how Jeremy Lin affects the actual negotiation but his impact is definitely creating more angry TW customers than there were before last week.
@thenyrblog knew this would happen - I switched to Direct TV a few weeks ago. This is not a season to be missed! LGR!
I called and bitched to TWC yesterday after not being able to see the Rangers pound on the Flyers. TWC is placing all blame on MSG. Even if you sign up for NHL Center Ice, you would still not get the Ranger games. I'm totally stuck. It's either TWC or no TV for me. My building is not wired for any other cable company and we're not allowed to put dishes on the roof. Damn you TWC!
@BKNY1999 I've talked to people in the Albany area with Center Ice on TWC and they say they get the NYR games...I'm getting it tomorrow, it'll be $60 cheaper
@BrendyJohnson That might be true in Albany, but not here in NYC. Only way we can get a Ranger game that would be on MSG, would be if the game was on the road. We would be able to see the other teams feed of the game. For example, this Tuesday's game against Boston. While it will be on MSG here, if you have NHL Center Ice, you will be able to see it via the Boston coverage.
@BKNY1999 Same here - TWC or nothing in my building. Which, even aside from this TWC/MSG ridiculousness, is insane - why do companies have monopolies on buildings? Or why do buildings create/reinforce monopolies?
@thenyrblog TWC personnel mentioned that MSG wants TWC to continue fuse channel, but numbers apparantly don't support keeping it ? Crazy?
