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Early Tuesday morning, Time Warner pulled the plug on three Cablevision channels, much to the chagrin of sports fans in the area. The three channels - MSG Network, Fox Sports NY, and Metro Channels - were pulled because of a disagreement over the rights fees Time Warner would pay Cablevision for the programming. Of course, each side blames the other for the removal of the channels. Sources say the increase Cablevision is seeking is as high as 30% where Time Warner feels that the channels aren't worth nearly that much.
Really though, are we missing anything? Time Warner is replacing MSG and FSNY with NBA TV and College Sports TV and giving their customers $2 per month while the channels are off their network. While the Knicks have improved recently, Gothamist would gladly take $2 not to watch them play until the season moves closer to the Playoffs. And the Mets? Are we really missing all that much in Spring Training action? Nope.
While this disagreement could become lengthy (see Cablevision/YES) and nasty, Cablevision seems to be picking a fight when nobody cares just yet. Make the Knicks a winner and hope the Mets start the season well, then maybe people will call Time Warner for their channels back. Or does Cablevision just resent the fact that Time Warner might partner with the Mets in 2006 to create a network solely for Mets games.
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Not to mention the lack of NHL games to broadcast... if the Rangers were going into the playoffs there would be a vocal (if small) group of disapointed fans
Haven't the Mets already picked out a President for their new Regional Sports Network? I thought it was a done deal that the Mets were leaving MSG in 2006. If that's true, then Cablevision wants a 30% increase on a contract that (after this season) will only have the Knicks and the Rangers? Forget that, I'd rather have NBA TV anyway.
This is probably just the undercard to what I'm sure will be a gory drawn-out tussle over the contract to carry the Mets network on Cablevision, similar to what happened with the launch of the YES network a couple of years ago.
I think the only thing that upsets me about this is my lack of bridezilla and dating in new york shows on metro. I love that shit.
I blame the Dolans completely for this situation. I don't really care about the channels, but Cablevision is typically the villian in these cases. I just read today that they're not allowing any pro-stadium advertising on their channels. Such scumbags! After being ripped off by them for so many years, I can only hope that they fail in every respect. F them.
I consider this a good start. Now could Time Warner please get rid of the rest of the sports channels and refund me another $12 a month? i'm ready for ala carte pricing.
I'm another who'd happily lose all the unwatched sports channels for a refund (why isn't this an option?). I just want the fashion shows back.
MSG and Time Warner should be paying *me* to watch these pitiful Knicks games, not the other way around.
Just watch the Mets on WB11! It's free.
Ugh. Any West Coast migrant has been waiting for the PAC-10 Men's Basketball tournament for months. Since we get no respect from the major channels that are ruled by East Coast biased sports desks, we had to rely on Fox Sports New York. $2? In March, they need to pay me back a whole lot more than that.