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.
