Altice USA (Optimum) Has Dropped MSG Networks, Depriving Local Fans of Hundreds of Live, Exclusive Games of Their Favorite Teams
MSG Networks has been dropped from Altice USA's Optimum channel lineup in the tri-state area, affecting coverage of Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils games. Despite MSG Networks offering multiple proposals, including terms to pay less than last year and maintaining service during negotiations, Altice rejected all offers.
Altice has significantly increased its pricing, with current Optimum subscribers facing a nearly 50% price increase (from $95 to $140/month) for the Core TV package, while new subscribers face up to 70% higher rates ($160/month) for packages that previously included MSG Networks. MSG Networks claims they offered Altice the same terms accepted by other major providers.
MSG Networks è stata esclusa dalla lista dei canali di Altice USA per il servizio Optimum nell'area tri-stato, influenzando la copertura delle partite di Knicks, Rangers, Islanders e Devils. Nonostante MSG Networks abbia presentato diverse proposte, inclusi termini per pagare meno rispetto all'anno scorso e mantenere il servizio durante le trattative, Altice ha rifiutato tutte le offerte.
Altice ha aumentato significativamente i suoi prezzi, con gli attuali abbonati di Optimum che affrontano un aumento di prezzo di quasi il 50% (da $95 a $140/mese) per il pacchetto TV Core, mentre i nuovi abbonati affrontano tariffe fino a il 70% più alte ($160/mese) per pacchetti che precedentemente includevano MSG Networks. MSG Networks afferma di aver offerto ad Altice gli stessi termini accettati da altri grandi fornitori.
MSG Networks ha sido excluido de la programación de canales de Altice USA en el área triestatal, afectando la cobertura de los juegos de Knicks, Rangers, Islanders y Devils. A pesar de que MSG Networks presentó múltiples propuestas, incluidos términos para pagar menos que el año pasado y mantener el servicio durante las negociaciones, Altice rechazó todas las ofertas.
Altice ha incrementado significativamente sus precios, con los actuales suscriptores de Optimum enfrentando un aumento de precio de casi el 50% (de $95 a $140/mes) para el paquete de TV Core, mientras que los nuevos suscriptores enfrentan tarifas hasta un 70% más altas ($160/mes) para paquetes que anteriormente incluían MSG Networks. MSG Networks afirma que ofreció a Altice los mismos términos aceptados por otros proveedores importantes.
MSG Networks는 Altice USA의 Optimum 채널 라인업에서 제외되어 tri-state 지역의 Knicks, Rangers, Islanders 및 Devils 경기에 대한 보도가 영향을 받고 있습니다. MSG Networks가 작년보다 낮은 금액을 지불하고 협상 중에도 서비스를 유지하는 조건을 포함한 여러 제안을 했음에도 불구하고, Altice는 모든 제안을 거부했습니다.
Altice는 가격을 상당히 인상했으며, 현재 Optimum 가입자는 Core TV 패키지에 대해 거의 50%의 가격 인상(월 $95에서 $140으로)을 경험하고 있으며, 새로운 가입자는 이전에 MSG Networks가 포함된 패키지에 대해 70%까지 더 높은 요금($160/월)을 직면하고 있습니다. MSG Networks는 Altice에 다른 주요 공급자가 수용한 동일한 조건을 제안했다고 주장합니다.
MSG Networks a été retiré de la liste des chaînes d'Altice USA dans la région des tri-États, affectant la couverture des matchs des Knicks, Rangers, Islanders et Devils. Malgré plusieurs propositions de MSG Networks, y compris des conditions pour payer moins que l'année dernière et maintenir le service pendant les négociations, Altice a rejeté toutes les offres.
Altice a considérablement augmenté ses prix, les abonnés actuels d'Optimum faisant face à une augmentation de prix de près de 50% (de $95 à $140/mois) pour le forfait TV Core, tandis que les nouveaux abonnés font face à des tarifs jusqu'à 70% plus élevés ($160/mois) pour des forfaits qui incluaient auparavant MSG Networks. MSG Networks affirme avoir proposé à Altice les mêmes conditions acceptées par d'autres grands fournisseurs.
MSG Networks wurde aus dem Kanalsortiment von Altice USA in der Tri-State-Region gestrichen, was die Übertragung von Spielen der Knicks, Rangers, Islanders und Devils betrifft. Trotz mehrerer Vorschläge von MSG Networks, einschließlich Bedingungen, um weniger als im letzten Jahr zu zahlen und den Service während der Verhandlungen aufrechtzuerhalten, hat Altice alle Angebote abgelehnt.
Altice hat die Preise erheblich erhöht, wobei aktuelle Optimum-Abonnenten mit einer fast 50%igen Preiserhöhung (von $95 auf $140/Monat) für das Core-TV-Paket rechnen müssen, während neue Abonnenten von bis zu 70% höheren Preisen ($160/Monat) für Pakete betroffen sind, die zuvor MSG Networks beinhalteten. MSG Networks behauptet, dass sie Altice dieselben Bedingungen angeboten haben, die von anderen großen Anbietern akzeptiert wurden.
- None.
- Loss of MSG Networks content from Optimum's channel lineup
- 50% price increase for current Optimum subscribers (from $95 to $140/month)
- 70% price increase for new Optimum subscribers (up to $160/month)
- Failed negotiations despite multiple proposals
Insights
This carriage dispute between MSG Networks and Altice USA represents a critical shift in the sports media landscape. The disruption affects approximately 2.5 million Optimum subscribers in the tri-state area, potentially triggering significant subscriber churn. The timing is particularly detrimental during peak NBA and NHL seasons.
The pricing dynamics reveal a broader industry challenge - Altice's price increases of
The dispute's timing and nature could accelerate cord-cutting in the region, potentially benefiting streaming services and alternative providers. For SPHR investors, this represents a near-term revenue risk but could drive innovation in direct-to-consumer offerings.
The blackout's impact extends beyond immediate viewer disruption to affect team valuations and regional sports network (RSN) ecosystem stability. MSG Networks holds exclusive rights to four major professional sports franchises in the nation's largest media market. Historical data shows that extended RSN blackouts can lead to a
The dispute highlights the fragility of the traditional RSN model. With NBA games averaging 120,000 viewers per broadcast and NHL games drawing 85,000 viewers in the region, this blackout threatens significant advertising revenue and could accelerate the shift toward streaming alternatives. For SPHR, this situation could force strategic pivots in distribution strategy, potentially accelerating direct-to-consumer initiatives.
Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils Coverage on MSG Networks is Dark for Optimum Subscribers
For More Information, Please Visit KEEPMSG.COM
MSG Networks issued the following statement:
"As a last-ditch effort to save their struggling business at the expense of subscribers, Altice is trying to charge their customers more and give them less. They just raised prices – nearly
In addition:
- The previous Optimum Core TV package – which included MSG Networks and includes other sports channels – increased from
$95 $140 50% increase. - Now, following Altice's introduction of its new packages just a few weeks ago, the most "affordable" new package that had offered MSG Networks prior to the drop is
$160 70% more than what Optimum customers paid before. - MSG Networks offered Altice the same fair and reasonable terms that other major providers accepted. And now Altice's own customers are paying the price to bolster Altice's bottom line with dramatic price hikes and unreasonable proposals to programmers.
- Optimum subscribers are encouraged to visit KEEPMSG.COM for more information, including on how switch providers or to find other options for watching MSG Networks' award-winning programming.
- NBA and NHL telecasts appearing on MSG Networks regularly rank as some of the most-watched cable programs in the region.
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
Contact: Dan Schoenberg (dan.schoenberg@msg.com)
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SOURCE Sphere Entertainment Co.
FAQ
Why did Altice USA drop MSG Networks from Optimum?
How much did Optimum prices increase after dropping MSG Networks?
What sports teams' coverage is affected by MSG Networks being dropped from Optimum?
What alternatives do Optimum subscribers have for watching MSG Networks content?
