Optimum customers lost more channels over the weekend. In addition to MSG Networks, channels from Nexstar were also blacked out, including WPIX Channel 11, NewsNation, and Antenna TV, which features old TV shows. On top of that, MSG Networks remain dark for Optimum customers after the sports channel was yanked from the cable lineup following failed negotiations between the two companies collapsed over money. New York sports fans who watch on cable TV have been without the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils since January 1st. WRCR market analyst Ken Mahoney of Mahoney Asset Management says with both the NHL and NBA in the middle of their seasons, the timing couldn’t have been worse…
Altice USA’s Optimum cable service blames MSG for demanding sky-high fees that would force non-sports viewers to subsidize sports programming, while MSG claims the terms they offered were “fair and reasonable.” Optimum told the Westfair Business Journal Nexstar wanted them to carry the unpopular channel, NewsNation, as a condition to continue carrying other more popular stations like channel 11. Nexstar says Altice has consistently made unreasonable and unprecedented demands.