Monday, December 19, 2011

Time Warner Dispute with MSG Media Could Leave to No NY Sports Media


Time Warner Cable is battling it out with with MSG Media. MSG Media is the media division of Madison Square Garden Company.  According to “MSG and Time Warner Face Off” by Richard Sandomir of NYtimes.com, “MSG Media accused Time Warner Cable on Friday of threatening to remove its networks, MSG and MSG Plus, from its systems in the New York and Buffalo markets on Dec. 31… that could deprive viewers of Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres games”.

MSG Media’s position is their networks are worth more now than the price listed in the 2005 contract. Michael Bair, president of MSG Media is asking for Time Warner to “pay fair and reasonable rates consistent with what others pay” and the current price offered is “way below what is currently market rate for our product”.

Time Warner is claiming MSG media wants a 53% increase, which they consider unreasonable.

The Madison Square Garden Company’s website lists MSG Network, MSG Plus, and Fuse as their networks. The contract negotiations/dispute with between the two entities have been going on for two years. If Time Warner Cable’s threats are valid,  on New Year’s day,  New York Sports fans might wake up to no access to local sports media.

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