Altice USA’s Optimum cable customers lost access to MSG Networks on Wednesday amid a fee dispute between the cable operator and James Dolan’s regional sports channels. The blackout affected NBA and NHL games as negotiations broke down over fees and channel availability requirements. MSG Networks offered Altice lower fees than last year and proposed keeping the channels on-air during negotiations, but Altice rejected all offers. Altice USA claimed MSG Networks demanded high fees and broad channel availability, potentially increasing customer bills for content they might not want. Regional sports networks, grappling with high team contracts and streaming transitions, face financial hurdles.
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00:00It's Benzinga bringing Wall Street to Main Street.
00:02Altice USA's Optimum Cable customers lost access to MSG Networks on Wednesday
00:07amid a fee dispute between the cable operator and James Dolan's regional sports channels.
00:11The blackout affects NBA and NHL games as negotiations broke down over fees
00:16and channel availability requirements.
00:18MSG Networks stated they offered Altice lower fees than last year
00:22and proposed keeping the channels on air during negotiations,
00:25but Altice rejected all offers.
00:27Altice USA claimed MSG Networks demanded high fees and broad channel availability,
00:32potentially increasing customer bills for content they might not want.
00:35Regional sports networks grappling with high team contracts
00:39and streaming transitions continue to face financial hurdles.