MSG Networks Pulls the Plug on Time Warner Cable Sports Fans

[Orangeyes]

Just got this message in an email from Time Warner at 12:42 PM



At Time Warner Cable, we're sports fans too – that's why we fight hard to keep the sports you love on the air at a price you can afford.

With the game clock running down, MSG Networks rejected all proposals, refused to engage in any meaningful way, and refused to allow us to keep the channel on. In the end, MSG pulled the plug on Time Warner Cable customers. We regret that MSG Networks has taken away their sports programming, but remind fans that even without MSG, Time Warner Cable will carry nearly 20 percent of this season’s remaining Sabres games, almost 40 percent of the remaining Knicks games, and most of the NHL and NBA playoffs. For information on where to find your favorite teams, visit www.twcconversations.com/MSG.

We don’t think that MSG’s actions are fair to sports fans, so Time Warner Cable is offering the following in appreciation of our customers:



• A special month-long preview of the Time Warner Cable Sports Pass, a package of more than 15 sports-oriented channels. This package—which normally costs $5.95 per month for residential customers—will be available from January 1 – 31, 2012. (Visit www.timewarnercable.com/sportspass to see the full list of channels and channel numbers.)


• A free preview of the NBA League Pass premium sports package which offers up to 40 live games per week. This offer is good through January 8th and more details are available at www.twcconversations.com/MSG.


We think MSG is being unreasonable – and unfair to fans. They continue to demand a 53% price increase for their programming, which just doesn’t make sense. We do want MSG to return to our channel lineup, and we will continue to work hard to reach an agreement that gives you the sports you love at a price you can afford to pay.

Don’t forget: every TV provider is at risk for blackout threats. Last year MSG pulled the plug on DISH – so switching is not a solution. If MSG really cared about the fans, they wouldn’t be holding your sports hostage.

Thank you for your patience and continued loyalty.

Tell MSG to Get Real and Do the Deal.

 

[bnoro]

Maybe Time Warner should stop low balling them and pony up...

 

[Mason Parker]

Why is it that Time Warner is always the only provider that can't work these things out? They still don't even have the NFL Network. I'm so glad I ditched them for satellite years ago.

 

[mountaincuse]

Just got it in HD on Fios. Waited a long time to make the switch but very glad that I did finally and I'm saving $50 a month

 

[310Pigpen]

I wish dish would pay up so I could get sny again.

 

[OburgOrange]

I wish dish would pay up so I could get sny again.

Switch to directv, i had dish network and it sucks for ny sports

 

[Cusefan78]

I have directv and I love it. Never going back to tw.

 

[cpatrocks]

DirecTV (and basic cable for Time Warner Sports in Syracuse) -- best way to go.

 

[Ghost]

If TW is always fighting so hard to save us why are they always the most expensive option by far in the world of cable?

 

[Madbiker]

Everyone knows they will eventually reach a new contract agreement with MSG at a higher price and pass it along to subscribers. Just get it over and be done with it before we miss too many games.

 

[MikeSU02]

Maybe Time Warner should stop low balling them and pony up...

Quite the company man, eh?

 

[Dnyr85]

If TW is always fighting so hard to save us why are they always the most expensive option by far in the world of cable?

Not only cable. they just raised my internet to over $60/mth! Bastards.

I have Directv (who themselves are raising prices in Feb.) and now will look to add the local phone companies internet for around $32/mth.

 

[OttoMets]

If TW is always fighting so hard to save us why are they always the most expensive option by far in the world of cable?

I don't like Time Warner, but I've found them both better and less expensive than Comcast (more expensive than RCN, but much better service-wise).

They're all lousy.

 

[zeekay]

Everything will be resolved once the government gets rid of cable monopolies (not gonna happen, lobby money, etc.).

Most modern countries have high competetion, much lower prices, 100x and up faster internet, and offer a la carte on almost all non-basic channels. Every subscriber just picks channel by channel what they want. Meh.

 

[Ghost]

I don't like Time Warner, but I've found them both better and less expensive than Comcast (more expensive than RCN, but much better service-wise).

They're all lousy.

I thought Comcast's customer service was awful, but I recall them being cheaper and they offered tons of free movies (no commercial movies) which was a nice plus. I don't think TW offers that, and it always seemed like a nice perk.

Although I only had Comcast for about 6 or so months since they had just bought out the cable company I had while in the Midwest so maybe they hadn't had a chance to ruin the services/raise the prices yet.

 

[Czar]

Everything will be resolved once the government gets rid of cable monopolies (not gonna happen, lobby money, etc.).

Most modern countries have high competetion, much lower prices, 100x and up faster internet, and offer a la carte on almost all non-basic channels. Every subscriber just picks channel by channel what they want. Meh.

They're not a monopoly, not even close

 

[bnoro]

Quite the company man, eh?

I actually don't know anything about what the situation is, the blame probably falls on both for this one. I don't understand how TWC is always the provider having issues with this. It never happens to anyone else.

 

[Cusefan95]

I actually don't know anything about what the situation is, the blame probably falls on both for this one. I don't understand how TWC is always the provider having issues with this. It never happens to anyone else.

I'm going to guess that it's because TW is the only one you've had, or that the disputes that have caused channels to be pulled from Cablevision or Comcast weren't ones you watched. This is a common negotiating tactic in the industry, and saying that it only happens to TW is incorrect. saying it generally only happens to TW is also incorrect. Saying it happens to pretty much every provider on a fairly regular basis would be the accurate statement.

 

[zibby]

I actually don't know anything about what the situation is, the blame probably falls on both for this one. I don't understand how TWC is always the provider having issues with this. It never happens to anyone else.

Yes it does. This shiat constantly goes on. Everyone's precious, perfect DirectTV removed Versus for more than six months.

 

[OttoMets]

I thought Comcast's customer service was awful, but I recall them being cheaper and they offered tons of free movies (no commercial movies) which was a nice plus. I don't think TW offers that, and it always seemed like a nice perk.

Although I only had Comcast for about 6 or so months since they had just bought out the cable company I had while in the Midwest so maybe they hadn't had a chance to ruin the services/raise the prices yet.

I'd forgotten about the movies - those were nice. Seems to me that their introductory rate for six months was really low, but it went through the roof after that. And Comcast's customer service was one of the most unbelievable things ever.

 

[orangepack]

I wonder if TW will now lower our rates seeing that they are now saving money by not offering MSG.

 

[Moontan]

I actually don't know anything about what the situation is, the blame probably falls on both for this one. I don't understand how TWC is always the provider having issues with this. It never happens to anyone else.

Providers have had issues with Fox & Disney (ESPN) as well. DiSH's dispute with Fox (18 months ago?) finally drove me to DirecTV. It also got me SNY in HD, though I lost BBC America's HD feed. DiSH's dropping of SNY would've made me switch eventually anyway.

 

[Upstate]

Why is it that Time Warner is always the only provider that can't work these things out? They still don't even have the NFL Network. I'm so glad I ditched them for satellite years ago.

Don't forget about Cablevision last year and ABC

 

[orangepack]

The current rate for MSG and MSG Plus is about $4.65 per subscriber per month, according to media researcher SNL Kagan. A recent Wall Street Journal article called that rate higher than “almost any other regional sports network” and noted it had risen 70 percent in five years. By comparison, ESPN cost operators on average $4.69 per month in 2011.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sportsbusiness/post/_/id/203/msg-time-warner-breakdown-sign-of-times

Sounds like MSG is asking for an unreasonable rate increase. There is no way that they should be asking for more than ESPN.

 

[bnoro]

I'm going to guess that it's because TW is the only one you've had, or that the disputes that have caused channels to be pulled from Cablevision or Comcast weren't ones you watched. This is a common negotiating tactic in the industry, and saying that it only happens to TW is incorrect. saying it generally only happens to TW is also incorrect. Saying it happens to pretty much every provider on a fairly regular basis would be the accurate statement.

I have Charter at my house, and they've never had this problem, so yes, it's all i really know. The TWC ones are the only ones i've heard about, so it was kind of a blanket statement based on my experience. Thanks for dropping some knowledge on me.