New York Attorney General Letitia James and two other attorneys general have sent a letter to Altice USA, the parent company of Optimum TV, calling for refunds for customers who were unable to access MSG Networks since January 1. The dispute over compensation between the distributor and the provider has left sports fans in Long Island, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut without access to games from teams like the Knicks and Rangers.
The attorneys general, James of New York, Matthew Platkin of New Jersey, and William Tong of Connecticut, expressed frustration with the ongoing programming disruption and urged Altice to credit affected consumers who were unable to watch MSG stations during January. They argued that reducing future charges is not enough and that it’s unfair for residents to be charged for services that Optimum did not provide in January.
Altice has responded by saying it’s focused on limiting customer disruption and providing personalized assistance, but the attorneys general want a more immediate solution. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by regional sports networks and cable companies in an era of increasing options outside the traditional cable bundle.
James has warned that her office will monitor contract talks to ensure consumers get the services they’re paying for, while also encouraging Altice and MSG Networks to reach a deal to resolve the issue.
Source: https://www.newsday.com/sports/media/msg-networks-altice-carriage-dispute-ny-attorney-general-rj7zorqo