NY, NJ and Connecticut AGs hit Optimum with ultimatum as MSG blackout frustrates customers

The top prosecutors in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut want Altice-owned Optimum cable to either lift the blackout of Madison Square Garden Networks or refund customers who have been unable to access Knicks, Rangers, Devils and Islanders games since the impasse started on New Year’s Day.New York Attorney General Letitia James, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin co-signed a letter to the cable company on Thursday urging one of the nation’s largest cable providers to make amends with fans.“New York sports fans are being put in the penalty box, forced to shell out their hard-earned money for television channels they cannot even watch,” said James.

“Optimum customers have paid for channels to watch their home sports teams, but their cable company is not offering these channels while charging them anyway.”James said she was “determined to secure a solution for New Yorkers who have had to endure these unfair blackouts and I urge Optimum and MSG to finally reach a deal so New Yorkers can watch their home teams.”The dispute stems from a contract standoff between Optimum’s parent company, Altice USA, and MSG Networks, which resulted in the removal of key sports and entertainment channels from Optimum cable plans.Since Jan.

1, Optimum customers have been unable to access MSG channels, which broadcast games for teams including the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.James had previously urged Altice and MSG to resolve their negotiations swiftly to prevent service disruptions for New York consumers.

Now, the attorneys general are demanding that Altice issue automatic refunds to customers who paid for channels they can no longer access.The attorneys general are calling on Altice to issue refunds automatically, rather than requiring customers to navigate a claims process — ensuring impacted subscribers receive fair compensation for their lost ...