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NEW CHANNEL COMING IN CHANGE IN NEW YORK CYTY CHANNEL LINEUP

JASONPR

576 - YES NETWORK HD IS MOVE TO 595

576- IS GOING TO BE COMCASTSPORTSNET SOON Smiley Very Happy

MSG HD COMING SOON TO VERIZON

MSG PLUS HD COMING SOON

Verizon is again calling on the federal government to step in and force Cablevision to do the right thing and make the MSG channels it owns available in HD to FiOS TV viewers.

Verizon VP Terry Denson testified before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that "...Congress should adopt a narrow legislative fix to address this demonstrated problem by preventing cable incumbents and their affiliates from denying competitors access to the unique regional sports programming that consumers demand." Here's a link to Terry's testimony.

Even Newsday (owned by Cablevision) reports on a Congressional hearing on Oct. 22 to compel Cablevision to make the HD sports programming available. Dow Jones also carries the story.

As readers of this blog know, Cablevision has refused to sell to us the high definition versions of the MSG regional sports programming claiming that they don't have to since they already provide the standard def version of the broadcasts. MSG Network (you guessed it, owend by Cablevision) carries the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.

As Terry pointed out, many sports fans in the region consider this "must have" and expect their TV provider to have the games in HD.

Back in July, I told you that we had filed a Program Access Complaint with the FCC asking it force Cablevision to sell us this programming. It was only after we filed a similar complaint in 2006 that Cablevision finally agreed to sell us the MSG sports networks in standard definition. We asked the FCC to rule on our latest complaint within five months.

In yesterday's testimony, Terry told an Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee that "...Cablevision has steadfastly refused to even discuss providing access to MSG and MSG Plus in HD on any terms."

Meanwhile, Terry notes, " ... Cablevision's advertisements trumpet to consumers that it is the only source for this regional sports programming in HD."

Of course, Verizon can program a new all-news channel when Cablevision refuses to make its local news available for sale to us (even though it is sold to other cable companies). But no competitor can duplicate local sports programming or substitute games from other sports or other cities. This content is unique and of major importance to local viewers. The government should encourage competition by insisting that Cablevision not be allowed to withhold the HD sports programming and use it as a competitive weapon.

What do you think? Should Cablevision be required to sell competitors its regional sports programming in HD? Smiley Very Happy Smiley Surprised

Comments

matcarl

Why would they move YES HD to 595 when the SD is on 76? Who said we would get Comcast Sports Net here? What makes you think the fight with MSG will end "soon"??????????????

JASONPR

YOU HAVE TO PUT YOU ZIPCODE YOU AREA MY AREA IS 10466 MY CHANEL LINEUP CHANNEL 576 YES NETWORK HD IS MOVE TO 595 YES NETWORK HD IN MY AREA Smiley Wink

spacedebris

@JASONPR wrote:

What do you think? Should Cablevision be required to sell competitors its regional sports programming in HD?

ABSOLUTELY!!!! Cablevison was trying to take advantage of a loophole in the law that says that all broadcast channels must be made available to everyone. The rule was any broadcast going out by satellite required you to share with everyone. Cablevision was claiming that this was terrestrial broadcast and as such was not subject to that law. The other cable companies (Verizon included) claim that it IS subject to the share rule. And there is the argument in a nutshell. Now we see if the FCC will rule in favor of the cable companies or cablevision. If they rule in our favor, we should shortly be able to enjoy those channels.

matcarl

When I put my zip code in, it lists YES HD on both channels which is an error I believe. It doesn't mention anything about it being moved. You also didn't answer why we would get Comcast Sports?

JASONPR

NEXT WEEK IN NYC CHANNEL LINEUP NEW PREMIUM CHANNEL OCTOBER 30 :

395 - EPIX

895- EPIX HD

ALSO CHANNEL 576 YES NETWORK HD IS MOVING 595 CHANNEL SOON THEY COMING MANY NEW CHANNELS SOON Smiley Happy

JASONPR

Smiley Very Happy

Verizon Thursday renewed its call on the federal government to force Cablevision Systems Corp. to sell high-definition feeds of New York Knicks and Rangers games to Verizon for broadcast on the telephone company's rival FiOS cable television service.

The programming now is shared in standard definition, but Verizon argues that high definition has become a "must have" for sports fans.

Cablevision, the Bethpage-based corporate parent of Newsday and owner of Madison Square Garden, the Knicks and the Rangers, argues it should not have to share with major competitors technology it developed. Cablevision became the first provider of regular sports coverage in high definition in 1998.

But Verizon argues no competitor can duplicate sports programming. "Whereas a new entrant may be able to create a competing entertainment or news channel if denied access to such programming . . . a new entrant simply cannot create new local sports teams or substitute games from other sports or other cities," Terry Denson, Verizon's vice president of content and programming, said in written testimony to a House subcommittee hearing Thursday on cable competitiveness.

Verizon seeks the access under a 1992 federal rule that ensures that new competitors like DirecTV and DISH could launch with key satellite-delivered cable programming. However, Cablevision notes that it exempts new programming delivered terrestrially, as are the sports programs in question.

In oral testimony, Cablevision chief operating officer Thomas Rutledge noted also that the rule allows for a periodic review and sunset. "For years, Cablevision has faced vigorous competition from DISH and DirecTV - currently the second and third largest video distributors, and Verizon and AT&T - the nation's largest telecommunications companies and currently the eighth and 10th largest video distributors. These phone companies are significantly larger than Cablevision, more than 10 times our size."

It is unfair, he argued, for any company to be compelled to "share the fruits of your risk and innovation with your competitors."

Verizon had formally asked the Federal Communications Commission in July to force Cablevision to share the sports programming in high definition. The request is pending. Smiley Very Happy

Stevef3NJ

I am hoping that Verizon wins and can provide those channel. I would like for Verizon to be able to provide MSNBC to everyone and that we can get MSNBC HD. There are several HD channels that would really round out the offerings. FIOS rocks!

Tested

In my mind, keeping MSG from FIOS is a clear violation of anti-trust laws. If this is allowed to stand, Cablevision could put all Knicks and Ranger games on their cable system and keep them off every other cable or sat service. The NFL could take all of their games of broadcast TV and put them on their own cable channels and charge whatever price they want for people to watch.

The business of sports team owners owning sports networks needs to come to an end. Ultimately it's not good for their business or the consumer.

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