MSG in HD, Verizon fighting to get the HD content

[spacedebris]

for those of you that are upset that verizon does not carry the local games in HD for teams like the Knicks and Rangers

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Verizon-Petitions-FCC-to-Rule-prnews-1395958990.html?x=0&.v=1&.pf=pers...

Verizon is working to get those for you

[robertf390]

I agree with Verizon on using this tactic and hope they can somehow apply the limitation forced for carrying MSNBC to it also. I have actually contacted my Congressman Timothy Bishop's office asking him for guidance on how to handle these issues. Getting MGS and MGS+ should be a non-issue given Directv carries the HD versions - the issue that concerns me is Cablevision believing they have the right to control access to one of the major news outlets by blocking MSNBC completely in the NY area. Cablevision has entered this business (news distribution) recently via the purchase of Newsday which combined with the News12 outlets should cause conflicts issues in controlling. I would suggest anyone who cares about this to also contact their elected reps.

[IHatetheDolans]

Well, I have a question. I think we have a somewhat unique situation here in Buffalo given that our NHL team is broadcast on MSG/MSGHD and yet we couldn't get access to Cablevision's service even if we wanted to. Hence, Cablevision's refusal to grant HD access for these channels to Verizon not only stifles competition in their market, but outside their territory as well.

Having said that, does anyone think that provisions could be made to allow carriage of the Sabres games given that we are out of Cablevision's service area? Mayboe one of they Verizon techs on here could shed light on whether such a carriage agreement would be unprecedented or if any credence could be awarded to such an idea. I would hope that, if feasible, the Sabres are working hard with Verizon to convince Cablevision to provide access to the feed, given that the Sabres have no stake in MSG other than a contract to air their games on the network. 

[Greg26001]

The Dolan's are not going to sell Verizon MSG in only Buffalo-area, and Verizon isn't going to pay for it only there.  Dolan would have a hard time defending his actions to the FCC if he agreed to sell it in only one place.

[spacedebris]

The problem would be that Verizon doesnt carry "programming" per se. They carry channels. So the game would have to be air'd on a channel that verizon carries. The problem with these are not that the games are being denied, its that they are not allowed to carry the channel.

[IHatetheDolans]

Well then let's get creative. Get a waiver from the NHL to lift blackout restrictions so that we could at least see HD games on NHL network when the Sabres play Canadian teams on Hockey Night in Canada. At least we would get a few more games in HD rather than the paltry few we'll see nationally televised. If I'm the NHL and the Sabres, Rangers, or Knicks I'm pushing back hard against MSG as a most of the content in question is for regional sporting events. Take away their exclusivity to local games and see if they flinch.

Message Edited by IHatetheDolans on 07-17-2009 10:06 AM

[ElizabethS]

If you've checked out our Verizon At Home blog, by senior vice president Eric Rabe, you'll see that Verizon is hard at work to get those previously unavailable games for their customers.

[bobbo527]

It looks like AT&T has joined the fight against Cablevision!!

http://www.multichannel.com/article/327590-AT_T_Files_Program_Access_Complaint_Against_Cablevision.p...

[spacedebris]

Good, the more the better, if enough companies file complaints, maybe the FCC will actually take action