So Time Warner and MSG currently are no more! Bastards .....
TV impasse is bad news for viewers of Sabres games
MSG pulls broadcasts from Time Warner
By Mark Sommer
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Published:
January 1, 2012, 10:16 PM
Updated: January 2, 2012, 8:04 AM
Watching games for Sabres fans in the foreseeable future may come down to subscribing to Direct TV or FiOS, or attending a local bar carrying one of those.
That's because the ongoing impasse between MSG and Time Warner Cable remains frosty, despite the expiration Saturday of the contract, signed in 2005, between the sports cable channel and the giant cable provider.
The Sabres next play Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers -- the first of 12 games that MSG was to have televised in January -- and again Friday and Saturday. One game -- Jan. 18 against the Chicago Blackhawks -- airs on the Versus network, which will be relaunched today as the NBC Sports Network.
For most Time Warner subscribers, it's likely to be a waiting game, as both sides each other for the failure to reach a deal.
"Right now we are waiting for MSG to come back to the table. We are eager to resume negotiation for a reasonable price on behalf of our customers," Time Warner spokesman Matthew Tremblay said Sunday.
Michael Bair, president of MSG Media, cast similar blame on Time Warner, saying the last "meaningful conversation" between the two parties was about two weeks ago.
Bair suggested viewers consider subscribing elsewhere.
"We urge them to select an alternate provider and switch from Time Warner to ensure they don't miss any games. We have no other choice, because we want to make sure the fans don't miss their games," Bair said.
MSG, which removed Sabres games from the Time Warner lineup, will hold a "viewing party" Tuesday in Tully's sports bar at Main Street and Transit Road in Clarence. Free chicken wings will be offered along with ticket and merchandise giveaways.
Rep. Kathleen C. Hochul, D-Amherst, issued a statement Sunday urging both parties "to come together and resolve this situation quickly."
Downstate, MSG also carries games for the NBA's New York Knicks and the NHL's New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. Those games, too, no longer are available on Time Warner.
Friday, Bair said the majority of MSG's market is in the New York City area, where, he said, "the biggest battle is brewing. It's unfortunate that Buffalo is caught up in this ..."
msommer@buffnews.com
MSG pulls broadcasts from Time Warner
By Mark Sommer
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Published:
January 1, 2012, 10:16 PM
Updated: January 2, 2012, 8:04 AM
Watching games for Sabres fans in the foreseeable future may come down to subscribing to Direct TV or FiOS, or attending a local bar carrying one of those.
That's because the ongoing impasse between MSG and Time Warner Cable remains frosty, despite the expiration Saturday of the contract, signed in 2005, between the sports cable channel and the giant cable provider.
The Sabres next play Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers -- the first of 12 games that MSG was to have televised in January -- and again Friday and Saturday. One game -- Jan. 18 against the Chicago Blackhawks -- airs on the Versus network, which will be relaunched today as the NBC Sports Network.
For most Time Warner subscribers, it's likely to be a waiting game, as both sides each other for the failure to reach a deal.
"Right now we are waiting for MSG to come back to the table. We are eager to resume negotiation for a reasonable price on behalf of our customers," Time Warner spokesman Matthew Tremblay said Sunday.
Michael Bair, president of MSG Media, cast similar blame on Time Warner, saying the last "meaningful conversation" between the two parties was about two weeks ago.
Bair suggested viewers consider subscribing elsewhere.
"We urge them to select an alternate provider and switch from Time Warner to ensure they don't miss any games. We have no other choice, because we want to make sure the fans don't miss their games," Bair said.
MSG, which removed Sabres games from the Time Warner lineup, will hold a "viewing party" Tuesday in Tully's sports bar at Main Street and Transit Road in Clarence. Free chicken wings will be offered along with ticket and merchandise giveaways.
Rep. Kathleen C. Hochul, D-Amherst, issued a statement Sunday urging both parties "to come together and resolve this situation quickly."
Downstate, MSG also carries games for the NBA's New York Knicks and the NHL's New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. Those games, too, no longer are available on Time Warner.
Friday, Bair said the majority of MSG's market is in the New York City area, where, he said, "the biggest battle is brewing. It's unfortunate that Buffalo is caught up in this ..."
msommer@buffnews.com
So Here is the thing...... I have Time Warner and Really like.... Can't believe these bastards on both sides... Now I don't know how the money works in NHL but I have a good guess based on how it works in the NFL...
- People come to game so they see the ads at the arena and on the boards some of these change based on event think Lacrosse as an example
- People watch the game on TV and see these ads on the boards or where ever else they have them where TV will pick them up.. (this was a problem in the NFL cause some got upset that kids saw beer ads in the stadium when watching)
How many people see the stuff on the boards is what gives those ads value... The less people the less value they have... Now who gets that money if it is the team or the arena or if there is some kind of split I have no idea.... But with the lose of TV that = loss of people viewing that so someone is losing money... Now at some point the Ad people are going to either want some of their money back (unless they got a great deal) or won't pay as much since no one on time warner sees those... Now this isn't true for just the sabres but for the rangers and Devils as well.... I assume basketball has some kind of ads also think it might be signs that change?
Now the next part of this is TV..... There are people who have Time Warner and who when they watch Hockey they wouldn't be watching any thing else so Viewer ship drops... Now the less people are watching the less they can charge for some ads I'm thinking the local stuff you might see during the sabres game... Not sure if it is enough people to effect things...
During Sabres games you have at least a few companies that pay for like the ad of the power play or the Celino and Barnes stuff.... I assume that the other hockey teams do this type of stuff as well.... So now that these games aren't on MSG on Timewarner that means less viewers so that ad space just lost value.... So again Not sure if this hurts MSG, The sabres or how that money gets split up.....
What I do know for sure is see MSG wants you to switch to Direct TV cause then MSG doesn't lose any Viewers they don't lose any ad dollars and it gives them more power to hold hostage sports in NYS and NJ (Devils games)......
Now Time warner thinks it is better to just lose the money and if so lose some viewers they might be right on that.... What I wonder though is Could the Sabres sign a Deal with another Station?
For example every NHL is recorded.... Who's Cameras are those...NHL? Sabres? MSG? Who pays for the TV guys who also do the Radio? Is it the Sabres or MSG... See if it is MSG I doubt they would allow the sabres to make a deal with some other Channel on Time Warner...
Bottom line is who losses the most honestly is the fans.... Ok with how they are playing maybe the fans really win... But everyone losses really....