MSG, Time Warner Cable Dispute Finally Resolved: Another Jeremy Lin Assist

Jeremy Lin may not be able to wave his wand and make unicorns appear out of mid-air like it sometimes seems, but he certainly had a part in ending the MSG-Time Warner Cable dispute.

The two major cable companies -- whose standoff kept the Knicks games (and all other MSG programming) from being televised in Time Warner's New York market -- agreed to end their long stalemate on Friday, and a deal is expected to be completed in time for Friday's Knicks game against the New Orleans Hornets.

It's unclear exactly what percentage of the credit should be given to Lin, the out-of-nowhere success who has spurred seven straight Knicks wins. But Mike Bair, head of MSG media, admitted to WFAN's Mike Francesa that Lin's magical run pressured the two sides to reopen negotiations.

"There was a conversation, a face- to-face meeting this week," Bair said. "I think right now, because of the Lin story, because of the performance of the team, and because of what we've seen in the ratings, now is the time to do a deal. But we have to have a dialog to be productive." (via the New York Post)

For more on the Knicks, head over to the SB Nation blog Posting and Toasting.

Jeremy Lin Delivers Big Ratings For MSG Network, Despite Ongoing Time Warner Dispute

MSG No Longer On Time Warner Cable

MSG and MSG Plus are no longer available on Time Warner Cable as of midnight Eastern time on Dec. 31, 2011 (via New York Times). MSG has been replaced by NBATV on Time Warner Cable.

About 1.7 million cable homes have been affected by the two sides not being able to come to an agreement. As has been the norm throughout the dispute, MSG and Time Warner Cable blamed each other in the media.

Michael Bair, president of MSG Media, said

"All we have asked is for Time Warner Cable to value our programming in the same way as other TV providers - nothing more, nothing less," Michael Bair, the president of MSG Media, said in a statement issued at 8 p.m. Saturday. "Unfortunately, they have rejected every offer we made to them for almost two years."

"In the end, they were simply not interested in conducting serious negotiations on behalf of their customers and instead spent time grossly mischaracterizing our positions to the public."

Time Warner Cable responded in their statement:

"The decision to remove their programming from our lineup rests entirely with MSG. By making that decision well in advance of the deadline, MSG has again shown that they are more interested in holding New York sports fans hostage than in negotiating a deal. Rather than engage in a war of words, they should come back to the table and get a deal done."

Time Warner Cable has claimed that MSG wants too much money (a 53% increase in rates) and that they are simply keeping prices down for their customers. MSG has stated that Time Warner Cable is not being honest about the numbers.

MSG carries games for the New York Knicks and four NHL teams - The New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.

For more on the dispute between Time Warner Cable and MSG, stay tuned to our storystream.

Time Warner Cable Spokesperson: 'It's Not Going To Be Us That Pulls The Switch' On MSG

Time Warner Cable had some more strong words for MSG on Monday. Late last week, the network accused the cable company of threatening to pull the networks MSG and MSG Plus from its programming lineup. Time Warner responded through its director of digital communications, Jeff Simmermon, on their blog:

That line about us threatening to yank MSG networks is covered in flies and still steaming. As a matter of fact, we issued an open letter to MSG Networks and made a public pledge not to disrupt the NHL and NBA seasons for our customers. (TW Cable Untangled.com)

Time Warner maintains that the decision will be up to MSG on whether or not the network remains part of the TWC programming lineup.

That's where we are right now. If MSG vanishes, it's not going to be us that pulls the switch - MSG will cease beaming their signals to the satellites that serve our customers. If it's up to us, we're going to settle this behind the scenes like a bunch of grownups. (TW Cable Untangled.com)    

MSG currently carries games for the New York Knicks and four NHL teams - The New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.    

The agreement between Time Warner and MSG expires December 31.

For more on the dispute between Time Warner Cable and MSG, stay tuned to our storystream.

Time Warner Cable Spokesperson: MSG Demands 'Way Out Of Line'

Time Warner Cable says that the price increase being asked for by Madison Square Garden for its MSG Network is “way out of line,” and is at the heart of a dispute that could see MSG pulled from the Time Warner lineup at the end of the year.

“MSG wants a 53 percent increase in the price we currently pay. We buy sports all over the country and New Yorkers understand that a 53 percent increase is way out of line,” said Time Warner Cable spokesperson Eric Mangan. “MSG is also insisting that we carry FUSE, which is a music network that is watched by 0.6 percent of our customers. If we don’t carry FUSE, they have threatened to double the rate they charge for MSG. We value sports and understand that costs are rising, which is why we’re willing to pay the 6.5 percent increase that MSG originally wanted. MSG has now reneged on that offer.”

Time Warner Cable services much of the upstate New York area, many of the New York City boroughs and parts of New Jersey. MSG currently carries games for the New York Knicks and four NHL teams — The New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.

The agreement between Time Warner and MSG expires December 31.

Time Warner May Not Show Knicks Games Anymore

Madison Square Garden Networks televises New York Knicks games and games for four NHL teams – the New Rangers, Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. Unfortunately, fans in those markets may not be able to watch their teams on TV much longer. According to Madison Square Garden via ESPN New York, Time Warner Cable may drop MSG from its television lineup after the new year.

"We have been attempting to negotiate a new agreement with Time Warner Cable for close to two years, and are simply asking them to pay fair and reasonable rates that are consistent with what other providers pay for our programming - nothing more," Michael Bair, president, MSG Media, said in a release. "Unfortunately, Time Warner Cable is not interested in reaching a fair agreement, and, in fact, is not interested in conducting productive negotiations on behalf of its customers. Because of that, we suggest that our customers switch providers before Time Warner Cable pulls MSG's networks off its systems."

The agreement between Time Warner and MSG expires December 31, so expect MSG to be dropped if an agreement is not reached within the next two weeks.