The ongoing saga between MSG Networks and Altice — the parent company of Optimum — has taken another turn, with talks off and the sides exchanging scathing statements Friday night as users still can’t watch local games.
According to MSG Networks, Altice walked away from negotiations after pulling its last proposal as the search for an agreement that would include allowing Optimum customers to regain access to Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils games dragged on.
“Altice USA has pulled their last proposal and walked away from negotiations to bring MSG Networks back to its Optimum subscribers,” MSG Networks said in its statement Friday, in part. “They also just dropped WPIX Channel 11 in New York and other local stations around the country. If you have been waiting, like we have, for them to do right by their customers — don’t wait any longer.
“Now is the time to switch to Verizon Fios who has a special offer for Optimum subscribers. Meanwhile, Optimum has been charging their over 1 million customers for local sports programming they have not been receiving and EVERY subscriber should be credited at least $10 a month.”
But Optimum, opening its statement with “facts still matter,” pushed back on that claim and accused MSG Networks of refusing “all of our proposals,” Optimum executive vice president of communications Lisa Anselmo told The Post in a statement.
Anselmo also said Optimum invited MSG Networks to its offices this week and “requested a follow-up meeting” — a response to which Anselmo said Optimum is still waiting for — with executives.?
“MSG Networks is simply throwing out things that are completely inaccurate,” Anselmo said in the statement. “Despite our ongoing efforts to reach a fair and reasonable deal for our customers, MSG Networks continues to demand that non-fans be forced to pay for content that they do not want. … Instead of pushing out misleading narratives to the media, they should focus on continued negotiations.”
The previous deal, under which Optimum paid MSG Networks $10 per subscriber, expired at midnight Jan. 1, The Post’s Josh Kosman previously reported.