SportsChannel's blackout of Mets games on Time Warner
Cable in New York "was lifted yesterday as the two sides
resumed negotiations to resolve a financial dispute,"
according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. Execs from
each company "voiced tempered confidence" that the 12
remaining games provided by SportsChannel will be shown on
the Time Warner systems. Officials "would not discuss what
would happen if negotiations again reached an impasse, as
they did last week" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/20). Rainbow Media
Holdings Exec VP/Sports Mike Bair: "We got an indication
that Time Warner has a willingness to negotiate in good
faith and sit down at the table to resolve this issue to
everyone's best interests." Time Warner Cable of New York
President Barry Rosenblum: "I think all we're saying now is
that talks have progressed to where the games can be shown.
A certain amount of progress was made that both sides
realized was positive" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/20).
CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIA? In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes that a
source "familiar with the negotiations" told him that "media
coverage of the dispute ... helped bring both sides back to
the table." Raissman's source: "They realized they were
both starting to look bad" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/20).
