Fall Of The Empire? Disputes In Upstate NY Troublesome

Sabres Sliced And Diced By TWC’s Move?

After "eight months in which they carried Empire [Sports Network] without a contract, Time Warner's cable division in Syracuse is replacing" the net with Outdoor Life Network May 1, and TW's Binghamton system will "also drop Empire if continuing negotiations aren't resolved," according to Alan Pergament of the BUFFALO NEWS. TW's Rochester system "could be next to say goodbye to Empire on June 1." Pergament: "That could be a life-threatening blow to Empire, have ramifications for [prospective Sabres Owner B. Thomas] Golisano's plans to expand Sabres' interest in his hometown [of Rochester] and probably provoke more viewer outrage." Syracuse (250,000 HHs), Binghamton (200,000) and Rochester (300,000) make up "almost half of [Empire's] 1.6 million households" and dropping the net in those markets could cost the network 30-40% of its revenues. Empire GM Bob Koshinski: "It is my understanding that there are issues at the corporate level between the two companies. They must get resolved before we have a solution to our situation." A TW spokesman in Syracuse said the decision is "a local one that was made because TW hasn't had a contract and it has an opportunity to add a channel that subscribers have been requesting [OLN]." Koshinski is "reluctant" to allow Empire to be placed on a pay-sports digital tier "because it would give Empire only a fraction of its current subscribers." Pergament noted Empire carries almost every Sabres game and also covers the Bills (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/19).