As the dispute between Time Warner Cable and MSG Networks enters its fourth day, a “couple hundred thousand other Time Warner Cable customers were forced to scramble with alternative plans” to watch last night’s Oilers-Sabres game, according to T.J. Pignataro of the BUFFALO NEWS. Sabres fans who “didn't have tickets and wanted to see the game were forced to the nearest bar showing the game -- unless they heeded MSG's advice from weeks ago and successfully switched to alternative television providers Verizon or Direct TV.” Buffalo downtown bar Pearl Street Grill & Brewery was “one of the places shut out” as the restaurant is a TWC customer. Pearl Street Manager Roy Bakos said that the bar “is ‘actively looking’ to switch to another provider even though it has a large account with Time Warner.” Bakos said that while the pregame business last night “was steady ... the bar simply can't afford not to air the Sabres.” Meanwhile, Pignataro notes fans entering First Niagara Center before the game “were given a flier announcing that ‘The Sabres are on MSG tonight! But not if you're a Time Warner Cable subscriber,’ and encouraging fans to switch providers to keep Sabres action coming.” MSG sponsored a viewing party to watch the game live at Tully's and MSG Exec VP & GM Daniel Ronayne said, "Right now, there are no meaningful discussions going on. Every proposal we put in front of them, they're rejecting" (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/4). In Rochester, Kevin Oklobzija wrote under the header, “MSG And TWC Are 4-Letter Words To Sabres Fans.” The Sabres “asked MSG to waive its rights to a website blackout at Sabres.com,” but MSG "refused." The Sabres “hoped to be able to carry the webcast on their own website.” Oklobzija asked, “Can’t Sabres owner Terry Pegula -- a very wise businessman who knows a lot about making money -- act as an arbitrator?” (DEMOCRATANDCHRONICLE.com, 1/3).
DEAL EXPIRES: CABLEFAX DAILY reports Universal Sports at the start of this year “switched from a multicast network to a cable net as its deals for distribution through local stations expired.” Universal Sports said that it is “in advanced negotiations with many other distributors and expects to announce additional deals soon, but in the meantime, it’s directing folks to www.IWantUniversalSports.com” (CABLEFAX DAILY, 1/4).
