Adelphia weighs future of Empire Sports Net

Beleaguered cable operator Adelphia Communications says it intends to restructure Empire Sports Network, the Buffalo-based regional sports network it owns. That could mean shuttering the network, which serves all of upstate New York and has rights to the Buffalo Sabres.

"Management has determined it is necessary to consider alternative business arrangements or structures for Empire Sports Network," said spokesman Eric Andrews in a prepared statement. "We expect to complete this assessment and decision-making process over the next several months."

Empire was dealt a harsh blow this year when it was moved to a digital sports tier on Time Warner Cable systems in several markets in upstate New York. It is one of the few regional sports networks in the country with rights to only one major league team.

— Andy Bernstein