MSG yanks content from TW Cable

In a dramatic finale to a vitriolic carriage dispute, MSG Network pulled its programming from Time Warner Cable at midnight Saturday after the two sides remained stalemated over fees. "As of midnight tonight, MSG Network and MSG Plus will be dropped from the Time Warner Cable channel lineup, and NY area sports fans will miss exclusive local live coverage of the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres," said MSG in a statement Saturday night. "What does that say to NY sports fans?" "We hate that our customers have been put in this terrible position and MSG has offered no credible explanation as to why they suddenly need a 53% increase after last year's rates," said Mike Angus, senior VP for content acquisition at Time Warner Cable. "Perhaps after renovating the Garden they are looking for NY sports fans to fund renovations of the forum the recently purchased in Los Angeles. Who knows? That's what banks -- not our customers -- are for." MSG noted TW Cable's "record-setting $5 billion investment in the Los Angeles Lakers" recently. Angus claimed the two sides had reached an agreement for a 6.5% hike earlier in the year but then MSG reneged. "We hope that in these economic times no one can afford to pay 53% more for their channel," Angus added. MSG reiterated that TW Cable has "grossly mischaracterized our position" and is only trying to get premium programming on the cheap. "We are disappointed," said Michael Bair, president of MSG Media. "All we have asked is for Time Warner Cable to value our programming in the same way as other TV providers -- nothing more, nothing less." The decision is particularly dramatic since the NBA season, hobbled by a strike, started only last week and ratings for the Knicks have been up sharply. But the cable operator noted that "nearly 40%" of the remaining Knicks games, most NBA playoff games and the NBA All-Star game will still be viewable, as well as nearly 30% of Rangers games, nearly 20% of Sabres games and some Devils games. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com