jvaccaro6 wrote:
This debacle is going to just piss the Sabres off to the point where MSG loses the rights to them entirely at the end of this agreement and we sign a deal with another carrier, or Pegula creates his own television network.
It's a joke that MSG wants the same money as ESPN. They dont do a good daily show covering all sports (sportscenter) or cover any quality college football, baseball, or anything. They have specialized coverage of NYC teams, and the Sabres. The truth is 99% of Buffalo couldn't care less about NYC sports save for the Yanks, who have their own tv network anyway. This is an example of MSG trying to screw TWC. TWC isn't going to eat the cost, and doesn't want to pass it on to their customers either.
That being said a deal will be done before too long, but this is just a stand off between two big companies, trying to see who can survive without the other. It's a fucking joke, and another example of corporate greed fucking the American public.
MSG carries Knicks games too, who 99% of WNY could give a shit about, and NYC sports fans do. Irrelevant?
If you'd rather watch Sports center than Sabre's game, that's your choice, but I could give 2 shits about ESPN's "quality" programming. In fact, if you offered me the choice of MSG for $30/month or $2/month for ESPN, I'd take the Sabres games for sure. ESPN has been bleeding the carriers FOR YEARS.
Anyone can read all the political drivel they want about this, but it seems MSG is asking for the same rate they get in other markets. While that may be a 53% increase, it's the going rate. We had a choice of going w/o Leino for $4.5, and we didn't. Now TWC has the choice to pay the going rate. I see nothing wrong with them deciding to go for it not going for it. I just suspect they will lose too many subscribers to justify their Lindy Ruff stubborness.