MSG HD is Coming

[OldFogey1]

Hey, Verizon, we know the FCC ruled that Cablevision had to release MSG HD programming a month after their ruling on 9/22/11, and that CV was going to fight it, but EXACTLY where do we stand now?  It would be nice -- heck, maybe even to be expected -- that Customer Service would answer these posts with an update...

How about it, ladies and gentlemen?

[Caps09]

The FCC did give them a couple extra weeks since an appeal was made but here are the official documents that were released yesterday and today.

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit denied the request for emergency stay filed by Cablevision and MSG- http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db1109/DOC-310923A1.pdf

Then, the FCC has denied the application for review, and dismissed as moot a petition for stay- http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db1110/FCC-11-167A1.pdf

This MO&O gives MSG 15 days to comply and provide Verizon with the HD channels, unless a carriage agreement with Verizon provides for a later date. That equals the day after Thanksgiving. The good news is that this is the end of the line for Cablevision and MSG. The court of appeals has denied a stay, and the Commission has denied the appeal. I guess they could try and appeal the ruling, but they would have to provide the HD channels in the meantime. After they are selling their channels to both Verizon and AT&T, it would be pretty hard to convince a court that the extra carriage fees are causing harm to MSG.

Congrats to NY sports fans. It should never have taken this long for your video provider to simply get the opportunity to buy the HD version of a channel. The Dolans are a disgrace and should not have this much control over sports rights, especially in the country's largest market.

[prisaz]

That is why NY does not have 1.9. VZ has been spending all the time and money in court. MSG HD and 1.9 spin may cause system wide failure.

[gbenj]

Another Rangers game tonight, on MSG, which means I have to watch in SD...Can we get an official response?

Personally I'd rather hear that theyre working on it and hope to have it soon, as ambiguous as that sounds than to hear nothing...

[OldFogey1]

Thanks, Caps.  Good to hear!...

[Caps09]

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@gbenj wrote:

Personally I'd rather hear that theyre working on it and hope to have it soon, as ambiguous as that sounds than to hear nothing...

---

That's what fiostv (Joe Ambeault) is saying on Twitter. Stuff like "in progress" and "getting biz deal done". Nothing specific, but it does indicate that things are moving along. You'll just have to see what happens when MSG is required to provide the HD signal on Nov 25.

[sinz]

This is great news. Cant wait to watch the hockey games in HD - it really makes a big difference. 

[Caps09]

For those wondering about further appeals, it is possible for MSG and Cablevision to appeal the ruling to the same US Court of Appeals that denied its stay. Since the court has denied the request for emergency stay though, they will have to provide the MSG HD and MSG+ HD feeds while (if) they work on the appeal. For those interested in how long an appeal takes, here's an example- in December 2010, the FCC issued an MO&O reversing a Media Bureau order and granting a petition for review to Time Warner Cable in a dispute with Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). MASN filed an appeal with the US Cout of Appeals (here in Richmond), and the case is scheduled to be heard in January 2012, over a year after the FCC decision was made.

Of course, I think that MSG and Cablevision should just enjoy the boost in licensing fees they receive from this and move on. They can continue to promote legitimate ways Cablevision sets itself apart from other providers like MSG Varsity, News 14, and offering wifi to its Optimum customers at places like Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. These are truly examples where other providers can develop ways to compete.

[CarlsChoice]

From buffalonews.com: 

Sabres in HD coming to FiOS next month

November 16, 2011 - 1:57 PM | 0 comments

Verizon announced today that it expects to provide MSG Network channels in high definition by mid-December.

The Federal Communications Commission ruled in September that MSG could not withhold HD feeds of its programming from Verizon and AT&T. MSG sports programs include Buffalo Sabres games, which have been available to Verizon FiOS viewers only in standard definition.

A federal court last week upheld the FCC ruling, which compels MSG to negotiate with Verizon  regarding HD feeds. A statement from Verizon today says the HD programming is expected to be available by mid-December.

Sabres viewers who get their TV via the Dish Network are still in the dark when it comes to watching their team. Dish last year dropped MSG from its lineup, along with YES Network and SportsChannel New York, in a dispute over rights fees. All indications are that those channels won’t be coming back to Dish anytime soon.

---Greg Connors

[gbenj]

This seems like the killshot. Just a matter of hearing it from someone officially on twitter or in the forums at this point.

"Can't Wait!" till mid-december. 

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verizon-fios-tv-subscribers-in-new-york-new-jersey-and-conne...