The REAL Sabres
October 11th, 2004, 2:02:15 AM
Okay, sort of. The MSG Network. :?:
I guess with the loss of the Mets to another network and the Rangers games being blacked out in Buffalo, signing on the Sabres for 50-60 games was a logical choice for the network. More from Alan Pergament in TBN...
Adelphia deal stalling with MSG
10/9/2004
By ALAN PERGAMENT
This is what I'm thinking:
It has been a couple of weeks since reports surfaced that the Madison Square Garden Network was negotiating with Adelphia to carry Buffalo Sabres games locally, thereby allowing the cable operator to dissolve the Empire Sports Network.
According to sources, the deal looked imminent a few weeks ago but has stalled for some unknown reason, perhaps because the NHL lockout has removed any need for urgency.
Tom Haywood, Adelphia's local executive, gave the same comment this week that he has given for about a year: "We're talking with several networks."
It would be sad to see Empire go, though it already is a shell of itself and has pretty much been gone from public consciousness. It doesn't even carry local sports shows on weekends, when the Bills, colleges and high schools have their busiest schedules.
MSG would seem to have a programming hole in 2005 now that the New York Mets have paid $54 million to opt out of their deal with the regional sports network after next season. MSG still may hope to make a deal to keep some games, but the Mets reportedly are considering starting their own channel like the Yankees did with YES or joining YES.
Without the Mets, MSG would certainly be less attractive to Western New York cable subscribers. The New York Knicks would be the primary MSG attraction for local cable subscribers here, and this isn't a big NBA territory.
Full Article (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041009/1063068.asp)
I guess with the loss of the Mets to another network and the Rangers games being blacked out in Buffalo, signing on the Sabres for 50-60 games was a logical choice for the network. More from Alan Pergament in TBN...
Adelphia deal stalling with MSG
10/9/2004
By ALAN PERGAMENT
This is what I'm thinking:
It has been a couple of weeks since reports surfaced that the Madison Square Garden Network was negotiating with Adelphia to carry Buffalo Sabres games locally, thereby allowing the cable operator to dissolve the Empire Sports Network.
According to sources, the deal looked imminent a few weeks ago but has stalled for some unknown reason, perhaps because the NHL lockout has removed any need for urgency.
Tom Haywood, Adelphia's local executive, gave the same comment this week that he has given for about a year: "We're talking with several networks."
It would be sad to see Empire go, though it already is a shell of itself and has pretty much been gone from public consciousness. It doesn't even carry local sports shows on weekends, when the Bills, colleges and high schools have their busiest schedules.
MSG would seem to have a programming hole in 2005 now that the New York Mets have paid $54 million to opt out of their deal with the regional sports network after next season. MSG still may hope to make a deal to keep some games, but the Mets reportedly are considering starting their own channel like the Yankees did with YES or joining YES.
Without the Mets, MSG would certainly be less attractive to Western New York cable subscribers. The New York Knicks would be the primary MSG attraction for local cable subscribers here, and this isn't a big NBA territory.
Full Article (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041009/1063068.asp)