Time Warner - Cablevision Dispute

We, the undersigned, request your help regarding the dispute between Time Warner Cable and Cablevision. As you may be aware, the two cable companies have been unable to agree upon a price regarding the Madison Square Garden and Fox Sports New York channels owned by Cablevision. As a result, Cablevision has prevented Time Warner from providing these channels, thereby leaving Time Warner customers unable to view the New York Mets and New York Knicks games carried by these networks. We realize this inconvenience may seem insignificant to some, but it is one that affects a good portion of the city's residents and businesses, and it interferes with the pursuit of a diversion that New Yorkers have enjoyed for more than 150 years.

Moreover, this dispute is indicative of a disturbing trend within the cable industry. In 2003, the launch of the YES Network led to its highly publicized dispute with Cablevision regarding whether or not it would be carried as part of its basic service. The current dispute between Time Warner and Cablevision dates back to last year. And with the Mets and Time Warner set to launch a new Mets network next year, we can anticipate that there will be yet another dispute in 2006. This type of problem will persist as long as companies such as Cablevision and Time Warner are allowed to act as both distributors of the cable medium and owners of the networks. Self-dealing is inevitable when a company is allowed to own both the programming and the means through which it is distributed.

In the present situation, Time Warner has little incentive to reach an agreement knowing that ownership of Mets broadcasts will pass from Cablevision, this year, to Time-Warner next year. This discourages Time Warner customers from cancelling their service now and seeking alternatives, knowing that in order to watch Met games next season they will need to re-engage Time Warner or risk the same uncertainties all over again. Further, many residents of the city live in apartment buildings and are unable to utilize satellite television, leaving cable as their only alternative. Such a result is grossly unfair.

We have made several attempts to reach out to the two companies in hopes of expediting a resolution but have, thus far, been unsuccessful. We ask that you get involved to put an end to this dispute and to prevent future disputes from arising. Put an end to these monopolistic practices, and put baseball back in our living rooms.