Post by Chris Miller on Mar 29, 2011 21:08:13 GMT -5
In case you were wondering why MSG HD is not on the Verizon FiOS channel list...
Cablevision owns the MSG Network and has refused to sell that channel's programming in HD to FiOS TV (and a couple of other CATV providers). Cablevision has taken the position that it provides that channel over fiber and is not covered by program access rules as defined by the FCC.
In July of 2009, Verizon filed a program access complaint with the FCC asking it to require Cablevision to negotiate with Verizon and sell the MSG HD programming. Verizon was forced to do this back in 2006 to force Cablevision to sell the MSG programming.
The FCC has ruled that programming delivered over fiber is subject to the same access rules as other forms of cable and satellite programming. The FCC has taken Cablevision to court to force it compile with the programming access rules. The case "Cablevision Systems Corp. v. FCC" (No. 10-1062) was filed in the US. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last November.
Oral arguments for 10-1062 were held for this past February, a decision has not yet been released. With Cablevision's impending merger with NBC Universal, I would imagine that Cablevision will comply with the ruling (when it finally comes down). They already took some heat for their fight with Fox.
In the NY/NJ markets, Verizon has reserved channels 578-581 reserved for MSG HD, MSG2HD, MSG Plus HD and MSG Plus 2 HD. MSG HD is coming, it's just a matter of when.
Cablevision owns the MSG Network and has refused to sell that channel's programming in HD to FiOS TV (and a couple of other CATV providers). Cablevision has taken the position that it provides that channel over fiber and is not covered by program access rules as defined by the FCC.
In July of 2009, Verizon filed a program access complaint with the FCC asking it to require Cablevision to negotiate with Verizon and sell the MSG HD programming. Verizon was forced to do this back in 2006 to force Cablevision to sell the MSG programming.
The FCC has ruled that programming delivered over fiber is subject to the same access rules as other forms of cable and satellite programming. The FCC has taken Cablevision to court to force it compile with the programming access rules. The case "Cablevision Systems Corp. v. FCC" (No. 10-1062) was filed in the US. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last November.
Oral arguments for 10-1062 were held for this past February, a decision has not yet been released. With Cablevision's impending merger with NBC Universal, I would imagine that Cablevision will comply with the ruling (when it finally comes down). They already took some heat for their fight with Fox.
In the NY/NJ markets, Verizon has reserved channels 578-581 reserved for MSG HD, MSG2HD, MSG Plus HD and MSG Plus 2 HD. MSG HD is coming, it's just a matter of when.
