MSG Networks Bankruptcy

[TheBigA]

Yet another regional sports network is considering bankruptcy, according to Sportico:

Sphere Revenue Falls, MSG Networks Bankruptcy on Table

The Sphere segment reported a 1% revenue increase, while the company's MSG Networks business dipped 5%, due to a 11.5% decline in total subscribers.

www.sportico.com

MSG Networks has the rights to the NY Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and NJ Devils.

 

[CTListener]

Yet another regional sports network is considering bankruptcy, according to Sportico:

Sphere Revenue Falls, MSG Networks Bankruptcy on Table

The Sphere segment reported a 1% revenue increase, while the company's MSG Networks business dipped 5%, due to a 11.5% decline in total subscribers.

www.sportico.com

MSG Networks has the rights to the NY Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and NJ Devils.

Also the Buffalo Sabres.

 

[Loverofradio]

Two things: Damn, if MSG if falling as an RSN then the business really IS in trouble. And, Cohen, the owner of the Mets who partially owns SNY has a stake in Sphere…?

 

[Don CT]

The problem is not them failing it’s them over leveraging cable fees. They all had a cash cow of guaranteed money that is drying up.

 

[TVCOOL]

How long before MSG Network closes down?

 

[Loverofradio]

The problem is not them failing it’s them over leveraging cable fees. They all had a cash cow of guaranteed money that is drying up.

Regardless, it’s still money that’s drying up

 

[Don CT]

Regardless, it’s still money that’s drying up

This is not just a sports issue it’s the whole industry got greedy.

 

[TheBigA]

This is not just a sports issue it’s the whole industry got greedy.

Starting with the athletes, who get paid millions of dollars. That causes the teams to charge exorbitant rights fees for TV rights.

 

[Don CT]

Starting with the athletes, who get paid millions of dollars. That causes the teams to charge exorbitant rights fees for TV rights.

They had money to burn from the RSN fees. Look at the Dodgers payroll. They don’t care.

 

[TheBigA]

They had money to burn from the RSN fees. Look at the Dodgers payroll. They don’t care.

I think the Dodgers are part owners of SpectrumLA.

 

[Loverofradio]

Starting with the athletes, who get paid millions of dollars. That causes the teams to charge exorbitant rights fees for TV rights.

It’s hard to feel sorry for the NBA, in this case, when they literally rejected money from WBD to carve out a fourth media rights package that could’ve, you know, helped offset increasing salaries.

 

[Don CT]

It’s hard to feel sorry for the NBA, in this case, when they literally rejected money from WBD to carve out a fourth media rights package that could’ve, you know, helped offset increasing salaries.

The NBA made record profits on the new deal.

 

[Don CT]

Sounds like MSGN has been giving some cash flow and talk of a possible merger with YES Network at some point.

 

[TheBigA]

Sounds like MSGN has been giving some cash flow and talk of a possible merger with YES Network at some point.

As per the NY Post:

James Dolan’s MSG Networks reaches deal to avoid bankruptcy, sets up potential sale to YES

Shares of Sphere Entertainment, which owns and controls MSGN, soared on the news.

nypost.com

 

[Don CT]

What reasoning would YES have in acquiring MSG. Seems like it would be a death sentence. Maybe if Amazon were to grab it I could see it.

 

[TVCOOL]

The MSG Network / YES merger is going to present problems if various NYC pro teams have both home and away games on the same night(s). Won't it be better off if the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders or Nets game gets televised on this YES/MSG channel the other gets a game on broadcast TV?

 

[NYAZSporty]

The MSG Network / YES merger is going to present problems if various NYC pro teams have both home and away games on the same night(s). Won't it be better off if the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders or Nets game gets televised on this YES/MSG channel the other gets a game on broadcast TV?

I hope that if they resort to broadcast TV for games, they don't do like YES did to the Nets this past season & put it on WLNY considering it's hard to get if not impossible via an antenna in NYC. And don't forget for Upstate markets too, there's the Sabres that they have to contend with.

 

[TheBigA]

The MSG Network / YES merger is going to present problems if various NYC pro teams have both home and away games on the same night(s). Won't it be better off if the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders or Nets game gets televised on this YES/MSG channel the other gets a game on broadcast TV?

Just because they're co-owned wouldn't necessarily mean the individual channels become one.

 

[BruceNYC]

There is MSG, MSGSN, and two backup channels, so four games can be telecast at one time. There is also a backup channel for YES if the Yankees and Brooklyn Nets are playing at the same time.

 

[Don CT]

There is MSG, MSGSN, and two backup channels, so four games can be telecast at one time. There is also a backup channel for YES if the Yankees and Brooklyn Nets are playing at the same time.

I doubt the names would change either. The merger would be back end only.