Will Islanders fans with Optimum be able to watch games when the NHL season resumes?

The NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off break gives general managers an excellent opportunity to assess their team and reach out to others to boost their squad or boost their draft stock.

It also gives MSG Networks and Altice USA/Optimum more than enough time to end their contract disputes before the New York Islanders (Feb. 23 vs. Dallas), New York Rangers (Feb. 22 vs. Buffalo) and New Jersey Devils (Feb. 22 vs. Dallas) return to action. 

Since January 1st, these hard-working sports fans who have Altice, including the New York Knicks faithful, have been unable to watch their favorite teams. That's almost a month and a half into the season. 

Many local attorneys general and congresspeople have spoken to try to pressure Altice into doing what is best for the fans. 

On Tuesday, New York state governor Kathryn Hochul didn't hold back on the issue. 

“New Yorkers are proud sports fanatics, and blocking Knicks, Rangers and Islanders fans from watching programming they’ve paid to watch is simply unconscionable,” Governor Hochul said. “Denying fans access to live sports because of a ridiculous dispute between Optimum and MSG is unfair to New Yorkers and our patience has expired. This has gone on for long enough — it’s time for both sides to get back to the negotiating table and resolve this for the good of New Yorkers. Enough is enough!”

Per the press release: 

"Governor Hochul is urging the companies to resolve this dispute as soon as possible. As the contract negotiations continue, more customers are becoming aware of the lapse in certain programming and understandably have questions about their options and refunds. The Governor’s directive to the Department of Public Service (DPS) is to demand that all customers are either provided with alternative means to view the games of the affected New York sports or be provided with a pro rata refund. Today DPS sent a letter to Altice, Optimum’s parent company, as part of their efforts to hold the company accountable to protect the customers who have been affected by the lapse in MSG programming.

To hold Optimum accountable, DPS is requiring a response to the letter within five days detailing the specific steps the company will take to ensure customers are held harmless during the dispute. If Altice fails to provide a satisfactory plan, DPS will initiate public hearings where the company will be required to publicly explain how it is protecting affected customers as part of the Department’s ongoing review of the matter."

Here was MSG Networks' response: 

"We applaud Governor Hochul’s engagement and ensuring local sports fans have access to MSG Networks’ programming.”

“We remain ready to negotiate with Optimum or enter binding arbitration to immediately bring our games back on the air.”

It's time for this dispute to come to an end.