Cablevision has exclusive carriage deal with MSNBC…
Over the past few months ICN has been keeping tabs on an odd development regarding cable news delivery in the New York City area. During that time ICN received several queries from befuddled readers and/or MSNBC viewers who wanted or were being forced to switch to Verizon FiOS but only found MSNBC available via Cablevision. Verizon, for example, has rolled out FiOS for every major cable news channel (FNC, CNN, HLN, CNBC, etc..) with one notable exception, MSNBC, in New Jersey and Long Island.
ICN has heard from several individuals in and out of the “industry” that Cablevision holds an exclusive carriage agreement with MSNBC. All other potential MSNBC providers, like Verizon, are therefore frozen out in areas where Cablevision operates. It is not known how or why Cablevision got an exclusive carriage deal for MSNBC but not other NBCU properties or why NBCU would even grant Cablevision an exclusive on MSNBC and MSNBC alone. This is a real head scratcher. Lots of unanswered questions. How long does Cablevision have the exclusive? Why did this happen? The bottom line is if you want MSNBC on Verizon FiOS in any area Cablevision operates, you’re out of luck.
UPDATE: Went back and clarified what was going on as I had introduced ambiguity into the story.
I think you have your wires crossed a bit, kid.
FiOS is the cable tv service of Verizon, normally known as your good old POTS phone company (the old NY Telephone/Bell Atlantic/NYNEX). It is mostly delivered by fiber optics.
Cablevision is a NY-area cable tv provider. (which does offer telephone service) It is also mostly delivered by fiber optics.
They are blood feud competitors.
Bottom line: they are providing competing cable tv services.
What MAY be true is that Cablevision has EXCLUSIVE rights to MSNBC in its -geographic- franchise area. Meaning if another cable tv provider (such as Verizon) wants to provide MSNBC in the same city, town or village that Cablevision has a franchise, they may be out of luck due to an apparent exclusivity agreement.
(FYI Cablevision has systems in parts of NJ, NY, and CT.)
Then again, what big loss is not having MSNBC?
Comment by 5w30 — February 22, 2007 @ 11:58 am
I think you’re getting bogged down on technical semantics and are missing the overall. Why does Cablevision have an exclusive with MSNBC but not CNN or FNC or CNBC or HLN? What’s MSNBC gain by having an exclusivity agreement with Cablevision? It doesn’t make any sense.
Comment by Spud — February 22, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Spud -
It’s worth noting that Verizon splits NJ into two regions - Northern and Southern. People in the Southern area will get MSNBC, while those in the Northern area will not (due to the Cablevision thing). That being said, apparently people who live in the “Northern” region who are not in Cablevision’s region will still be unable to get MSNBC. I know because I’m getting Verizon FIOS next week and will receive the Northern lineup. My local cable company is Patriot Media, however, not Cablevision. I don’t know where Verizon draws the line on the map, but this effects areas that does not have Cablevision as their cable provider as well.
Comment by FishOil — February 22, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
The confusing part is “How does MSNBC benefit?”
The only thing I can think of is that it may be a loss leader for Cablevision. A loss leader is something like grocery stores selling soda pop for lots less than they pay, thus losing money on the soda, but gaining customers who will hopefully buy other products while at the store. Another loss leader is mammograms. Most hospitals and clinics lose money on mammograms, but their mammo customers are more likely to get their other medical/health care tests and services done there.
Cablevision could be paying MSNBC way more than they make back from the MSNBC service; but then MSNBC would have to be gambling on their future income - betting that short term profit is going to be greater than future potential income. Maybe someone at MSNBC isn’t figuring their job will be there for long.
Comment by erljr — February 23, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
erljr - That’s an interesting thought. However, I don’t see why Cablevision would want to obtain an exclusive agreement with a “loss leader.”
What strikes me is that I would imagine that Verizon will be successful in winning over a large part of Cablevision’s business, and then MSNBC will find itself with people who have no access to their network right in their own backyard.
Comment by FishOil — February 23, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
There must be something more to this story. I can’t imagine why MSNBC would give an exclusive to Cablevision in the New York metropolitan area, and not to the other major players - Comcast and Time Warner Cable in the same market. Maybe MSNBC wanted something from Cablevision - something we don’t know about - and that generated the exclusivity arrangement.
I did have a conversation with Verizon about this, and the representative said Verizon will be able to provide MSNBC sometime in 2007 - but was no more specific than that. And I got an email from someone at MSNBC indicating that negotiations were continuing to make MSNBC available.
Comment by MikLe — March 4, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
I was totally unaware that MSNBC would not be carried by Verizon. If MSNBC made a deal with Cablevision to keep MSNBC off Verizon, then they are probably as poluted as cablevision is. Who needs them. I’ll just watch FOX.
Comment by Frank Palazzolo — March 20, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Even with this agreement, Verizon could deliver MSNBC to those customers in “Northern NJ” who are not in a Cablevision area through digital addressing,but it seems that they just don’t want to bother.
Comment by HDSports — March 25, 2007 @ 2:15 am
Cablevision was great when I was a customer in Hoboken NJ - but then I had to deal with Comcast in Montclair. Comcast has been terrible..so we switch to Fios, and we don’t get MSNBC (which my household loves). There has to be a solution to this ?!!
Comment by bbrodeur — March 27, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
DirecTV? Dish Network?
Comment by Spud — March 27, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
Rumson, NJ, serviced only by FIOS and Comcast, does not have MSNBC on FIOS. We and many others in the community are very unhappy about this. How can we apply pressure to Verizon if it is true that there is no reason for MSNBC to be missing from our local lineup?
Comment by BK — March 28, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Same comment as above - we are in Mercer County, NJ, specifically Lawrenceville. We just dropped Comcast for Verizon FiOS. Overall, we are much happier with FiOS, but I do miss MSNBC, which seems to have recently disappeared from the lineup.
So, it’s not just a Cablevision and Northern NJ issue. Ideas, anyone?
Comment by JD — May 26, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
I think we must write to our legislators to pressure MSNBC to end this exclusive agreement with Cablevision and allow Verizon Fios to offer MSNBC to its New York viewers
Comment by DG — July 7, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Could there be something political in all this? The Keith Olberman show is very anti-Bush. Surely we can do something about this. This is very unfair to the viewing public especially with an election year coming up. We are being denied access to all of the major cable news stations.
I am on Long Island. MSNBC is my favorite news station. I had been a regular viewer of the Chris Matthews Show and Countdown with Keith Olberman and was disappointed to find MSNBC missing. Overall I like the FIOS station line-up much better than Cablevision. I am a fan of the Lifetime Movie Network which I could never get from Cablevision, but I do miss MSNBC. I tried calling some local politicians but they were in outer space about this. I am wondering who I can go to in order to file a complaint.
Comment by Helene — July 28, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
I agree with the comments about MSNBC. I have complained to Verizon and MSNBC without getting anywhere. This site provided the most information so far. I like FIOS but they need to get MSNBC in northern NJ. I wish we could band together to get some action.
Comment by PF — August 2, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
I see above a comment that MSNBC will come to FIOS “in 2007.” Where does this nome from? Is it reliable? We know Cablevision killed the new Jets stadium, so they will stop at nothing to kill the competition. That said, I want Fios, and I’d love to know if MSNBC will show up there, and when
Comment by Steve Ward — September 13, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
I still don’t understand why a) MSNBC is available on other cable systems (like Comcast) if Cablevision has an exclusive, or why I get it now on DirecTV in Comcast territory, or why Verizon isn’t able to carry it in my neighborhood.
Comment by Ken — September 26, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
When the bu$h administration demanded warrantless (illegal) access to millions of Americans’ phone calls, verizon was there. If the chimp-in-chief wants to skim through our emails, verizon is there. Thus, there should be no surprise as to why MSNBC (or, Keith Olbermann) is not available on verizon’s fios tv programming.
When governments’ power does not come from the people, their power is not limited and tend to expand their scope of power to control every aspect of people’s life.
Comment by Joe — October 1, 2007 @ 8:07 am
I was thinking of getting fios, I live in Mercer county. I watch Morning Joe Counrdown and Hardball, these are my favorite programs and I don’t think I will Get fios until they get MSNBC,
Comment by Harry — October 18, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Just found this thread today.
More information than I’d found anywhere else so, thanks.
We are in the same boat but I wanted to add that Tarrytown, in Westchester Co , NY is getting hosed, too.
I agree that this “exclusive” is so peculiar that it must really be about something else.
Loss leader? Nah - that’d be something more like HGTV.
Why one news channel but not CNBC or NBC?
Politics? Olbermann? Freezing out the only liberal-leaning voice in “swing” areas? Don’t know enough about Mercer or Westchester.
Did someone at MSNBC do something to the Dolans of Cablevision that hurt their wittle feelings ? Did that person maybe move to one of the blackout counties or go work for FIOS so this is Dolan-revenge?
I don’t know. I just really hate not getting to see Olbermann , Matthews, Scarborough et al.
Is there anything we can do about it?
I’ll at least send this thread to MSNBC..
Thanks, gang.
Comment by hilary in Westchester, CO — November 14, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
I am livid! We just got FIOS today and since I wasn’t home until late I missed Countdown with Keith Olberman at 8PM so I was going to watch it at midnight.
Now I find out that FIOS doesn’t have MSNBC!!!
What can be done about this?
I probably watch MSNBC more than any other chanell.
This is enough for me to go back to Cablevision.
Comment by Sue — November 20, 2007 @ 1:10 am
I want my Keith. I did not know that when i switched to FIOS that I would lose MSNBC
Comment by tom — November 29, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
I just switched to Fios and on the second day with my service realized that the cable channels jump from 83 to 85. Check on Verizon’s website and it lists 84 as MSNBC. But the card the installer gave me didn’t have it. So I searched and found this thread. Guess who’s canceling their FIOS today? Can’t get through a presidential election season without Hardball and Countdown.
Comment by Bob — December 1, 2007 @ 11:53 am
I wish I had done the research before switching to fios last week (from Cablevision). I live on Long ISland. I watch MSNBC 80% of the time (Hardball, Countdown, Joe Scarborough). I was amazed it wasn’t available and now I know why. I called Verizon and they have a canned answer from a manual: “You can watch NBC which has a lot of the same shows.” Great. I got the Fios ‘triple play’ (I had been using DSL and also verizon for phone, with cablevision for TV). I may now go to all optimum online, though I wonder what surprises they will have for me in terms of phone and internet. Years ago when I had cablevision for internet it was really unreliable. MAybe I should just get offline, shut the TV, and stick with the NY Times.
Comment by Mitch — December 2, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
I rented a summer home in Ocean Grove and the owner was a lobbyist in Trenton that represents Comcast. I bet he would know the answer - someone is paying off someone. I just realized that I can’t watch KO since I got Fios and live now in Red Bank - bummer
Comment by Jane — December 7, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
It goes back to when Cablevision secured an agreement for MSNBC, as a competitive advantage over RCN. This is way before Verizon got in the TV business. I have no idea why NBC signed for it - perhaps they were desperate at the time to get on Cablevision, and they conceded to Cablevision.
Dish and DirecTV however are not affected by Cablevision’s exclusivity. I think its an exclusivity as far as competing land delivered multi channel providers in Cablevision’s turf.
As far as Trenton and Mercer Co., Cablevision has a system (Cablevision Hamilton), which services part of the county.
Otherwise, I think Mercer Co., would be treated like Cablevision free Southern NJ_, as its also within the Phila. DMA, and then get MSNBC.
I know CNN cannot be made exclusive, because its owned by Time Warner, which is a cable co. - and cable co. owned channels delivered by satellite means cannot be made exclusive.
Cable owned fiber optic delivered channels can be made exclusive - CSN Philadelphia being the most notable example.
Comment by Todd — December 28, 2007 @ 12:14 am
Spoke to one Ms. Delgado today at the “President’s Help Line” at Verizon, and was told the “agreement” between Cablevision and MSNBC expires “at the end of the year.” That would mean, NO WAY will we see MSNBC on Verizon before the end of the year. Dang.
Comment by Steve — January 7, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
So when does this agreement end between MSNBC and Cablevision? Hopefully it was the end of 2007. Wouldn’t it be nice if a big communications company like Verizon would actually communicate with its subscribers and let us know. I’m not going back to Cablevision, but I really would like to be able to punch in 84 and get MSNBC.
Comment by Ken — January 19, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
Ditto, ditto. I had FiOS installed yesterday and called to cancel today. I will NOT live without Countdown and Hardball. I can get most of the clips from those shows on the web, but this is a presidential election year, guys. I’ve got to be able to watch the debates, the primaries, and the commentary on MSNBC. I’m very distressed when I see how long this thread has been going on. It’s not 2007 any more and I’m still getting the runaround that people got months ago. Back to DirecTV. I decided LONG ago - before the YES network debacle - that I would not give a penny to the Dolans [known in my household as “the evil empire”].
Comment by Angela Taormina — January 22, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
Hi again, y’all.
It is Feb 1 and we still have no MSNBC via our Verizon Fios
service.
Anyone have any new information?
Anyone have some contact ideas?
I don’t know if I should be complaing to:
MSNBC
NBC
Cablevision Corporate
cablevision Local office
Verizon Fios Corporate
Verizon Fios Local office
What do you folks think?
No MSNBC during the election year is censorship.
Thanks,
hilary
Westchester County, New York
Comment by hilary — February 1, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
I had FIOS installed last Thursday and found out after installation that I could not get MSNBC. The installer spoke to a supervisor who told him that a contract was to be signed in a few days. I asked how would I know and he told me to just keep trying the channels around 80. I did notice that 84 was vacant,but so far nothing. We can hope, I guess. I also do not want to continue with “the evil empire” so I will stay with FIOS.
Comment by Joan — February 11, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
I’ve been lurking on this thread during my two Hardball-less weeks since getting FIOS installed, and Joan’s post above is the first glimmer of hope that Chris Matthews’ ham-fisted but oh-so-gloriously-transparent rantings and ravings will reverberate through my humble abode here in Westchester County again before Election Day 2008. I’ll take her installer’s advice to keep dialing in channel 84 to see what comes up, but seriously, who would the industry savvy among this thread’s posters and fellow lurkers advise the rest of us to bombard with annoyed emails between disappointing FIOS deadscreen views on channel 84?
Comment by Chris — February 12, 2008 @ 2:00 am
We live in Monmouth County (not a Cablevision area as far as I know), and we also don’t get MSNBC. I want my countdown! What was weird is that right after we had FiOS installed (3 weeks ago), I could manually enter channel 84 and it would indeed go to MSNBC. Now it won’t go there and defaults to 83. Arg. Who can we contact at MSNBC or Verizon to register our disappointment?
Comment by brad — February 17, 2008 @ 12:11 am
I too found it unbelievable that a major news cable channel would be left out of the lineup. If anyone has ideas about any action that can be taken, let me know.
Comment by Bill Smeltzer — February 22, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
I’ve been looking for info on this for the last six months. I’ve written to Verizon and the NJ Public Utilities Board without result. I work for a division of NBC, so I am trying to get an answer from MSNBC. If I hear anything, I’ll post it here.
Comment by Michael — March 5, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
I contacted someone in affiliate sales who said there is no expiration date on the Cablevision deal. They said they are trying to negotiate with Verizon and Cablevision, but not to expect anything any time soon. Disappointing.
Comment by Michael — March 5, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
i live in fairfield county, ct and have the at&t uverse product. i have had it since june 2007 and initially had msnbc but it disappeared about a month ago without explanation. i called at&t and can’t seem to get an answer from an informed employee. i too enjoy the programming and have considered emailing msnbc directly to understand the logic. if there were some exclusive deal, i am sure cablevision would not have let at&t off the hook(no pun intended) for 7 months.
Comment by el — March 5, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
I just sent a complaint about this to Senator Schumer. Maybe he can help here.
Comment by Frank P. — March 6, 2008 @ 10:01 am
I live in westchester county and just got fios only to find we have no msnbc. I noticed the comment above that the deal with cablevision has no expiration date. Thats not possible - no-one enters a contract with no end, Has anyone tried filing a freedeom of information act request for the contract information. Does anyone know what law firm represents msnbc or cablevision.
Comment by Pat N. — March 8, 2008 @ 1:21 am
I just got out of an NBC town hall meeting. I was told from an authority that the MSNBC / Cablevision carriage deal has expired, but is being renegotiated. Of course, when this will be completed is anyone’s guess, but progress is being made. I just hope I get a few months of election coverage.
Comment by Michael — March 11, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Yes, I really think that it’s a terrible thing that in an election year, the voters cannot watch a major network. I missed the debates on MSNBC and the other programs. Hopefully, the MSNBC executives who agreed to this bonehead deal has been fired. I have not received a straight answer from MSNBC about when this will be settled. Maybe after election day?
Comment by Kevin B. — April 3, 2008 @ 11:33 am
I noted that I began receiving MSNBC on April 15.
Comment by W Smeltzer — April 17, 2008 @ 5:39 am
Suddenly, recently, and without warning, announcement, or fanfare, we are now getting MSNBC on channel 84 on Verizon FiOS in central NJ… Hope you all are now enjoying the same??
Comment by Pangaea — April 17, 2008 @ 9:52 pm
MSNBC is still not available on Long Island as of May 1, 2008.
Comment by CJ — May 1, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
We (in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ)experienced a change in FIOS service on April 15,2008. However, we lost our Philly Channels, which we had previously. I called a logged a problem with Verizon and it was resolved with the return of the Philly channels and the addition of MSNBC! I guess we were “mapped” incorrectly to North Jersey when they performed their updates.
Comment by Henry — May 9, 2008 @ 8:43 am
Still no msnbc in central nj
Comment by dizzy — May 10, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
Thanks to all of you. I’ve just been researching Verizon Fios to replace Cablevision as I’ve totally had it with them and had noticed MSNBC was not included in their channel lineup for my area. Now I see why. Not that I understand why anybody would enter into such a bonehead deal but that’s another issue. This is a deal breaker for me. Like a lot of you I’m a big MSNBC watcher and I’m not giving that up. Not in an election year. Well hell. Not ever. Darn it. And here I thought I was going to get away from Cablevision. If any of you can think of something we could all do as a group, count me in.
Comment by Karen — May 13, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
Just had FiOS broadband installed (in Somerset County, NJ). I held off on replacing our DirecTV with FiOS TV, though - and it seems that was a good call! We’re political junkies this year and we *need* our MSNBC. I’ll stick with satellite until “they” get this worked out.
Comment by Mike O'C — May 17, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
I juist switched from Cablevision to FIOS (in Morristown NJ), and am so pissed off about no MSNBC, my favourite channel. I now get BBC America, which is great, but do not understand why this channel (which is certainly no fringe channel) is not available. It has to be something political! Glad to see so many others are complaining. too…Channel 84 does not exist!!
Comment by GA — May 18, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
I live in central NJ, and still am not receiving MSNBC; channel 84 is blanked out.
Comment by steve — May 21, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
Still no MSNBC in Northern New Jersey either.
Comment by Kevin — May 21, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
The most pathetic thing about this is that MSNBC does not respond to customer questions. I’ve written about 3 letters and nothing. I have not watched MSNBC for over year now and I loved that station, but I have already put them in my rear view mirror. Chris Mathews is a jerk anyway
Comment by Frank P. — May 29, 2008 @ 10:26 am
I live in Morristown, NJ which is a cablevision area. I have had Patriot Media which recently became Comcast and have always gotten MSNBC in my lineup.
Comment by Lee V — May 31, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Hi - still no MSNBC here in Westchester.
Who should we complain to?
I keep sending emails here and there but they go into a black hole.
Maybe we could find some key names and send them
copies of this thread?
I have had no luck finding ‘real” names to contact.
Anyone else?
Comment by Hilary — June 2, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
a friend of mine is a writer/producer for the Chris Mathieu show and since i switched to FIOS i can’t get this channel anymore, is there anything in the future to get this, iam ready to go back to comcast?
thank you,
M.Mohr
Comment by marianne mohr — June 6, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
Hilary -
There are two entities to complain to…NBC for signing a exclusive carriage agreement that cuts down on consumer choice and Verizon for not making it available in areas that can receive it.
To the latter…NBC signed an exclusive carriage agreement with Cablevision, so if you live in a Cablevision area then you won’t be able to get MSNBC. However, this agreement does not apply to areas serviced by Comcast or Time Warner Cable. Here’s the rub….Verizon’s channel maps affects Comcast and Time Warner customers. For example, if you go to Verizon’s FIOS TV page and look at the channel lineup you will see that they cut New Jersey in half, thus having two channel maps (Southern NJ and Northern NJ). The people in the Southern part get MSNBC but the people in the Northern part do not…this includes Comcast customers. Bottom line - Verizon, for whatever reason, hasn’t created a second channel map in Northern New Jersey to provide those not in Cablevision areas access to MSNBC. Same goes for New York City and Long Island where Time Warner operates….they all fall under one channel map.
Of course this will all end if/when NBC negotiates a new carriage agreement with Cablevision and does not give exclusive rights to Cablevision again. When that will happen is anyone’s guess.
Comment by FishOil — June 21, 2008 @ 4:05 am
Don’t get it. i suspect a Fox conspiracy to keep msnbc viewship in check.
Comment by Roger Hooker — July 2, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
What can be done to expedite the availability of msnbc to FIOS subscribers in NYC suburbs?
Comment by Roger Hooker — July 8, 2008 @ 9:01 am
It looks like VZ is working on making MSNBC available in Northern NJ for Non Cablevision areas.
Eric Rabe writes on their Policy Blog site:
We have made some progress in offering MSNBC in Northern New Jersey, and we’re already offering it to customers in some areas that are eligible for the channel. By “eligible,” I mean areas in Northern New Jersey that are outside of Cablevision territory. Over the next few months, we’ll make MSNBC available in other eligible communities, so watch for it if you’re not receiving it today.
http://policyblog.verizon.com/policyblog/blogs/policyblog/ericrabe9/506/verizon-fios-tv-launches-new-channels.aspx#8038
Comment by David M — July 8, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
XM satellite radio booted MSNBC a couple of years ago, supposedly for low ratings and the need for bandwidth. Many pointed out the redundant co-existence of both the “America Right” and FOX News channels, to no avail. Is it a coincidence that it’s so difficult to carry MSNBC, home of Keith Olbermann? I think not.
Comment by Greg in NJ — July 9, 2008 @ 12:51 am
XM satellite radio booted MSNBC a couple of years ago, supposedly for low ratings and the need for bandwidth. Many pointed out the redundant co-existence of both the “America Right” and FOX News channels, to no avail. Is it a coincidence that it’s so difficult to carry MSNBC, home of Keith Olbermann? I think not.
Comment by Greg in NJ — July 9, 2008 @ 12:52 am
I have MSNBC as of today, as i haven’t had it since Sept. I live in “comcast territory”. Turned it on today, and i have it! People, start checking your lineups!
Although this could be as a result of the olympics, as the VZ site said…
Comment by Steve — July 20, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Here is Westchester, I too have been frustrated over losing MSNBC when I switched to Fios at the beginning of the year. Now suddenly without fanfare or announcement, channel 103 is showing round the clock Olympic promos and interviews. CNN has moved from channel 80 to 100 also. Is this just an Olympic thing or a sing that I might get my favorite news channel back..??
Comment by Phil Naccarato — July 25, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
like all of you, I was disgusted by not getting MSNBC. Everytime I called Fios I got a different story…maybe April, maybe July, the contract is over…it is not over, etc. Yesterday, I called with a problem with my bill and asked again. The very nice man that I spoke with said that he couldn’t give me specific info but to keep checking the tv. Lo and behold, this morning I was searching for where CNN moved to (we just received 60 new stations) and FOUND MSNBC! I was ecstatic. I just hope that it wasn’t a mistake made by FIOS and they will take it away soon. BTW, I live in northern NJ. Keeping my fingers crossed LOL
Comment by Debbie G — July 30, 2008 @ 10:39 am
Still not receiving MSNBC in South Orange, NJ and just spoke with Fios Solutions for an update. The nice gentleman there wasn’t sure about the status of the exclusive agreement with Cablevision, and actually started reading these posts to me from his computer.
Comment by Craig Axtell — August 20, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
I signed on with FIOS in 12/07. I live in Central NJ. I am still scratching my head over this “carrier agreement”. What is this, some kind of diabolical FOX news plan to boost its own ratings? The agreement is certainly keeping Bill O’Reilly and his FOX faux news phonies happy for sure. Was this a boneheaded agreement of MSNBC or what? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Then again it could be that, while other cable providers, DISH and DirecTV, in NJ have access to MSNBC, Cablevision is just playing hardball with Verizon. FIOS salesman never mentioned any of this. This is the free market at work….
Comment by Dan G. — August 20, 2008 @ 11:21 pm
If you want to get MSNBC on fios then sign this petition and repost in every forum that is applicable.
Comment by Yanik — September 3, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
I live in Madison, NJ and have had Cablevision since moving here 2 1/2 years ago. The FIOS discount flyers have been coming fast and furious, so I called to find out the real deal about actual cost, now and future, and MSNBC.
The VZ rep didn’t even know there was an MSNBC, and confirmed that it is not part of the FIOS lineup. She also confirmed that the 6 month cost per month for the triple play package was actually about $83 without any movie channels, $108 for the next 6 months, and (appx) $170 after that. Again, no movie channnels.
With Cablevision I have had their movie package (I think it’s called Gold), broadband internet, phone, etc. with 2 set-top boxes, for (appx) $160 a month. They have given us EXCELLENT customer service when needed any time, fine HD reception, fast online connections/downloads, and with all that we get MSNBC. Too bad for VZ.
Comment by Dan — September 6, 2008 @ 9:05 am
I live in Madison, NJ and have had Cablevision since moving here 2 1/2 years ago. The FIOS discount flyers have been coming fast and furious, so I called to find out the real deal about actual cost, now and future, and MSNBC.
The VZ rep didn’t even know there was an MSNBC, and confirmed that it is not part of the FIOS lineup. She also confirmed that the 6 month cost per month for the triple play package was actually about $83 without any movie channels, $108 for the next 6 months, and (appx) $170 after that. Again, no movie channnels.
With Cablevision I have had their movie package (I think it’s called Gold), broadband internet, phone, etc. with 2 set-top boxes, for (appx) $160 a month. They have given us EXCELLENT customer service when needed any time, fine HD reception, fast online connections/downloads, and with all that we get MSNBC. Too bad for VZ.
Comment by Dan — September 6, 2008 @ 9:08 am
We recently switched to Verizon FIOS, seduced by the promise of dollar savings (by having phone, internet and TV in one bundle), the great picture and what we thought were the many additional viewing options. The reps, who were going door-to-door in July to drum up interest here in northern Westchester, stressed that we would be getting a broader, not narrower, choice of TV options with Verizon compared with our existing Cablevison service. We were very distressed to discover, after installation, that we no longer had MSNBC except for its brief appearance as “MSNBC Beijing” for Olympics coverage, and my phone inquiries to Verizon provided no coherent information. Beyond my wanting to know what’s going on with the (alleged) NBC/Cablevision carriage agreement negotiations, I want to know how Verizon can send out reps who do not fully disclose to potential Verizon customers what will and will not be available on the Verizon channel line-up.
Comment by Mindy B. — September 9, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Here on Long Island we were able to get MSNBC on 103 while the olympics were being telecast. It was used as an adjunct olympics coverage channel but one or two nights they let the Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann shows air. Not sure if it was an error or not. Anyway, post olympics channel 103 is gone for Long Island. I can’t begin to imagine what benefit NBC would have by giving and exclusive to cablevision. I also can’t imagine why all of this (when the agreement ends) seems to be top secret. It seems that no matter how hard I try I can’t get far enough away from the Dolans. Kind of like avoiding locusts.
Comment by Don H — September 10, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
I just switched to FiOS from Comcast yesterday and until yesterday was unaware of this MSNBC issue. Verizon’s lineup for my zip (07006) told me I would get MSNBC on 103, and now I am shocked to find that I don’t have it. I had some very helpful Verizon techs on the phone trying to help me get the problem straightened out — they seemed to think that I was indeed supposed to get MSNBC and there was a mapping problem with their system, and it would be fixed in a few hours. They had MSNBC up and running on one of my boxes and were trying to get it to show up on the other when I got another call from one of them saying that someone at Verizon’s national office or some such thing had put a stop to their efforts, and they would have to remove MSNBC from the one box they had gotten it to appear on, because I’m not eligible to receive it in my area due to the Cablevision deal. I told them I just switched from Comcast, so how could I be in a Cablevision area, and if I somehow was, then isn’t Comcast also violating Cablevisions’s carriage deal by offering MSNBC? They said they didn’t know and someone would get back to me on Monday after they got a response from Verizon’s main office.
Thank goodness Olbermann has a video podcast for a short-term fix for this problem, but if Verizon doesn’t solve this for me by next weekend, I’m back to Comcast.
Is anyone else in 07006 having this problem by any chance?
Comment by Todd S — September 13, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
Northern Westchester FIOS customer w/o MSNBC - I’m going to push NBC’s parent GE on whether it is GE corporate policy to provide exclusives.
Comment by David H — October 2, 2008 @ 10:30 am
I posted a comment about the lack of MSNBC several months back. I’m happy for you NJites who’ve had it suddenly appear for you, but we on Long Island are still in the deathgrips of Cablevision. How I wish Keith Olbermann would recognize this fact on air and make Cablevision one of his “worst persons in the world”! Maybe after the election frenzy is over…
Comment by Angela — October 27, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
I just switched to FIOS, and was disappointed about not having MSNBC. I watched it on Comcast daily. I called and spoke to a nice gentleman at Verizon. I asked him to verify what the issue was. He told me about Cablevision. Well, I had Comcast, not Cablevision. He put me on hold and made some inquiries. He said that Verizon was in court currently to win the rights to air MSNBC in Northern NJ. I suggested to FIOS, to put MSNBC on the same tier as Playboy…so people who live in areas not served by Cablevision, could have MSNBC until they settle their issue and move it to their normal tier. Well, I voiced my view, doubt it will be taken. I am happy to make the move, and with live without MSNBC, sadly. I hope to have the service soon. Otherwise, I like FIOS and will stay with the service.
Comment by Steve — November 17, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
FIOS is now available in my part of Westchester, NY, so I did what apparently, none of you folks did-I checked to see what would be the difference in services before I looked into switching. I too am a fan of MSNBC, so I wont be switching until this is added. I vote with my wallet.
Im amused that you folks are guessing at a vast right wing conspiracy, and are writing your senators to get this changed. How about the stations that you now get with FIOS that you didnt get before? Should your senator take those away? NBC made a business decision. They for whatever reason went into this agreement with cablevision, and Im sure they got something out of it otherwise they wouldnt have entered into this contract.
Comment by Steve S — November 23, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
Most of you guys sound like idiots who don’t know how to research. First of all, the contract seems to prohibit MSNBC from being shown by FiOS anywhere within Cablevision’s New York and Northern NJ coverage areas, period.
Second, the contract made sense when it was signed. MSNBC benefited because as a new cable channel, they were guaranteed to be carried by a major cable company in a major market. Cablevision benefits because they are able to offer a superior service. They’re betting that you’ll stick with them as opposed to switching to any other service. It’s not anti competitive. In fact, it makes the service very competitive. You now must choose.
This doesn’t benefit Fox, or anyone besides the parties involved. In fact, when the contract was signed, MSNBC hadn’t yet placed itself in the liberal niche. Its likely that when the contract was signed Olbermann was with either ESPN or Fox Sports. How about them apples.
All of you people saying “someone is paying someone off” or there is some left or right wing conspiracy here are nuts. Use your heads. This is a perfectly legal contract between two consenting parties. Complaining won’t do you any good. And Verizon won’t sue; they’ll lose. If you want to blame anyone, blame MSNBC, GE, and Cablevision, and go cancel your service (oops!).
That being said, this really pisses me off because I really want FiOS and need my Olbermann.
Comment by NYankee2003 — January 22, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
I got Verizon FIOS and was unaware of the lack of MSNBC. I live in lower Westchester (10801). I knew I would have to give up News 12, but giving up Olberman and Maddow is too much to ask for. The Verizon marketing material leaves you clueless to the lack of MSNBC. Cablevision was responsible for our switch, as for some reason their triple play package does not include calls to the US Virgin Islands, but includes Puerto Rico. My family is from the VI, so the lack of inclusion is a substantial cost to me.
Comment by Mike J — February 1, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
Having just installed FIOS in 5 rooms because I was tired of Cablevision’s pixelation and frozen, stuttering video, I now find myself in a quandary as to whether I’ll keep Verizon’s service, which seems superior in imaging and features, or return to giving the Dolans their monthly fee in order to avert MSNBC withdrawal. Verizon’s FIOS phone and internet services are far better than similar products by Cablevision, and FIOS has just increased their upload speed to 20mbps, making it commensurate with their download speed, a valuable upgrade as I frequently must upload large media files to my FTP site. When Cablevision offered their “Boost” service to increase download speed, their tech people fried 3 of their modems by attempting a remote upgrade, each of which I had to personally return to the Cablevision service center for an exchange.
I live in the Westchester area, and Verizon’s support technicians professed a lack of awareness at the absence of MSNBC from their channel offerings. They checked further, and could not garner any additional information regarding the future availability of the station. The sales rep was knowledgeable and helpful, and it never occurred to me to look for MSNBC on their channel lineup. I just assumed that it would be a staple of any cable service provider.
I may stay with Verizon, but watch the hours pass with no “Countdown” and no “Rachel,” my inclination is to have Verizon remove their equipment until they can provide a feed to MSNBC. I’ll be waiting.
Comment by drumcrazy — March 5, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
I just switched to FIOS and I’m beside myself about the lack of MSNBC. This is so unacceptable…they give us 500 channels we’ll never watch but we have to do without Keith and Rachel!!?? I don’t get it….Cablevision is offering a great deal to come back…I’m there!
Comment by Cindy V. — March 6, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
I am going to die…. This is a bitter loss to swallow to night. Did not know FIOS did not carry MSNBC! Gosh.. Just switch today from cablevision. I am a complete wreck right now without Hardball, and Countdown later tonight!.What did I do.. I don’t think I can live another day without Keith, Chris, Joe, Mika and ED.
Comment by andrew — May 22, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
Cable no longer provides MSNBC as part of the basic cable package. The new gimmick is that you must lease a cable box or a Cable Card from them for an additional monthly charge.
Goodbye cable vision.
Comment by jim — June 18, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
Cablevision has removed MSNBC from their basic cable package.
The only way to receive it is to lease either a cable box or cable card from them for an additional monthly fee
Comment by jim — June 18, 2009 @ 7:32 pm
Cablevision no longer provides MSNBC as part of its basic cable package. In order to access MSNBC you must lease either a cable card or cable box from Cablevision for a monthly fee.
Comment by jim — June 18, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
HELP! I need my MSNBC! I had no idea bout this problem when I switched to FIOS….I like FIOS better BUT…I truly can’t live without Chris Matthews. Any updates on this at all?????
Comment by Val — June 25, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
Here it is July 2009 and still no MSNBC. I switched to FIOS in Jan 2009 and was told that MSNBC would be available. Once the tech installed the equipment and left I was dumbfounded when I came to realize MSNBC was not available in my area. This is crazy!!! Thank goodness the elections were over. Keith, Rachel, Morning Joe, Chris Matthews and yes even Andrea Mitchell are sorely missed. The only thing keeping me from going back to Time Warner is the DVR availability in more than one room.
I am now reduced to viewing piece versions on the MSNBC web site which quite frankly is just not enough.
I sending a complaint to Senator Schumer.
Something has to be done.
Comment by Jackie K — July 8, 2009 @ 5:20 am
I happened upon this page after a search on verizon & msnbc and the comments run up to 4 months ago, so I’ll consider it relevant. There is a petition to get MSNBC on VZ and it’s imminent…VZ is trying to wrench MSNBC from the agreement.
http://www.petitiononline.com/MFios/petition.html
Comment by lee — July 10, 2009 @ 7:50 am
So happy there’s no MSNBC on my cable. Now, if they could get rid of my FNC I’d be in true bliss. Both of these networks are pure rubbish- how about acquiring the news and forming your own opinions instead of locking yourself in an echo chamber? It’s much more enlightening to have these loudmouths out of the living room. Read a book, people. Life goes on. Cablevision is truly evil though, an awful infrastructure, inferior product, I’m glad I kicked their service out of my house. FIOS has been high=quality from Day 1.
Comment by Jack B. — July 25, 2009 @ 8:31 pm
I am so pissed after just receiving FiOS with no MSNBC. I cannot go to bed without seeing Olberman and that sweet Maddow. I love them.
Comment by Glen — July 29, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Here it is July 2009 and still no MSNBC. I switched to FIOS in Jan 2009 and was told that MSNBC would be available. Once the tech installed the equipment and left I was dumbfounded when I came to realize MSNBC was not available in my area. This is crazy!!! Thank goodness the elections were over. Keith, Rachel, Morning Joe, Chris Matthews and yes even Andrea Mitchell are sorely missed. The only thing keeping me from going back to Time Warner is the DVR availability in more than one room.
I am now reduced to viewing piece versions on the MSNBC web site which quite frankly is just not enough. I never had an opportunity to see the Ed Show!
I sending a complaint to Senator Schumer.
Something has to be done.
Comment by Jackie K — July 30, 2009 @ 5:33 am
Add another sucker to the list of MSNBC addicts who switched to FiOS without knowing they’d lose their favorite news channel. We’re located in Northern Westchester (Ossining) and probably won’t switch back because of Cablevision’s awful reliability and service, but we’re really mad about the MSNBC problem. Cablevision advertises that “you only get News 12 on Cablevision”…. the ad would be much more effective in this area if they also advertised that “you only get MSNBC on Cablevision!” Arrrrrgh.
Comment by Andy H. — August 25, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
Seems like nobody knows what is going on either by negotiation or contract adherence. If I didn’t have a friend nearby with access to MSNBC I would be really unhappy.
Comment by Robin S. — August 26, 2009 @ 9:55 am
As of sept 09 still no resolution to this clusterfick. WTF does the FTC actually do anyway? Here we have what’s probably an illegal deal to keep a news channel from a segment of the population and they’re probably more concerned with how many many time the ‘7 dirty words’ go out over the air waves– all while little johnny’s parent probably say worse in the course of a day.
Yes I miss my msnbc– but i’ll be damned if i pay one red cent of a dolan tax to get it. FU cablevision– if anything, this ridiculous deal has made me more resolute to boycott anything cablevision than anything else. Sorry, your blackmail’s not going to work here. Besides, I can pretty much catch all the shows I miss over at msnbc.com. Duh, you dimwitted ceo.
Comment by yep me too — September 2, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
I say keep it off FIOS. I sure don’t miss it, then again I never watched it. They offer nothing in addition, fresh or breaking. They only offer more of the same “Bush lied and people died”. I get plenty of that from 4 other news outlets or CSPAN when the democrats are speaking. There are plenty of democrat mouth pieces already so I’ll pass, keep em off and take NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN. with them.
Comment by Frank — September 21, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
we want MSNBC on our FIOS!
Comment by JK — September 25, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
Before I switched from Comcast in Putnam County, NY I very specifically asked the Verizon saleswoman if they carried MSNBC and told her Rachel Mado and Keith Olberman’s shows were very important to me. I was told “Oh don’t worry Fios carries everything you’re getting now and more.” I was point blank lied to about this by a Verizon rep. I didn’t find out untl after installation and shifting all my customers to my new email address that this was a lie. Verizon is still run by the pricks wo fought tooth and nail to keep their monopoly and any news source that would enlighten you to who they are and what they’re willing to stoop to is to be censored or better yet to them, kept off hthe air. And bullshit about contracts with Cablevision is just more lieing. These companies stroke each others nuts anytime they can make money doing it, public be damned. They should be reminded that they don’t own the airwaves/bandwith - they rent them from the public via agreements made throught the FCC. Maybe the FCC should show some guts and stand up tho theses bastards and yank a few operating licences and remind Verizon they don’t own the right to broadcast - they just rent it from us.
Comment by duryea — October 21, 2009 @ 12:13 am
Still a problem, at least in Central NJ, as of end of October 2009.
After some searching on the Verizon website, I finally found the following: http://smallbusiness.verizon.com/products/tv/fios_lineup.aspx . When you slide down to the part of the list for MSNBC there is a “[2]” there (footnote #2). When you go to the bottom of the page, footnote [2] says “Not available in the NY and NJ markets.”
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Comment by Nick Matyas — January 14, 2010 @ 3:08 pm
…And here it is nearly a year later, and still no MSNBC.
I just switched over from DirecTV this past weekend(triple-play offer was too good to pass up), and I had indeed researched it (Consumer Reports, of all things, mentioned this.). I’m just trying to understand what this is all about. I do miss Keith and Rachel; hopefully we’ll get to see them sometime soon!
Comment by Scott K. — January 19, 2010 @ 12:51 am
FINALLY IT’S OVER:
http://insidecablenews.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/verizon-fioscablevision-debacle-over
Can’t wait for 2/1/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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