The 3 million who subscribe to Cablevision had to scramble yesterday if they wanted to catch the NFL’s New York Giants-Detroit Lions game.
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation pulled Fox off the air Saturday night after eleventh-hour talks with Cablevision over a contract feud fell through. The blackout meant Cablevision customers lost access to My9 and Fox 5, which carried the National League Championship Series opener Saturday night and Sunday’s football game.
If Cablevision and News Corp. don’t patch things up soon, Cablevision customers could miss out on the World Series on
Oct. 27, as well as shows like “Glee” and “House.”
Patrick Chetriko, a Glendale, Queens, resident and Cablevision customer, reluctantly went to a bar yesterday to watch his beloved Giants.
“I would have liked to be sitting on my couch after a long work week watching the game,” said Chetriko, 31, a teacher. “But I don’t have that option. And now I probably have to pay for lunch and a couple drinks, too.”
Brooklynite Kenneth Gilliard went to Sippers Sports Bar in East Flatbush yesterday only to find that they, too, subscribe to Cablevision and couldn’t show the game. “Now what can I do?” asked Gilliard, 49. “I have to find a friend who has FiOS or DirectTV. Sunday is supposed to be my relaxing day.”
News Corp. and Cablevision halted talks around 4 p.m. yesterday with no agreement before the second NLCS game last night. Fox will remain off Cablevision through at least today.
Persistent viewer problem
Cablevision lost Food Network and HGTV for a few weeks in January before a deal was struck. In March, Cablevision customers also missed the first 15 minutes of the Oscars after the cable giant feuded with ABC network. METRO
