AT&T Inc. has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against Cablevision Systems Corp, alleging anti-competitive practices. AT&T is seeking to gain access to HD programming from the Madison Square Garden (MSG) network, which is the same goal as Verizon Communications Inc, which filed a similar complaint with the FCC just last month.
The content they seek to gain access to includes games played by the New York Knicks basketball team, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils ice hockey teams. According to AT&T, in its complaint to the FCC, Cablevision engages in conduct that prevents other providers from offering a competing service to customers, which is claims is against FCC rules.
AT&T providers the programming to customers in Connecticut but in standard definition. "Their customers already receive every single game offered on MSG and MSG Plus," Cablevision said. "Now they want the FCC to force MSG to hand over its HD programming, which is a product of many years of technological development and investment. The idea that a phone company more than 15 times our size needs a regulatory bailout is absurd."
AT&T providers the programming to customers in Connecticut but in standard definition. "Their customers already receive every single game offered on MSG and MSG Plus," Cablevision said. "Now they want the FCC to force MSG to hand over its HD programming, which is a product of many years of technological development and investment. The idea that a phone company more than 15 times our size needs a regulatory bailout is absurd."
