New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, has called for automatic refunds for Altice USA's Optimum customers. These customers have been unable to access MSG Networks channels due to ongoing blackouts resulting from a contract dispute between Altice and MSG.
Attorney General James had previously urged both parties to resolve their negotiations swiftly to prevent service disruptions for New Yorkers. The dispute has left Optimum cable consumers in the tri-state area without access to sports channels they paid extra for, affecting their ability to watch teams like the New York Knicks and Buffalo Sabres.
James emphasized the impact on sports fans, stating, "New York sports fans are being put in the penalty box, forced to shell out their hard-earned money for television channels they cannot even watch." She expressed determination in securing a resolution for affected consumers.
Attorney General Platkin also weighed in, urging both companies to resolve their differences so that New Jersey consumers can regain access to services they've paid for. Similarly, Attorney General Tong criticized the situation and called for immediate refunds without hassle for consumers who are currently paying for inaccessible sports content.
The issue began when Altice removed MSG channel access from its Optimum cable plans at the start of January 2025. Despite warnings from Attorney General James that her office would closely monitor the situation, no resolution has been reached yet.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by Attorney General James to protect consumers from unfair charges. Past actions include securing refunds from SmileDirectClub after bankruptcy proceedings and addressing wrongful charges related to hotel reservations and COVID-19 vaccines.