Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo

CABLEVISION'S UNWILLINGNESS TO SHOW RUTGERS GAME
THROWING CUSTOMERS FOR A LOSS
Assemblyman Questions Where Company's Loyalties Lie:
With Fans and Subscribers or Its Own Bottom Line

(NEWARK) -- Frustrated by Cablevision's posturing with the NFL Network over the broadcasting of Rutgers' December 28 Texas Bowl game against Kansas State, Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo said the company's continued intransigence may lead him to ask for legislative hearings into its "habitual anti-New Jersey sports-fan business decisions.""It's well past time that someone threw a penalty flag at Cablevision for continuous unsportsmanlike conduct," said Caraballo (D-Essex), one of the nearly 1 million Cablevision subscribers dealing with the prospect of being left unable to watch Rutgers' Texas Bowl appearance. "Cablevision's subscribers have had to put up time and again with the company's unwillingness to do what’s best for paying viewers. If Cablevision cannot explain this behavior to its ratepayers, perhaps they should explain it to the Legislature."

Caraballo, sponsor of the new law opening up the state's cable television market to competition, said Cablevision's behavior on the Rutgers bowl game issue underscores why the law was needed. He referred to the 2002-2003 incident in which North Jersey customers who wanted to watch Yankees baseball games on the YES Television Network were held hostage by Cablevision's decision not to carry the station on its system. Cablevision holds a controlling interest in the competitor Madison Square Garden sports network.

Currently, Cablevision is refusing to come to terms with the NFL Network over the ability to broadcast the Texas Bowl. NFL Network – fully owned by the National Football League – has signaled its willingness to allow Cablevision to provide the channel free to customers during Christmas week. Cablevision has said it only plans to air the Texas Bowl.

Caraballo said that while the NFL does have the authority to grant exclusive broadcast rights to its own network, the League must share some of the blame for the stalemate. However, he noted that the NFL's settlement with Time Warner Cable after a similar broadcast fight shows that the League is at least willing to find a middle ground.

"Cablevision's portrayal of Scrooge is taking the joy out of what should be a celebratory time for hundreds of thousands of Rutgers football fans," said Caraballo.

Caraballo said the incident may lead him to ask the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee to investigate Cablevision business practices that are harmful to New Jersey viewers.

“Cablevision is again acting like the schoolyard bully, shaking down ratepayers,� said Caraballo. "It's time for Cablevision to take the old adage 'the customer is always right' to heart and stop its foolish posturing. Cablevision is creating losers out of New Jersey residents who want nothing more than to cheer on the Scarlet Knights as part of their glorious season as a national college football contender."

The Assemblyman said that episode should stand as a cautionary tale for future Rutgers bowl appearances.

"The bottom line is that Rutgers is New Jersey's team, financed by state taxpayers," said Caraballo. "It's too late for Rutgers to decline the invitation to play in the Texas Bowl, but perhaps the school should ensure that all New Jerseyans can follow the team on television before accepting a future post-season bid."

--30--

For Release:
December 20, 2006

Assemblyman Caraballo
(973) 350-0048