Time Out for Time Warner, Cablevision

Networks owned by Cablevision Systems Corp. will remain on Time Warner Cable systems while the two MSOs negotiate longer-term agreements.

Time Warner Cable said last week that Cablevision threatened to pull its Madison Square Garden Network, Fox Sports New York and MetroChannels from its lineup when their contract expired Dec. 31.

But in a press release Friday, Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings Inc. unit said it agreed to temporarily extend the current carriage arrangements with Time Warner Cable, Dow Jones reported.

"MSG, Fox Sports Net New York and MetroChannels have each agreed to temporarily extend their current carriage arrangements with Time Warner Cable, which were due to expire Dec. 31, 2003, while these services work with Time Warner Cable on longer-term agreements, ensuring that Time Warner Cable subscribers will continue to receive these programming services," the two companies said in a release.

"During this extension period, Time Warner Cable customers in New York City, as well as those in the suburban area and upstate, will continue to see MSG Network and Fox Sports Net New York on the channels they currently occupy after the New Year," the two MSOs added. "The MetroChannels are only available in New York City, and they will also continue to be carried on the same channels."