As the Knicks get ready for their season opener against the Chicago Bulls and the sounding of “Go New York, Go New York Go” theme song tonight, MSG Network is poised to go the in-market streaming route.
Beginning in December, MSG Networks said that authenticated Cablevision subscribers to its regional sports channel, MSG Network, will be able to watch Knicks games and related fare on computers, tablets and smartphones via its MSG GO platform at no additional cost. MSG GO will enable Cablevision’s subscribers to watch the RSN action inside and outside of their residences, as well as if they leave the Knicks' TV territory.
In announcing MSG GO, officials at the programmer indicated that it was in negotiations with other distributors to enable the TVE gambit for Knicks games. Cablevision, MSG’s former parent company, remains the largest pay-TV distributor in the metro New York area, where fans of the orange and blue hope that Carmelo Anthony (pictured) and the rest of his teammates master the triangle offense this season.
“We are thrilled to offer MSG GO to Knicks fans,” said Andrea Greenberg, executive vice president, MSG Media. 'MSG GO provides our fans the great convenience of watching our content throughout their home or on-the-go.”
With the bow of MSG GO, MSGN will join Fox Sports regional networks, and Time Warner Cable’s SportsNet, which carries Los Angeles Lakers games, in affording a TVE streaming experience to verified subscribers in the attendant NBA teams' TV territories, and beyond.
Time Warner Cable SportsNet has been offering a TVE play since it bowed with the 2012-13 NBA campaign, while Fox, after testing the service via its Fox Sports Go app with six clubs and a handful of distributors last season, is committed to launching in-market streaming with its 17 regionals that hold NBA team media rights during the 2014-15 season. Comcast’s NBC Sports Group is also expected to enter the in-market streaming arena shortly.
MSGN subscribers with a supported smartphone or tablet can download the free MSG GO app by visiting the App Store or the Google Play store. On computers, customers may visit MSGGo.com.
