Without deal, Time Warner to lose Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Buffalo Sabres fans can see the Tux & Pucks game on MSG New Year's Eve, but the party's over with the arrival of a new year unless Time Warner strikes a deal with the cable network first.

Time Warner officials are quick to point out that if the Sabres games do go black, that is MSG's decision to make. But with less than two days to go until the deadline, all Sabres fans want to know is: will they be able to see the games? For more fan reaction, watch the second video with this story.

The Pearl Street Bar and Grill is packed on nights when the Sabres play, whether it is a home or an away game. But after Saturday night, even the popular spot might not be able to show the game on their TV screens.

General manager Bill Casale said, "A very large portion of our business is hockey-oriented. Not only before and after, but a lot of people stay here to watch the games because of the high energy for the games. We have invested a lot of money into 45 TVs in the building with high-def, wiring, etcetera, so we have a lot invested into hockey here at Pearl Street."

Time Warner Cable is the area's biggest cable provider, but the company can't agree to terms on a new contract with MSG, which carries most of the home and away Sabres games.

Time Warner says, "We have hundreds of employees who live here in WNY. We love our Sabres and we understand that sports costs are rising. We were close to an agreement for a 6.5 percent increase in the price we pay but MSG reneged on that offer a few weeks ago. We offered an extension at close to that rate until September 2012 so we could continue negotiating. MSG refused. We've given them multiple proposals, but at this time, they're not actively engaged in anything other than a public battle."

MSG counters, "Unfortunately, we have not had any recent, meaningful discussions with Time Warner Cable. They have rejected every one of our fair proposals for nearly two years, and are unwilling to value our programming in the same manner as other distributors or even engage in good faith negotiations on behalf of their customers. We are not going to participate in unproductive public rhetoric."

>> Read the full statements from both companies here

The dispute doesn't just involve Buffalo - it applies to all of New York State. So if the Sabres games go black, so do the Islanders, Rangers, Devils, and the NY Knicks.