Cable customers lose Tennis Channel
NEW YORK - Customers of Cablevision Systems Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc.’s FiOS pay-TV service lost access to the Tennis Channel yesterday amid a fee dispute, causing them to miss some coverage of the US Open tournament.
Tennis Channel pulled its signal early yesterday, a spokesman for Cablevision said. He declined to say whether the company plans to negotiate a new agreement with Tennis Channel after their contract expired.
Verizon is trying to negotiate a new deal with Tennis Channel, a spokesman said.
The blackout means customers will miss some coverage of the sport’s only US grand slam event. Both Cablevision and Verizon customers can still watch CBS and ESPN’s coverage, scheduled to run through Sept. 11.
Tennis Channel asked for “significantly higher’’ fees, Cablevision said.
The closely held Tennis Channel is owned by investors that include Boston-based Bain Capital Ventures, as well as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.
