
Cablevision sought to quash
speculation Monday that it might sell its Madison Square Garden unit that includes the New York Knicks and Fuse network. The company board may consider a spinoff and some sort of tracking stock could
emerge, but Cablevision is likely to maintain control.
Cablevision issued a statement Monday saying it "feels it should make clear that it is not considering (a) sale" of the MSG
businesses." The board authorized Cablevision management to explore a spinoff on May 6.
The Madison Square Garden unit also includes regional programming networks MSG and MSG Plus, the New York
Knicks basketball team, the New York Rangers hockey team, MSG Entertainment, Radio City Music Hall, The Beacon Theater and the Chicago Theater.
A Cablevision representative had no further
comment. Executives apparently felt it was important to halt speculation, perhaps fueled by media reports, that it could put MSG on the block.
The MSG unit -- which also includes the MSG
building itself, located on a valuable piece of midtown New York real estate -- saw revenues increase 2.5% in the first quarter to $271.6 million. It was the second-largest revenue-producing unit
within Cablevision at large. MSG did, however, post a slight operating loss.
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