Live sports make up a big part of TV bundles, but since the coronavirus struck, many games have been postponed until further notice. Though sporting events have been canceled, cable companies haven’t cut fees attributed to live sports programming and New York Attorney General Letitia James is urging them to do so.
In letters addressed to Altice USA, AT&T Inc., Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, DISH Network, RCN Corporation and Verizon Communications, James requested that the companies put forth plans indicating how they will provide financial relief to consumers until live sports programming picks up again.
“At a time when so many New Yorkers have lost their jobs and are struggling, it is grossly unfair that cable and satellite television providers would continue to charge fees for services they are not even providing,” James stated. “These companies must step up and immediately propose plans to cut charges and provide much needed financial relief. This crisis has brought new economic anxiety for all New Yorkers, and I will continue to protect the wallets of working people at every turn.”
Cable and satellite customers pay up to $20 per month is additional fees for sporting packages. However, since the lockdowns, cable companies have continued to collect fees despite the fact that many games were canceled starting in March.
In her letters, James asked providers to find ways to “appropriate refunds, discounts and reductions of charges and fees, payment deferrals, and waiver of termination fees, at least until live sports programming is resumed.”