Squabble Up*: MSG Networks and Cable Blackouts and How History Repeats Itself

Part 2

Welcome to Rupt and Rise, a space where transformation takes center stage. Here, we spotlight stories of disruption, reinvention, and resilience - proof that every rupture holds the power to rise.

*Kendrick Lamar’s remarkable Super Bowl performance got me thinking about history repeating itself - how moments of impact can ripple long after they happen.

In 2012, MSG Networks called me out of nowhere during the height of Linsanity. They needed help reaching Chinese media and fans. At the same time, I was pushing uphill to launch Chinatown Restaurant Week, trying to prove it mattered.

Now, in 2025, MSG Networks is back in a cable dispute with Optimum, facing blackout issues and scrambling to avoid bankruptcy. History really does repeat itself.

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“This is [an executive] from Madison Square Garden, specifically MSG Networks…” I still have the voicemail from February 10, 2012. It’s been thirteen years, but when I play it back, I can hear the moment everything shifted. The tone was professional, direct, but also exploratory - like he wasn’t sure if I was the right person for this.

“…Someone sent me your information. We are trying to do an event and get some Chinese media to cover it. I hear that this might be something you can do…”

At the time, I was buried in Chinatown Restaurant Week, pushing against skepticism from the very community I was trying to uplift. It was exhausting. And now, here was MSG Networks calling me about… basketball?

Then came the part that almost made me pause.

“…The Knicks have this player, Jeremy Lin. L-I-N now. He is Chinese American. I don’t know if you ever heard of him.”

Had I ever heard of him?

By then, Jeremy Lin was everywhere. He had taken over the New York Times front page, dominated sports talk radio, and turned the Knicks into the most exciting team in the NBA overnight. Strangers were high-fiving in the streets. Chinatown’s seniors were suddenly basketball fans.

And MSG Networks wanted me to help bring Chinese fans into the excitement.

“…We are trying to do a viewing party for Chinese fans so that they can come and watch one of the Knicks games on television next week. It’s kind of a quick project…”

A quick project.

But here’s what wasn’t said outright: MSG Networks was in a battle with Time Warner Cable.

Millions of Knicks fans across New York City had lost access to watch MSG Network games on Time Warner Cable due to a contract dispute, just as Linsanity exploded. This actually happened on December 31, 2012. The stakes were high. They needed a way to keep momentum going, and they saw an opportunity with Chinatown’s media and fans.

And somehow, my name had landed on their desk.

Then and Now: MSG Networks’ Battle to Stay Afloat

It’s funny how history has a way of repeating itself.

Now, in 2025, MSG Networks is once again in the middle of a cable blackout. About a million Optimum subscribers can’t watch Knicks and Rangers games due to a contract dispute. But this time, it’s even more serious - they’re scrambling to restructure $829 million in debt and avoid bankruptcy.

Just like in 2012, MSG Networks' future depends on how well they adapt. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are also thriving - currently holding a 34-18 record and sitting third in the Eastern Conference.

Back in 2012, they called me because they needed to reach a different audience. Today, reports suggest that Amazon might step in to help, because the future of sports broadcasting isn’t cable - it’s streaming.

Looking back, I wonder: What if MSG Networks had leaned harder into the cultural moment of Linsanity? What if they had built stronger connections with diverse audiences then - could they have avoided some of these struggles now?

Not in an “I told you so” way - just in a "what if" kind of way.

What Happened Next?

Back in 2012, I had a choice.

1. Politely decline. I was already stretched thin, and basketball had nothing to do with Chinatown Restaurant Week.

2. Say yes. Step into an unfamiliar space and see what could happen.

I chose yes.

Because I recognized the moment - a shift that was happening in real time. If MSG wanted to bring in Chinese media, I wasn’t just going to help - I was going to make it count.

And what followed? An incredible story…

(To be continued in Part 3…)

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For You, The Reader:

MSG Networks is fighting to stay alive. It makes me think - if they had played things differently during Linsanity, would they be in the same place today?

Have you ever seen history repeat itself in your own life or industry? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Missed Part 1? Read it here below