MSG Western New York (MSG WNY) is an American regional sports network that is a joint venture between Sphere Entertainment (a company spun off from Madison Square Garden Entertainment) and Hockey Western New York LLC.The channel (also on occasion credited as Pegula Sports Network or MSG Buffalo) is a sub-feed of MSG Network, with programming oriented towards the Western New York region, including coverage of the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres and the National Football League's Buffalo Bills. It replaced MSG Network on television providers in the Sabres' media market in 2016.
MSG Western New York is available on cable providers throughout Western New York.Most programming is available nationwide on satellite via DirecTV.
in 2006 under a 10-year deal; where telecasts are controlled by the team via the
Sabres Hockey Network
, including the sale of advertising, and the simulcast of
Rick Jeanneret
's commentary on both radio and television (although, during the 2015-16 season, the team experimented with having separate commentary teams on radio and television for selected games, which the
Buffalo News
speculated was in preparation for Jeanneret's eventual retirement), conditions that the Sabres always make as part of their telecast deals going back to the days of Empire.
After acquiring the rights, MSG divided its network into three regional broadcast "zones"; Sabres games were available within "Zone 3", which covered Buffalo and Rochester, and "Zone 2", the remainder of the state excluding Buffalo, Rochester, and New York City—which was shared by the Sabres, Devils, Islanders, and Rangers.
The exact channel assignment for Sabres games varied by region (some games were carried by FSN New York in Zone 2), but all games were carried on the main MSG Network service within Zone 3.[4][5]
The Buffalo Sabres' regional television ratings are among the highest in the league; in the 2015-16 season, despite the team's poor overall performance, fan enthusiasm over star prospect Jack Eichel helped the team achieve the highest average regional viewership of all NHL teams for the first time since 2008-09, with a 6.55 share.National telecasts on NBC and NBCSN have also had notably high ratings in Buffalo.[6][7]
It was speculated that Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which had recently bought the Sabres, Rochester Americans, Buffalo Bandits and Buffalo Bills, was planning to take advantage of the high viewership by establishing a team-owned regional sports network once the Sabres' existing television contract with MSG expired.Bob Koshinski, who had managed Empire Sports Network for most of its existence, stated in 2020 that Pegula had seriously considered reviving Empire, but that MSG had offered $18,000,000 in guaranteed annual money to stay with them, money that Pegula was unwilling to turn down.[8] The Buffalo News's Alan Pergament also acknowledged the impending end of the Sabres and Bills' radio contracts with WGR as a possibility that the group could, potentially, acquire a radio station to serve as a team-owned radio outlet if it is unable to renew its contract with Entercom (Entercom had purchased the Sabres' previous owned-and-operated station, 107.7 WNSA, in 2004, and merged its remaining programming onto WGR).Pegula eventually secured a contract extension with Entercom keeping the Bills and Sabres on WGR through the spring of 2021.[9] However, in regards to television, he felt that it was more likely for Pegula to partner with MSG to form a full-time, Buffalo-specific feed of MSG Network with additional local programming, rather than actually establishing a new, standalone outlet.[3][10]
On June 20, 2016, Pegula announced that it had entered into a joint venture with MSG to establish a new service known as MSG Western New York. The channel, a sub-feed of MSG Network took over the former MSG Zone 3/Sabres game only channel, replacing the parent channel within the Sabres existing television market—which was also, notably, expanded to include the entirety of Rochester. The arrangement allows Pegula access to MSG's existing distribution and statewide programming, while allowing opt-outs for an expanded slate of local programming dedicated to the Bills and Sabres, which is produced and controlled by Pegula. MSG as part of the agreement pays $19 to $20 million per-year in rights fees to broadcast Sabres games and programming, as well as Buffalo Bills programming; it is nearly double the value of the previous Sabres deal. As with the previous deal, Pegula controls team programming on the network, including advertising sales and production (which is handled through PSE's production wing PicSix Creative), and receives all advertising revenue, while MSG collects the retransmission consent fee.Besides original programming and broadcasts exclusive to MSG WNY, the network also carries selected programming from the main MSG Network channel.[11]
Pegula's executive vice president of media and content Mark Preisler explained that the deal was an alternative to establishing a new regional sports network from scratch, as the company would be able to expand on its relationship with MSG as a long-standing partner by leveraging its infrastructure and distribution, rather than needing to invest in building a network and negotiating carriage with television providers.[11][12]
The first promos seen for the channel ran during a Bills preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on August 13, 2016 promoting its Bills programming.The channel debuted on September 10, 2016 at 8:00pm with a Western New York cut in showing the 2016 debut of The Rex Ryan Show and a special behind the scenes feature called Rex and Rob Reunited at 8:30 and 9pm, the daily feed followed on October 3.[13]
On April 4, 2017, news broke that James L. Dolan, controlling owner of MSG, was exploring the sale of his regional sports networks, including his share of MSG Western New York.[14]
On August 28, 2023, Pegula Sports and Entertainment was dissolved, with the Bills and Hockey Western New York LLC (the holding company that owns the Sabres, Americans and Bandits) becoming separate business entities and Terry Pegula assuming Presidency of the Sabres organization.[15]
On August 28, 2024, MSG Networks, along with the YES Network announced a combined streaming app for their teams called the Gotham Sports App.Their television rights are not affected.[16]
In February 2026, Bills studio programming such as One Bills Live became exclusive to MSG Western New York after Pegula severed ties with WGR and brought its radio broadcasts in-house; eventual plans will also bring Sabres Live under the same terms once the Sabres' season ends. The broadcasts will be available as audio-only Internet radio broadcasts (produced in partnership with Good Karma Brands) for non-MSG subscribers.[17][18]
Programming
The network carries team programming related to the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills; the former including all 70 regional Sabres games and the latter including local Bills shows formerly aired by WKBW-TV; preseason telecasts began to be simulcast with WKBW beginning in 2017.In addition, the channel simulcasts The Instigators (formerly known as Sabres Hockey Hotline)[19] and One Bills Live (formerly known as The John Murphy Show) from WGR radio as part of a five-hour weekday block, originating from studios (dubbed the One Buffalo studios) at Highmark Stadium; Murphy's program was moved from the evening to the afternoon and had a co-host added. As an aspect of the overall deal, PSE agreed in principle to extend its radio rights with WGR.
MSG Western New York added a package of five Rochester Americans contests beginning in December 2016, moving the team's television broadcasts to MSG WNY from the moribund Time Warner Cable Sports Channel.[20] Select away playoff games are aired by the channel if the team is playing in a market where the home team has a television partner to simulcast from such as Leafs Nation Network for the Toronto Marlies.On September 7, 2017, it was announced that the channel would begin airing select Monsignor Martin Athletic Association high school football games produced by Pegula as part of a multi-year deal, including a three-game showcase at New Era Field.[21] The high school coverage moved exclusively online for 2018.[22][11] The remainder of MSG WNY's schedule consists of programming from the main MSG Network schedule, such as New York Knicks basketball.[11] In turn, MSG also has rights to air the Pegula-produced original programming and game converge on its other networks.[11][23]
In 2018, MSG-produced Bills preseason telecasts moved to the stations of Nexstar Media Group in all media markets outside Buffalo.As the Bills could not break their existing contract with WKBW in Buffalo, the rights in that city did not change until 2021, when Nexstar-owned WIVB-TV would begin carrying the games.[24]
Original programming
Hockey
Beyond Blue & Gold — a periodical Sabres magazine show that debuted in 2013[25]
The Instigators — daily talk show co-hosted by Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet with regular contributor Martin Biron; simulcast on WGR (formerly known as Sabres Hockey Hotline, Tuesday through Friday)
Sabres Showdown — short-form penalty shootout knockout tournament featuring Sabres stars, based on the 1970s-era NHL on NBC/Hockey Night in Canada feature of the same name
Sabres Live — daily talk show co-hosted by Martin Biron and Brian Duff; simulcast on WGR
Football
On-air staff
Current on-air staff
Football
Chris Brown — contributor to Bills All Access, co-host of One Bills Live and high school play-by-play
Ruben Brown — analyst for Bills Tonight
Thad Brown — preseason sideline reporter
Sal Capaccio — host of The Extra Point
Andrew Catalon — Bills preseason play-by-play (rotating)
Brian Duff – Sabres studio host, co-host of Sabres Live
Dan Dunleavy – Sabres play-by-play announcer
Danny Gare – Sabres fill-in analyst
Rob Ray – Sabres color analyst
Ric Seiling – Amerks color analyst
Don Stevens – Amerks play-by-play announcer (retiring in 2026)[35]
Bowling
Paul Peck – play-by-play for Beat the Champ
Sue Nawojski – color analyst for Beat the Champ
Former on-air staff
Mike Catalana — various roles
Rick Jeanneret – Sabres play-by-play announcer
Donald Jones – co-host of The John Murphy Show[36]
Brad May – Sabres studio analyst
John Murphy — host of One Bills Live and The Sean McDermott Show
Andrew Peters – co-host of The Instigators
Craig Rivet – co-host of The Instigators
Carriage
Cable television
Both of the two primary cable providers in Western New York, Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable, which covers the vast majority of the state) and Atlantic Broadband (which covers a small portion of Cattaraugus County) have carried the network from its inception.
DirecTV
On August 10, 2016, the debut night of MSG Western New York it was revealed that DirecTV would not be running the network's full programming schedule.[37] The Sabres noted that MSG made the programming available to DirecTV but the provider was not willing to carry it.[38] This made MSG WNY a part-time channel on DirecTV with the provider continuing to air the channel as a game only service showing Sabres games only.For the 2017 NFL season, DirecTV began showing Bills All Access and irregularly showing the first runs of The Sean McDermott Show and Bills Tonight in addition to the Sabres games that the channel airs. A week later DirecTV began showing The Instigators and The John Murphy Show. DirecTV happens to be the service that Pegula owned properties like 716 Food and Sport, a sports bar and grill in downtown Buffalo use.
Dish Network
MSG Western New York, like MSG and MSG Sportsnet, is unavailable on Dish Network.As part of an ongoing feud with the family of Charles Dolan (owners of MSG), Dish has not carried any MSG network channel since the last agreement expired on October 1, 2010.[39]
Over-the-top services
FuboTV added the MSG networks for the fall 2017 season.[40]
MSG launched a standalone over-the-top service MSG+, which includes MSG Western New York within the Sabres' broadcast territory, in 2023.[41] It is slated to be merged into Gotham Sports, a joint venture with MSG and YES Network, some time in 2025.[42][43]
37.Michelle Girardi Z. @Jay_Cwik @PegulaSE @Joseph_Video Because DirecTV is being difficult & currently not airing MSGWNY programming. 10:30 is the national airing September 10, 2016, retrieved December 31, 2020^
38.Buffalo Sabres. @PUGSJR77 @MSGNetworks MSG has made the programming available to DIRECTV- but right now they're not able to carry. Please check w/DIRECTV October 4, 2016, retrieved December 31, 2020^
