New York Knicks and Rangers fans are well-acquainted with heartbreak and frustration, with their teams decades removed from their most recent championships. But a new kind of headache began on New Year’s Day,

Local sports fans that subscribe to Optimum got unwelcome news to start the new year when the cable provider dropped the MSG Networks channels after the two sides could not reach a new deal. Optimum is no longer carrying the network's channels upon expiration of the previous agreement Dec.

Optimum cable subscribers no longer have access to MSG Network. It’s a major blow to New York sports fans, as the network carries some of the biggest teams in the area, among them the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks,