New York: Verizon customers now getting MSG HD

You think new HD channels are hard to come by these days? Well MSG HD is more than just a hi-def channel. It represents freedom for New York sports fans to choose another TV provider other than Cablevision. In a court ruling MSG Network will no longer be able to hoard the high-definition versions of the channels, although they had previously provided standard-def feeds. For Verizon customers, that means opening day for the Knicks game against the Boston Celtics will be available for the first time in HD.

MSG Network owns both MSG HD and MSG+. The network covers New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, New York Red Bulls, New Jersey Devils and New York Liberty games in the New York area. Some Verizon customers may even be able to get the Rangers game tonight at 8:00 PM Eastern.

The two channels are being added over the next few days. Channels may vary by region, so Verizon has provided the following information. MSG HD will be on FiOS TV channel 577, 578 or 579. MSG+ HD will be on channel 579, 580 or 581.