Verizon, Cablevision Customers Lose Access to Tennis Channel

Customers of Cablevision Systems Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc.’s FiOS pay-TV service lost access to the Tennis Channel today amid a fee dispute, causing them to miss some coverage of the U.S. Open tournament.

Tennis Channel pulled its signal early today, Jim Maiella, a spokesman for Cablevision, said in an e-mailed statement. He declined to say whether the company plans to negotiate a new agreement with Tennis Channel after their contract expired. Verizon is trying to negotiate a new deal with Tennis Channel, Kevin Laverty, a spokesman for the New York-based carrier, said in an interview.