New York state is starting to flex a little bit of its muscle to push for a resolution in the dispute between the Optimum cable TV system and MSG (Madison Square Garden) that has left Optimum subscribers without key sports programming of games by the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and more.

Attorneys general from three states are demanding that cable company Optimum automatically refund customers who paid for MSG Network cable channels, but who have been denied access to the programming since the start of January.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong told Optimum that since customers are paying for an unavailable channel, they should receive "refunds without hassle."