MSG Networks to Air Commemorative Black History Month Programming

MSG Networks today announced a month-long lineup of special programming, presented by Chase, that will air in February to celebrate Black History Month. The network’s commemorative coverage will honor influential Black trailblazers who helped shape American history and continue to have a lasting impact in sports and culture today.

The network’s coverage will be highlighted by an engaging roundtable discussion on the intersection of race and sports with Hall of Famer and Knicks analyst Walt “Clyde” Frazier, former Knicks great and current team executive Allan Houston and Knicks analyst Monica McNutt. They will join together for a candid conversation on the evolution of race in basketball and how to make the game more inclusive for future generations, while sharing unique perspective and personal stories from their playing days.

The programming will also include an interstitial content series that celebrates Black excellence and profiles iconic Black athletes and pioneers throughout history, from Arthur Ashe, the first and only Black man to win Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open titles, to Charlie Sifford, the first Black man to play on the PGA Tour, to Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to hold a pilot’s license, and more. A new interstitial video will debut each day and air alongside Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils games on MSG Network and MSG+ during the month.

The content will also be integrated into episodes of ‘MSG PM’ and various ‘MSG Shorts’ programming throughout the month. Some of the additional commemorative coverage will include:

• Profiles on businesses that empower and support Black communities in New York City
  • Harlem Hops, the first beer bar in Harlem that is 100% Black-owned
  • Melba’s Restaurant, a Black-owned soul food restaurant that has become a staple in the Harlem community
• Acquired Content
  • “Willie,” full-length documentary which premiered on ESPN in 2019, that follows the amazing story of Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL, from his great-grandfather’s escape from slavery in 1779 to Willie’s ascent to hockey’s highest honor – induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018
• Original Content
  • New feature showcasing the storied history of basketball at Dyckman Park, one of the premier streetball destinations in New York City

All Black History Month programming airing in February will also be available on MSG GO, the network’s live streaming and video on demand platform.