The negotiations stem from the partnership the two companies struck to buy Madison Square Garden in 1994 from Viacom Inc. for $1 billion.

"I know your boss just bought Madison Square Garden," grumbled a cable subscriber who said he had been overbilled.

Enthusiasm over the channel expansion, digital boxes and other new technology could be dampened by pending rate increases to finance the capital investment and the major spending to buy Madison Square Garden.

But Ms. Delgado couldn't figure out why security officers made her remove the cap from her bottled water that she bought outside Madison Square Garden.

Moss's departure is the first among top MSG executives since Cablevision and ITT agreed to buy Madison Square Garden.

The group also offered to buy Madison Square Garden, where the teams play, though no price was set.

Cablevision inherited a long-running tax break worth nearly $9 million a year in 1995, when it bought Madison Square Garden, the Knicks and the Rangers from Viacom Inc.

Mr. Gabelli and other large investors hope Mr. Dolan will take on a financial partner to share the burden of buying Madison Square Garden.

ITT and Cablevision, which are paying mightily to buy Madison Square Garden, are looking to a miser named Scrooge to help foot the bill.

Cablevision bought Madison Square Garden from ITT when it was led by Mr. Araskog.