DirecTV and MSG is an odd story.
Rainbow Media / MSG Networks started a satellite company in 2003 under the name of Voom. The venture ultimately failed to be self-sustaining and shut down operations in 2005, but Dish Network bailed them out by purchasing their satellite asset (61.5WL orbital) and agreeing to purchase broadcast rights for the channels. This was back in the time when only a handful of networks were in HD, so adding over a dozen HD channels with original programming was a big deal.
Fast forward to 2007 where most channels were broadcasting in HD. People with HD TVs were far less inclined to watch original programming about scubadiving for treasure just because it was in HD when they could now watch their normal programming in HD after the majority of the channels had upgraded. Dish network started talks in late 2007 about ending the partnership with Rainbow Media and discontinuing the Voom channel subscription. In response, Rainbow Media / MSG tried to force Dish's hand and signed a deal to bring MSG(HD) and MSG+(HD) to DirecTV in December of 2007. The general idea was that the competitive advantage it would give DirecTV in the massive New York DMA would be enough to make Dish cave and continue to carry Voom so they could gain access to the HD broadcast rights for MSG/MSG+ as well. Instead, Dish proceeded to remove all of the Voom programming in May of 2008 and end the contract. This went even further and MSG/MSG+ networks were pulled completely from Dish last year.
The MSG / DirecTV relationship hasn't been without conflicts -- it wasn't really a deal MSG wanted to make in the first place. In the 2009-2010 season, MSG made DirecTV pull the HD feeds from the NHL Center Ice and NBA League pass offerings, citing that the contract they signed only allowed for broadcast of the channel within the NY DMA. Access to the HD feeds was later instated after the sports leagues (NBA / NHL), as full legal owners of the game content, engaged in private discussions that likely involved threats of ending the broadcast rights with MSG networks.
