Knicks, Rangers games set to go dark amid contract battle between MSG and Optimum

Knicks and Rangers games on Optimum were set to go dark Wednesday as contract talks between the cable operator and MSG remained at an impasse ahead of a deadline before the ball drops.

As of press time Tuesday, neither side seemed willing to budge much over the carriage fees paid by Optimum parent Altice to broadcast MSG Networks, which is run by Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan.

In the current deal that expires at midnight, Optimum pays MSGN $10 per subscriber, a source close to the situation told The Post.

The cable operator, which has about one-third of the roughly 3 million subscribers in the New York City area, is looking to reduce that fee in the new contract.

On Tuesday, MSGN sweetened an offer it floated weeks ago that would involve allowing Optimum to move it from the basic tier, meaning subscribers would have to pay an additional fee for the channel, the source said.

Optimum did not respond for comment about the latest offer.