A week after the new Mets network launched, and 11 days from the team’s opener, SportsNet New York still has not reached a deal to be seen on Cablevision systems, serving three million area subscribers.

And to no great surprise. Twice before Cablevision has lost local baseball team rights, and then refused to carry the new rights owners’ networks – competing goods – the following season.

SNY, owned by the Mets, Time-Warner and Comcast, yesterday continued to put on an optimistic face, claiming that it remains “in a very active negotiation” and is “closing in on an agreement with Cablevision,” as well as with satellite providers DirecTV and Dish.

SNY also anticipates deals by April 3’s Mets opener with smaller local cable systems RCN and Patriot, once the Cablevision deal is completed.

In 1989, after Cablevision-owned SportsChannel lost Yankee rights to MSG Network (prior to Cablevision regaining them through its purchase of Madison Square Garden), Cablevision dropped MSG, the following season. In 2002, after Cablevision lost Yankee rights to YES, Cablevision refused to add YES.