I thought dolan already owned cablevision.

I think this means the Knicks don't have to disclose their buyout amounts now. I bet the Anucha case will be settled shortly after.

Public vs Private Companies
Center for Business Research

What is a public company?
A public company sells stock to the general public and the stock is traded on an exchange.

What is a private company?
A private company does not sell stock to the general public, and the stock is not traded on an exchange. In private firms, the stockholders are usually the principals in the company (e.g. founders, members of their families, key employees, etc.).

Why is it important to know whether a company is public or private?
When you know what type of company you have, the research process is much easier. There is a great deal of information available on public companies. Public companies are required to file specific reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The 10-K is the official annual report filed with the SEC each year. Companies must file their 10-K reports within 90 calendar days of the end of their fiscal year. For companies with a fiscal year-end of December 31st, reports must be available no later than April 1st.

Private Companies do not file with the SEC and have no obligation to make their financial information public. Therefore, sometimes there is almost no information available for a private company beyond its own web page or a brief directory listing. Such a listing may provide only contact information, number of employees, and lines of business. If a private company has been in the news, there is also the possibility of finding newspaper and magazine articles.