Comcast subscribers in the tri-state area will continue to have access to New York Yankees games for now. According to a report by Eric Fisher of Front Office Sports, Comcast and YES Network have reached a short-term extension that allows them to continue negotiating a carriage deal while avoiding blackouts. YES Network was scheduled to go dark on Comcast’s cable systems as the clock struck midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning; the new deadline for a deal is now 11:59 p.m. ET on March 31.
Per FOS, the extension marks “at least the 10th in this ongoing negotiation,” typically indicating that both sides are motivated to reach an agreement. However, “a large-scale philosophical divide remains” between YES Network and Comcast. While the cable provider wants to move the channel to a more premium and costly tier, YES Network aims to stay within a basic cable package. In recent years, Comcast has been determined to elevate regional sports networks to higher tiers, even pushing its own NBC Sports regional networks to more premium levels ahead of this baseball season.
Nonetheless, YES Network holds a unique position among regional sports networks, operating in the country’s largest media market and broadcasting MLB’s most iconic franchise, which provides it with greater leverage. The Yankees are set to play their first game scheduled for YES Network this Saturday, which will be covered under the terms of the new extension.
