As Major League Baseball gears up for its Opening Day, a carriage dispute between YES Network and Comcast threatens to leave New York-area fans unable to watch their teams. In a statement released on Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for both parties to come to an agreement, noting that a temporary extension was set to expire on Tuesday. The YES Network serves as the television home for the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Nets.
“With Opening Day approaching this Thursday, many New York sports fans could find themselves shut out,” Hochul’s statement emphasized. “The expiration of the extension between Comcast and YES Network will particularly affect Yankees and Nets fans. Corporate disputes should never put fans in the crossfire. Both parties need to negotiate such that fans remain unaffected. As your Governor, I stand ready to take further action if no resolution is reached, as I’ve done before, including calling for public hearings to investigate consumer impact, securing refunds for affected viewers, and ensuring broadcasting disruptions are resolved for all New Yorkers.”
In recent years, Comcast has adapted its strategy by moving regional sports networks to higher, more costly tiers within its Xfinity cable offerings. This approach serves two main purposes: it reduces Comcast’s carriage fees by placing channels in tiers with fewer subscribers and allows fans to opt into a higher tier if they wish to purchase YES Network, while others can remain in a lower-priced tier. However, this undermines the economic model that has historically provided ample media revenue to regional sports networks and professional teams, as it relies on all subscribers supporting the channel, regardless of their viewership. With the rise of cord-cutting, this model is increasingly challenged.
For fans in New York who depend on YES Network for game coverage, there is good news: they can opt for a direct-to-consumer streaming plan through the Gotham Sports platform, available for $24.99 per month, offering a way to watch without a cable subscription. While uncertainty looms, there is optimism that an agreement can be reached prior to Opening Day. Historically, when both parties agree to an extension, it signifies a willingness to negotiate further, particularly given the current state of the regional sports network industry. The YES Network holds a unique position as one of the largest regional sports networks in the U.S., housing a highly popular team.
Notably, Governor Hochul’s strategy of applying public pressure has proven effective in the past; earlier this year, she urged Optimum and MSG Networks to finalize a carriage agreement after New York Knicks fans faced nearly two months without access, ultimately leading to an agreement being reached. With any luck, similar pressure will expedite negotiations between YES Network and Comcast this time around.
