Comcast, YES Network stave off blackout… for now
Comcast, YES Network stave off blackout… for now
The two sides have agreed to keep talking, and have given themselves a new deadline of March 31 to work out a carriage deal.
New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets fans in New York and surrounding areas can breathe a sigh of relief — for now. The regional sports network (RSN) that carries those channels is YES Network, and this week it has found itself in a carriage dispute with Comcast, one of the largest cable distributors in the United States. The two sides agreed to a brief extension of their carriage deal on Thursday, while they seek a more permanent solution.
Key Details:
- Comcast and YES Network have extended their carriage agreement until March 31.
- The original deal was slated to expire on Thursday evening.
- Fans can watch Yankees and Nets games via the Gotham Sports App if coverage is interrupted.
Comcast and YES Network have once again agreed to temporarily extend their existing carriage agreement while they ideally hammer out a new, multi-year deal. The two sides are no strangers to such last-minute extensions; Sportico reports they have made similar moves at least 16 times since the original end-date of their carriage deal last year.
The latest expiration date was set for Thursday, March 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Now, it has been extended until Monday, March 31 at the same time, ensuring that the Yankees’ games against the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend will continue to be televised on Comcast cable plans.
YES Network broadcasts in New York, Connecticut, and parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The two sides haven’t said much about what specifically is causing the dispute, but Comcast has made an effort to migrate other RSNs to higher-priced channel packages in recent months, and it’s likely pursuing a similar tactic with YES Network.
If coverage of Yankees and Nets games is interrupted by a blackout, they can still stream both teams without a pay-TV subscription by signing up for the Gotham Sports App. This streamer’s YES Subscription package normally costs $25 per month, but is offering a $5 monthly discount for a limited time, and unlocks all Yankees and Nets games you can watch on the linear YES Network.
Gotham Sports App
The Gotham Sports App was a comprehensive streaming platform that served as the exclusive regional home for live broadcasts and on-demand content from several New York sports teams. The app consolidated programming from MSG Networks and the YES Network, providing fans with access to games previously available only via cable or a live TV streaming service. The app featured the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres.