Sports
•
YES Network, Comcast Reach Deal: Yankees Fans Rejoice!
YES Network and Comcast Reach Last-Minute Deal, Avert Blackout for Yankees Fans
New York, NY – In a dramatic eleventh-hour resolution, the YES Network and Comcast reached a carriage agreement late Monday night, preventing a potential blackout of the regional sports network for millions of viewers. The deal, announced in a joint statement, comes just hours before the network was set to be removed from Comcast’s Xfinity lineup in northern New Jersey, parts of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and the lower Hudson Valley.
The agreement averts a significant disruption for fans of the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets, whose games are primarily broadcast on YES. Comcast had planned to move YES to a more expensive digital tier, costing subscribers an additional $20 per month. This move would have significantly reduced YES Network's reach, impacting approximately 30% fewer subscribers according to a formal complaint filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by YES Network.
The dispute stemmed from the expiration of the legacy carriage deal on September 30, 2024, followed by a series of informal extensions. Comcast’s proposed move mirrored its strategy with other regional sports networks (RSNs), aiming to offset rising sports programming costs. However, YES Network, citing its status as one of the most-watched RSNs and its association with the Yankees, resisted the shift. YES CEO Jon Litner publicly criticized Comcast’s tactics, describing them as “bullying” and highlighting the preferential treatment Comcast affords its own networks.
The FCC's involvement may have played a role in the last-minute agreement. Following YES Network's formal complaint, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly urged a swift resolution. While the FCC lacks the authority to force carriage agreements, the prospect of potential sanctions for improper negotiating tactics added pressure on both parties. A similar situation involving Disney and DirecTV was resolved a week after a similar complaint was filed, suggesting a correlation between regulatory attention and resolution.
The terms of the new agreement were not disclosed, but sources indicate it largely maintains the status quo, keeping YES on Comcast's Expanded Basic tier. While celebrated by Yankees fans, the deal is considered more of an extension than a long-term agreement. Yankees President Randy Levine issued a statement thanking fans for their support, along with numerous political figures, for their role in ensuring YES remained on the air. The resolution ensures continued broad distribution of YES Network in the New York area as the Yankees pursue their 2024 American League title defense.
New York, NY – In a dramatic eleventh-hour resolution, the YES Network and Comcast reached a carriage agreement late Monday night, preventing a potential blackout of the regional sports network for millions of viewers. The deal, announced in a joint statement, comes just hours before the network was set to be removed from Comcast’s Xfinity lineup in northern New Jersey, parts of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and the lower Hudson Valley.
The agreement averts a significant disruption for fans of the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets, whose games are primarily broadcast on YES. Comcast had planned to move YES to a more expensive digital tier, costing subscribers an additional $20 per month. This move would have significantly reduced YES Network's reach, impacting approximately 30% fewer subscribers according to a formal complaint filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by YES Network.
The dispute stemmed from the expiration of the legacy carriage deal on September 30, 2024, followed by a series of informal extensions. Comcast’s proposed move mirrored its strategy with other regional sports networks (RSNs), aiming to offset rising sports programming costs. However, YES Network, citing its status as one of the most-watched RSNs and its association with the Yankees, resisted the shift. YES CEO Jon Litner publicly criticized Comcast’s tactics, describing them as “bullying” and highlighting the preferential treatment Comcast affords its own networks.
The FCC's involvement may have played a role in the last-minute agreement. Following YES Network's formal complaint, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly urged a swift resolution. While the FCC lacks the authority to force carriage agreements, the prospect of potential sanctions for improper negotiating tactics added pressure on both parties. A similar situation involving Disney and DirecTV was resolved a week after a similar complaint was filed, suggesting a correlation between regulatory attention and resolution.
The terms of the new agreement were not disclosed, but sources indicate it largely maintains the status quo, keeping YES on Comcast's Expanded Basic tier. While celebrated by Yankees fans, the deal is considered more of an extension than a long-term agreement. Yankees President Randy Levine issued a statement thanking fans for their support, along with numerous political figures, for their role in ensuring YES remained on the air. The resolution ensures continued broad distribution of YES Network in the New York area as the Yankees pursue their 2024 American League title defense.
