YES and MSG Network are partnering in a new venture that will ultimately lead to a direct-to-consumer streaming service that offers the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, Nets, Devils and Islanders on one platform.
The two sides have not yet reached an agreement, but on Thursday they announced the formation of Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment. This is a 50-50 venture between the two networks to leverage the technical and operational synergies associated with YES and MSGN's streaming services. ” according to a release distributed by both sides.
“There is a great collaboration between YES and MSG in the digital space,” said YES CEO John Littner in a joint interview with MSG Network President Andrea Greenberg.
One of the main goals of YES and MSGN is to be able to serve platforms nationwide.
As the media landscape has changed, regional sports networks have had to consider the high costs of creating consumer-facing products.
Both YES and MSGN are already doing that in New York.
They plan to provide blueprints and technical support to other companies as well.
“There's a lot of infrastructure and a lot of investment going into building these apps,” Rittner said.
For local New York fans, this partnership could be yet another bridge to cutting the cable cord if Gotham can finally connect all its teams to one service.
Currently, YES' direct-to-consumer app costs $24.99 per month, while MSG+ costs $29.99 per month.
For example, if you're a Yankees and Knicks fan, the cost is prohibitive. Especially considering the games will be distributed on other networks like ESPN, TNT, and FS1, as well as streaming platforms like Apple TV+ and Peacock.
The Post previously reported that it expects the entirety of ESPN to be available by 2025, with the outside in 2024.
This could create a world where viewers can receive all their games without cable.
Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC networks are all free to watch.
If all New York teams except the Mets on SNY could hold the majority of their games in one location, it could be easier for consumers who prefer multiple teams. From a company's perspective, instead of Yankees fans paying YES from April to September and Knicks fans paying the same from October to April, consumers are paying for YES from April to September. There is a high possibility that you will make a profit by continuing to buy medium-sized products.
If all the teams were in one place, the idea of offering year-round service would potentially be more palatable to fans.
“From my perspective, it's too early to talk about what this will ultimately look like, but suffice it to say, we're going to look at all avenues to improve the customer experience.” Greenberg said.
