Comcast has signed a new deal with Fox to return the Yes Network to its lineup as well as continue carrying the Fox News Channel.
The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Comcast lost the Yes Network after the 2015 baseball season due to a carriage dispute with Fox. The impasse left fans of the New York Yankees unable to watch Yes’ coverage of the team in Comcast markets such as Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The new deal will help bolster Yes’ revenues and standing at a time when some regional sports channels are struggling to maintain spots in pay TV lineups due to fee disputes.
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WSJ writes that the new Fox pact prevented any chance of a blackout of the Fox News Channel on December 31 when the old pact expired.
The new agreement,does not include the Fox Business Channel, which is operating under a different pact. However, it does include 12 other Fox-owned regional sports channels in Comcast markets.
The new agreement,does not include the Fox Business Channel, which is operating under a different pact. However, it does include 12 other Fox-owned regional sports channels in Comcast markets.
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The newspaper adds that it’s unclear when Comcast will actually add the Yes Network, but said it may not be until the start of the 2017 baseball season. Yes also has local game TV rights to the Brooklyn Nets basketball team.
— Phillip Swann
