Comcast and Yes Network Face Deadline Tonight; Yankees at Risk
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.
TV Answer Man, do we have any more news on Comcast and the Yes Network? Will they settle soon so I can stop taking anxiety pills? – Jim, town withheld.
What’s the Deadline For a New Agreement?
Jim, Comcast and the Yes Network are approaching yet another deadline for the two companies to reach a new carriage agreement. If they do not, the cable operator could lose the regional TV home of the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets in parts of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The deadline for a new pact is 11:59 p.m. ET tonight.
What’s Driving the Comcast-Yes Network Dispute?
The two sides are warring over Comcast’s insistence on moving the Yes Network from the Popular programming package to the Ultimate plan which is $20 more expensive. The RSN (regional sports network) opposes the move because it would reduce its carriage fees. (Carriage fees are based on the number of subscribers who have access to the channel.)
Why Comcast Wants Yankee Fans to Pay More For Yes Network
”I just want to come on and explain to our great fans who watch the Yankees on Comcast/Xfinity what Comcast has told us will happen to the YES Network tomorrow night at midnight,” Litner said. “Despite our attempts to negotiate a new carriage agreement with them, Comcast has refused to negotiate. Instead they have informed us that they will drop the YES Network from their programming lineup Monday night at midnight.”
Comcast has been relatively quiet in public regarding the fight with the Yes Network. It might be an intentional strategy to lower subscriber anxieties during negotiations. However, Litner’s remarks apparently lit a fuse in the cable operator’s executive suite.
“We have offered to distribute Yes Network in the same package that has been accepted by 20 RSNs in over 100 DMAs across the country in order to provide fans with access to YES programming and a choice for consumers who do not want to pay the additional fees for the games,” Comcast said in a statement on Sunday. ”Yes Network has insisted we pay higher fees when nearly 90 percent of customers watched fewer than five of the 130 Yankees games it aired last season. If we lose the rights to carry Yes, we will credit our customers between $7-$10 a month. Xfinity customers can also subscribe directly to the Gotham Sports App to watch the games.”
The TV Answer Man will monitor the Comcast-Yes Network fight today and will report back here if anything significant changes.
Until then, Jim, happy viewing and stay safe.
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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch TV. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
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