Yankees fans who subscribe to Comcast’s Xfinity cable television service are in danger of missing out on the team’s games this season because of a contract dispute that has blacked out the YES Network before Opening Day.
YES, the regional sports network that serves as the television home of the Bronx Bombers, could be unavailable on Xfinity systems in parts of New Jersey and other neighboring markets as of midnight late Thursday night following the expiration of a temporary carriage fee agreement between the two sides.
Negotiations began after the original deal lapsed at the end of last year. Talks are ongoing over Comcast’s plan to shift YES to a higher-priced digital tier.
YES, which is also the official cable television home of the Brooklyn Nets, is resisting the move to a paid tier since it would negatively impact its revenue.
A similar recent change involving Boston’s NESN added roughly $20 to monthly subscriber bills for New Englanders who moved from Xfinitiy’s basic cable to the digital tier. Customers who remained on the basic tier and declined to switch to the higher-priced tier received a $13 credit to their account.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul intervened publicly on Tuesday, urging both sides to negotiate in good faith.
“Both broadcasting parties need to stay at the table and resolve this dispute without impacting fans,” Hochul said.
“Fans should never be caught in the crossfire of a corporate dispute.”
While Xfinity has a large footprint that encompasses Philadelphia and outlying areas stretching into New Jersey, it also maintains a very small pocket of customers in the Hudson Valley region just south of Poughkeepsie, according to a coverage map generated by CableTV.com.
New Jersey State Sen. Paul Sarlo echoed Hochul’s sentiment, emphasizing the financial strain on local viewers.
A price hike for YES “would impose a costly burden on loyal, middle-class fans in a region of passionate supporters,” Sarlo warned, calling on Comcast to maintain YES on its current, more affordable tier.
However, a blackout may still be avoided.
A YES spokesperson expressed optimism in a statement to Sportico, noting, “We are not going to turn off our signal, and we hope Comcast will not take us off its lineup.”
Even if an interruption occurs, Thursday’s home opener against the Brewers will air nationally on ESPN, though Saturday’s game on YES could be affected.
Fans seeking alternatives may consider subscribing to the Gotham Sports app, offering YES Network coverage for $24.99 per month.
Hochul threatened to intervene during the recent dispute between Altice’s Optimum cable system and Madison Square Garden Networks after 1 million subscribers in the New York metropolitan area were blocked from viewing Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils games.
Both sides reached agreement last month. A Comcast representative has declined to comment.
The YES Network is majority-owned by the Yankees, who regained control in 2019 after leading a buyback from Disney. Minority stakes are held by Amazon and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Historically, Comcast has taken a firm stance during such disputes as cord-cutting has dramatically altered the way people watch television.
In 2015, YES Network was blacked out for approximately 900,000 Comcast subscribers across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, with service restoration delayed until 2017.
The blackout did not significantly harm Comcast’s overall subscriber base at the time.
