YES Network Extended Deal Allows Yankees Fans to Watch Weekend Games

BRONX, N.Y. — Yankees fans in New Jersey and parts of Connecticut can breathe a sigh of relief this weekend, as the YES Network has reached a temporary agreement with Comcast Xfinity, extending the deadline to negotiate a new carriage fee deal. The new deadline is set for 11:59 p.m. ET on March 31, delaying the potential removal of the YES Network from Comcast‘s lineup.

The agreement means fans will be able to watch the Yankees, who are set to resume their three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday and Sunday. YES Network airs both games, offering viewers a chance to see the Bronx Bombers in action. As of now, the Yankees are coming off a win, bolstering their resolve to finish the weekend successfully.

This is the 10th time that Comcast and YES have agreed to extend their negotiation window. Originally, a deadline was set for midnight Friday for a new deal that would have affected the viewing options for Comcast’s approximately 878,797 cable subscribers in New Jersey. Although Comcast does not publicly share subscriber numbers for New York or Connecticut, it reportedly has minimal presence in the Empire State.

The crux of the issue lies in the ongoing dispute over carriage fees. Comcast seeks to upgrade the YES Network from its basic cable tier to a higher-priced digital package, arguing that the viewership figures don’t justify the current carriage fees. A source familiar with the ongoing discussions stated that Xfinity basic cable subscribers typically pay between $7 and $11 per month for access to the YES Network.

In contrast, Comcast is reportedly considering providing subscribers a monthly credit to offset any fee increases associated with moving the YES Network. However, this move has raised eyebrows, particularly because Comcast is also part-owner of SNY, the cable home of the New York Mets. Shifting the YES Network to a more expensive tier while keeping SNY on basic cable could be viewed as a strategy to bolster Comcast’s competitive standing.

“This could lead to a significant price gap between Yankees fans and Mets fans,” said an industry source, who added that a transition to a digital tier could cost Yankees fans an additional $20 per month compared to their Mets counterparts.

Viewership for Yankees games on the YES Network within Comcast Xfinity households has surged to record heights this season, rising 45% year-over-year and vastly outpacing Mets broadcasts on SNY by 162%, according to Nielsen data. Yet, subscribers may face higher costs if they seek to access the YES Network through Comcast’s digital package, which also includes other networks like NBA Network, MLB TV, and FS1.

Both YES Network and Comcast have opted not to comment on the ongoing negotiations. The YES Network is jointly owned by the Yankees, Amazon, Blackstone, and RedBird Capital Partners and serves as the television home for the Brooklyn Nets, while Comcast is a major media company with a portfolio worth $160 billion that includes NBCUniversal and Sky Group.

As cable television faces challenges from cord-cutting trends, Comcast is grappling with the changing landscape of media consumption. The company has previously dropped other regional sports networks, including MSG, and is now pushing for changes to how regional sports channels are distributed to minimize financial losses.