The YES Network and MSG Networks announced a new app on Wednesday that will provide live digital streaming of six of the region’s seven MLB, NBA and NHL teams.
“The Gotham Sports App” will unite the Yankees, Knicks, Nets, Islanders, Rangers and Devils under one digital roof.
It’s another milestone in the evolution of live sports to streaming. In January, YES and MSG announced a joint venture called “GAME” for Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment, which was seen as the first step toward some sort of programming partnership.
This partnership is reflected in the Gotham Sports app, which allows fans in the regional broadcast areas of both networks to watch teams from both networks.
“With the increasing fragmentation of providers of popular sports programming, the Gotham Sports app provides fans of our teams with an easy access point to New York-area sporting events from MSG Networks and the YES Network,” said Andrea Greenberg, president and CEO of MSG Networks, in the press release.
The program is free for subscribers to the channels through traditional cable and satellite packages. Those who do not can purchase the Gotham app package, which includes the MSG+ and YES apps, for $359.99 per year or $41.99 per month.
That’s less than the combined cost of the two networks’ current app offerings if purchased individually, which are $279.99 per year or $29.99 per month for MSG+ and $239.99 or $24.99 for YES.
The combined app will launch ahead of the upcoming NBA and NHL seasons.
“The new Gotham Sports app will leverage GAME’s industry-leading technology to deliver a significantly enhanced fan experience and showcase the best of New York sports in one place,” said Jon Litner, CEO of YES Network, in the press release. “The app, which will be free to our distributors’ authenticated customers, will provide a convenient digital hub for our programming services and for fans of some of the most legendary teams in all of sports.”
The only local MLB, NBA or NHL team that won’t be included is the Mets, who are on SNY, which hasn’t announced a streaming-only option.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a stint in Alaska, and has been here ever since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL, and most recently, sports media and business.
