In a move that will upend the business models of regional sports networks in the country’s largest television market, YES Network and MSG Networks will launch a new app called “The Gotham Sports App” that will bring all of their live games and programming under one roof.
YES – the TV home of the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets – and MSG Networks – home of the New York Knicks and Rangers, as well as the Islanders, Devils and Sabres – will launch the app this fall ahead of the debut of the NBA and NHL seasons.
Users have the option to subscribe to either YES or MSG+ in the app for $24.99 and $29.99 per month respectively, or subscribe to both through the “Gotham Package” for $41.99 per month. Pay TV subscribers have access to the app at no additional cost.
Gotham Sports represents a fundamental shift in the way RSNs operate in the streaming space. To date, some RSNs (including YES and MSG) have launched their own standalone streaming services, while others (like Diamond Sports) have attempted to offer streaming across their entire service area. Gotham effectively brings together several RSNs in the New York market to work together on a streaming option, offering less complexity for sports fans.
YES and MSG Networks announced earlier this year that they would form a joint venture to create Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment (GAME), a streaming-centric company that will also support third-party providers (like other RSNs). The Gotham Sports app is the first product to come out of this joint venture.
“We are excited to offer fans in the New York metropolitan area their favorite teams in a state-of-the-art app with GAME,” said Andrea Greenberg, President and CEO of MSG Networks. “With the increasing fragmentation of broadcasters carrying fans’ favorite sports programming, the Gotham Sports app provides fans of our teams an easy access point to sporting events in the New York metropolitan area from MSG Networks and the YES Network.”
“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,” added Jon Litner, CEO of YES Network. “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.”
