Two local sports giants, the YES Network and MSG Networks, hope to accomplish for New York sports what some larger companies nationwide still struggle to do.
A digital joint venture formed earlier this year between MSG Networks and YES Network will launch a streaming sports hub called The Gotham Sports App this fall ahead of the start of the NHL and NBA regular seasons. The app will house both companies’ mobile apps on a single platform and make games from the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Brooklyn Nets and New York Yankees available for streaming.
Fans who are subscribers to YES or MSG Networks in their area will receive the Gotham Sports app at no additional cost. Customers without a traditional cable subscription can purchase existing YES or MSG services through the new Gotham app or a combined Gotham Sports package that includes the offerings of both services.
The price for the combo package is $359.99 per year or $41.99 per month.
“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 a statement.
The companies are launching the new service at an interesting time. Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery have proposed forming a new streaming joint venture called Venu that would make their sports networks available to subscribers. The new service is aimed at younger consumers who don’t typically rely on cable or satellite services to access entertainment and video content. Venu was supposed to debut before the start of the next NFL season, but those plans have been stalled, perhaps temporarily, by a court order suggesting the combination is anti-competitive. Disney, Warner and Fox have already appealed.
MSG Networks and YES formed Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment in January, a joint venture to explore ways to monetize the two broadcasters’ streaming products.
The new Gotham Sports app offers a live statistics package, free real-time games and a loyalty program with reward points
“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 a statement.
