Yankees games to air on Comcast Xfinity this weekend as warring sides agree to extend YES blackout deadline

New York Post - Mar 28th, 2025

Yankees fans in New Jersey and parts of Connecticut who are Comcast Xfinity subscribers will continue to watch their beloved team without interruption this weekend. The YES Network and Comcast have agreed to extend their carriage fee negotiation deadline to March 31, avoiding an immediate blackout. The extension ensures that the Yankees' weekend games against the Milwaukee Brewers will air as scheduled on the YES Network. This marks the 10th temporary extension between the two parties as they negotiate carriage fees and the network's placement on Comcast's cable tiers.

The ongoing dispute highlights the financial and strategic tensions in the media industry, as Comcast seeks to shift the YES Network from its basic cable package to a higher-priced digital tier, reflecting broader trends in cord-cutting and changing consumer preferences. The situation underscores the challenges faced by regional sports networks like YES, which must navigate shrinking revenues and carriage disputes in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Comcast's recent decision to remove MSG entirely from its offerings further illustrates the high stakes and shifting power dynamics in cable negotiations.

Yankees Yes Network Regional Sports Networks Cable Television Comcast Xfinity Carriage Fee Dispute Cord Cutting

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and generally accurate account of the ongoing negotiations between the YES Network and Comcast Xfinity. It presents the key facts and implications for viewers, though it lacks depth in source quality and transparency due to the absence of direct quotes and reliance on unnamed sources. The story is clear and accessible, engaging readers interested in sports and media issues. However, it could benefit from a more balanced perspective by including statements from both parties involved in the dispute. Overall, the article effectively highlights a relevant issue but leaves room for further exploration and verification of certain claims.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports the extension of the deadline for the YES Network and Comcast Xfinity to reach a new carriage fee deal, preventing a blackout for the time being. It correctly notes that the games will air on the YES Network and that this is the 10th temporary extension. However, the story lacks precise figures for Comcast subscribers in New York and Connecticut, and while it mentions that the dispute is over moving YES to a higher-priced tier, it does not provide concrete figures for the proposed costs.

Balance

The story presents the perspectives of both the YES Network and Comcast, explaining the motivations behind each party's stance. However, it leans slightly towards Comcast's viewpoint by detailing its rationale for moving YES to a higher-priced tier without equally exploring YES Network's counterarguments or potential impacts on viewers. The absence of direct quotes or statements from YES Network representatives contributes to this imbalance.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow of information. It effectively explains the context of the dispute and the implications for viewers. However, the use of industry jargon, such as 'carriage fee' and 'digital tier,' without definitions might hinder understanding for readers unfamiliar with broadcasting terms.

Source quality

The article references Shore News Network as the initial source of the agreement report but lacks direct quotes or statements from primary sources such as Comcast or the YES Network. The absence of comments from these key stakeholders, despite attempts to contact them, limits the depth of source quality. The story relies on unnamed sources for some claims, which affects its reliability.

Transparency

The article does not disclose its methodology for obtaining information or the potential conflicts of interest that might affect reporting. While it mentions reaching out to YES for comment, it does not specify the outcome or provide reasons for the lack of response. The reliance on anonymous sources without clear attribution reduces transparency.