YES Network and MSG Networks announced plans to relocate their direct-to-consumer streaming services from the Gotham Sports app to DAZN, a global streaming platform. The two independently owned regional sports networks, which air local games for MLB’s New York Yankees, the NBA’s New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, and NHL teams including the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and New Jersey Devils, will complete the transition during the 2026-2027 NBA and NHL seasons. Yankees fans will retain access through Gotham for the remainder of the current season before the switch occurs.
The migration marks the dissolution of a joint venture between the networks that had been in operation for approximately two years. Gotham was initially formed after YES and MSG each launched separate streaming applications in 2023, subsequently merging those platforms in 2024. Pricing information for accessing the New York-area teams through DAZN has not yet been disclosed, though Gotham’s subscription options previously began at approximately $209.99 annually.
Pay television subscribers who receive YES Network or MSG Networks through cable providers will gain free streaming access to games on DAZN, aligning with industry trends toward bundled digital offerings. The shift reflects broader challenges facing the regional sports network sector, which has experienced significant disruption as cord-cutting accelerates. Recent difficulties in the sector include the shutdown of Main Street Sports following bankruptcy proceedings and disputes over payment obligations to teams for broadcast rights.
Despite maintaining strong ratings, both YES and MSG have faced pressure from declining cable subscriptions. MSG Networks, owned independently by Knicks and Rangers proprietor James Dolan, and YES, controlled by a group including the Yankees organization, have both navigated recent carriage disputes with major cable providers. MSG Networks experienced a temporary blackout with Optimum, a regional cable provider, in 2025, while YES Network recently approached a similar dispute with Comcast.
DZAN has positioned itself as an emerging player in U.S. sports streaming, previously hosting FIFA Club World Cup rights domestically and actively pursuing additional rights from major professional sports organizations. The platform’s expansion reflects the ongoing restructuring of sports media distribution as traditional cable models continue to erode and streaming services consolidate digital content rights.
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