FiOS Now At Bat With Broadband Yankees Games
Telco Becomes Second Carrier To Offer 'Yankees On YES' Local Package Of Streamed Games
Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 8/13/2009 11:19:48 AM
New York Yankees fans who subscribe to Verizon FIOS TV will be able to stream live Yankees games via their computer as part of a deal reached between the YES Network and the telco.As part of a multiyear agreement between Verizon and the YES Network, Verizon Internet customers who subscribe to FiOS TV and also are receiving the YES Network as part of their TV package will be able to buy access to live, streaming coverage of Yankees games throughout the remainder of the 2009 regular season.
Verizon customers will have to pay a one-time price of $29.95 or a monthly fee of $19.95 from now until the end of the season in October. The package begins with the YES network's Aug. 14 Yankees-Seattle Mariners game
The deal is the second in-market, broadband distribution agreement for YES, following a similar arrangement with Cablevision Systems Corp. announced in June. Neither YES network or the operator will reveal how many Cablevision subscribers have taken advantage of the broadband offer.
"This broadband offering provides Verizon customers with unprecedented convenience and portability," said Ray Hopkins, COO, theYES Network in a statement. "This is another example of our utilizing new platforms in order to bring Yankees fans closer than ever to their favorite team and players."
In a recent interview, YES president and CEO Tracy Dolgin indicated that he expected another distributor to begin offering Yankees on YES before the conclusion of the 2009 season. YES-Cablevision, in conjunction with Major League Baseball Advanced Media, which holds the digital rights to the ballgames, began offering the service with the July 8 game between the Bronx Bombers and the Minnesota Twins.
Cox high-speed Internet subscribers can also gain in-market access to simulcasts of Cox-owned Channel 4's coverage of San Diego Padres games.
