A Big Streaming Switch for New York Sports
On July 29, 2026, YES Network and MSG Networks revealed they are departing the Gotham Sports app. That is the joint-venture streaming service they launched about two years ago. Instead, they will move all their local game broadcasts to DAZN, a global streaming service that already carries live sports in dozens of countries.
The move will take effect during the 2026-2027 NBA and NHL campaigns. Yankees fans can finish the current season on the Gotham app before the full transfer takes place.
The Gotham app's subscription plans started at about $209.99 per year. DAZN's pricing for these new local sports packages has not been announced yet, though there is one important exception. Subscribers who currently receive YES and MSG Networks as part of their pay-TV package can stream those games on DAZN at no extra cost. Everyone else will have to wait to see what the new price looks like.
This affects a lot of teams. YES Network carries the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Nets. MSG Networks carries the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres.
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The Gotham app, launched in 2024, was intended to give cord-cutters direct access to both YES and MSG networks under one platform.
The Cable Business Is Falling Apart
The business model for regional sports networks is experiencing intense strain. Main Street Sports previously operated a group of channels covering MLB, NBA, and NHL squads, but it ceased operations earlier this year after a bankruptcy proceeding and a series of actions that frequently left it unable to compensate teams for broadcasting rights. Although YES and MSG were not directly part of that collapse, both networks have felt the impact of comparable declines in cable subscriptions, even though their viewership remains high.
There have been other warning signs. In 2025, MSG's traditional TV channels experienced a short outage on Optimum, a major cable operator in the New York region. YES Network nearly encountered a comparable blackout with Comcast not long ago.
During the upheaval involving streaming-only sports rights that Main Street once held, DAZN stood out as a well-positioned bidder. The FIFA Club World Cup streamed on DAZN in the United States last year, and a DAZN executive publicly stated that the company was pursuing the digital rights to Main Street's NBA teams.
MSG Networks remains under the independent ownership of James Dolan, who also controls the Knicks and Rangers, while YES is held by a consortium that includes the Yankees.
Regional sports networks have long anchored cable packages, but the steady revenue from subscriber fees has evaporated as viewers switch to streaming.
What This Means for Your Portfolio
Keep an eye on what DAZN announces for pricing. The broader trend is not slowing down - more networks will follow this path, and the cable bundle will keep getting thinner.
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