David Samson: Comcast Has The Leverage In Dispute With YES Network

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New York Yankees fans are anxiously waiting to see if the YES Network and Comcast/Xfinity will reach a deal before the midnight deadline tonight. Without an agreement, the network will no longer air YES Network games on the carrier.

On Sunday, YES Network CEO Jon Litner joined the Yankees broadcast with Michael Kay and Paul O’Neill to update viewers on the ongoing stalemate. He emphasized that the network is seeking to remain part of the expanded basic cable package.

Meanwhile, former baseball executive David Samson weighed in on the situation during his podcast, Nothing Personal with David Samson. He explained that while this type of dispute is not new for either party, the circumstances surrounding this negotiation differ from past agreements.

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“Comcast is being realistic about what YES Network is, and the Yankees are trying to hold on like fingers on a slipping iceberg to what YES Network used to be,” said Samson. “YES Network used to be on a basic tier. YES Network used to be what you got with the cable package. YES Network was getting paid for every subscriber for Comcast. YES Network was then paying some of that money to the Yankees, keeping the rest, showing a profit, and building value.”

However, Samson pointed out that Comcast’s stance is based on shifting consumer demand. The company argues that its customer base would prefer to have the network on a separate tier rather than on basic cable, as many customers do not want to pay extra for it.

As the primary broadcaster for both the Yankees and Brooklyn Nets, YES Network spent the weekend running messages urging Comcast subscribers to switch to another cable provider.

“There have been carriage battles galore,” noted Samson. “This carriage dispute is a problem. You have got political intervention with the Governor of New York. This could go all the way up to the President of the United States. Who knows the involvement the President would want to or think he can or should have.”

When assessing the leverage in this dispute, Samson believes Comcast holds the upper hand “all the way around.”

“Think about this,” questioned Samson. “The days of asking other people to pay for your entertainment, those days are over.”

While YES Network may go dark for Comcast customers, alternatives remain available. The network can still be accessed through the streaming service Fubo and satellite provider DirecTV. Additionally, YES Network offers a direct-to-consumer subscription, allowing fans to purchase access through the YES App.

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