Lost in the euphoria of Major League Baseball’s July 23 return during the coronavirus pandemic: Amazon Prime Video’s scuttled attempt to stream select New York Yankees games — a first for the e-commerce behemoth.
When Amazon became part owner of the Yankees’ YES regional cable network, it earned rights to stream 21 games, including three against the Boston Red Sox. With the MLB shortening the season to 60 games from the traditional 162, a provision in the revised schedule prohibits third-party streaming of any local TV game broadcasts — a situation that also impacts Hulu’s agreement with Chicago Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network.
Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!
Of the games Amazon could stream, YES Network chose to control all of them rather than simulcast with Prime Video
“Given the unique circumstances surrounding this season, YES Network will televise all New York Yankees games not airing on the national networks,” Amazon said in a statement. “We’ll evaluate our plans at the conclusion of this season.”
Indeed, Amazon could follow Google-owned YouTube TV, which in February announced it would no longer carry Fox Regional Sports Networks, which included YES Network.
In a post on Twitter at the time, YouTube said it acquired rights from Sinclair Broadcasting to simulcast select games to Prime members.
“Despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to reach an agreement with Sinclair,” said YouTube. “As a result, we will no longer offer Fox Regional Sports Networks, including YES Network,” YouTube said in a tweet.
In a subsequent tweet, the streamer said it didn’t take the decision “lightly,” arguing the impasse was largely a reflection of the rising cost of sports content.
