Knicks, Nets TV Networks Saying 'YES' To Streaming Merger?

Fans of the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and more may soon be blessed with a centralized streaming hub to watch their favorite teams.

Holy New York sports media merger, Batman.

The Madison Square Garden (MSG) Network and Yankee Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network announced a new endeavor on Thursday, one that could be poised to bring most of New York's major sports teams in one centralized streaming location. The shared project will be known as "Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment" (GAME) and is described in a joint statement as "a new 50/50 joint venture to capitalize on technical and operational synergies associated with YES' and MSG's streaming services."

Thursday's deal was first reported by Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS

"This joint venture with YES will combine the streaming expertise of two of the largest regional sports networks in the country," MSG Networks CEO and president Andrea Greenberg said in the statement. "With the formation of GAME, we seek to marry our collective insight, expertise, and best-in-class technology not only to explore enhancements to our own products but also to offer other networks, teams, and sports properties an efficient way to launch a state-of-the-art streaming service."

"We are excited to partner with YES to create solutions for third-party content providers looking for a seamless way to reach new audiences."

MSG serves as the home of the television home of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers and its sister network MSG Sportsnet (MSGSN) carries the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders. YES, on the other hand, holds rights to the Brooklyn Nets and New York Yankees.

With this deal, Marchand notes, GAME could host nearly all of the major New York sports teams with the exception of the New York Mets (whose games air on SportsNet New York) and the New York Giants/Jets, as most NFL games are broadcast regionally on CBS and Fox affiliates. All Knicks has reached out to GAME to learn the status of New York Liberty games, which also air on YES.

With viewers increasingly ditching cable and other traditional television methods in favor of streaming, GAME figures to keep fans in tune all year round: as Marchand theorizes, a Yankee fan could stay in tune from the spring to fall while enjoying the Knicks and/or Rangers during MLB's offseason. 

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Regional sports networks have adapted to the streaming craze and both MSG and YES were no exceptions: each unveiled their own direct-to-consumer apps (MSG+/The YES App) in recent years.