Report: YES Looking To Extend Brand To Radio

The Yankees and the YES Network are exploring developing YES Radio while leveraging its current content and creating new shows in the beginning of a series of moves that could have huge implications not only locally, but on the future of sports media, The NY Post is reporting..

The YES plans will go into overdrive upon the completion of its $3.5 billion deal that will restore the Yankees as the network’s largest shareholder. The Yankees are backed by Amazon and Sinclair, positioning the network well as the sports media landscape shifts.

Sinclair’s reach provides YES with protection on its cable carriage fees, while Amazon will help it navigate and perhaps be leaders in the future of sports media distribution.

While radio may be the beginning driver, the new ownership setup could eventually have a major impact on how fans watch the games as the finances of cable/digital sports viewing further change in the next decade and beyond.

This could be a precursor of Amazon’s move as a major sports video player on par with ESPN, Turner and the broadcast networks.

While nothing is changing in the short term, Amazon Prime could eventually become a place where some Yankees games are housed, at least digitally, according to sources.

As for the expansion of Yankees/YES audio, YES and SiriusXM have had discussions about housing the radio network on the satellite service, according to sources.

These talks could pick up at the completion of the $3.5 billion deal, as YES — with the Yankees its biggest shareholder again — will return to its more nimble and entrepreneurial roots after being controlled by Fox as one of 22 Regional Sports Networks. YES is without limitations, so, though radio might be one starting point, podcasts and other means of distribution will be explored.