YouTube TV Loses Yankees, Nets Games With YES Network Removal

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The 2020 Yankees season is sure to be filled with excitement and drama, but you might miss it if you watch the games on YouTube TV.

On Thursday, YouTube TV announced that it will no longer be able to carry Fox Regional Sports Networks and the YES Network because of a dispute with Sinclair Broadcast Group.

This means, if you use YouTube TV and watch the Yankees or Nets on YES, you’ll have to find another way to watch those teams.

We purchase rights from Sinclair to distribute content to you. Despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to reach an agreement with Sinclair. As a result, we will no longer offer FOX Regional Sports Networks, including YES Network, beginning February 29th.

— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 27, 2020

“Please know that we do not take this decision lightly,” YouTube TV said in a statement. “We value your membership and will continue to strive to build the best streaming experience possible. This is a reflection of the rising cost of sports content. You may have noticed several other TV services have also decided to remove FOX Regional Sports Networks from their lineups. Thank you for your membership as we strive to build the best possible streaming experience for you. You will receive an email today if you’re impacted by this change.”

This dispute between Google, the owners of YouTube TV, and Sinclair could cause quite a few headaches for fans. In addition to the Yankees and Nets, YES Network also broadcasts games from New York City FC of MLS, the New York Liberty of the WNBA and even some games from the Syracuse Orange.

YouTube TV is seen as one of the main alternatives to cable, so this might result in some people going back to cable after cutting the cord.

There is just under a month left until baseball season begins, so there’s still time for a deal to be reached between the parties that would allow Yankees games on YES to be shown on YouTube TV. For Nets fans, this removal comes at a bad time. Brooklyn is currently in a battle to make the playoffs in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.