YES Network

The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network launched in 2002 as a joint venture between the New York Yankees and Madison Square Garden. This partnership created a dedicated regional sports channel that quickly became essential viewing for fans in the New York metropolitan area. The network secured exclusive rights to broadcast games for both the Yankees and Brooklyn Nets, establishing a unique model where two major franchises shared a single broadcast home.

Ownership has shifted significantly over the last two decades as the network sought diverse capital sources. Yankee Global Enterprises holds a controlling stake alongside MSG Networks, while major institutional investors like Amazon, Blackstone, RedBird Capital Partners, and Mubadala Investment Company now hold equity positions. These partnerships reflect broader trends in media ownership where traditional sports clubs collaborate with private equity and tech giants to fund operations.

In July 2026, the network made a strategic pivot by exiting the Gotham Sports app to consolidate streaming operations exclusively under DAZN. This move aligned YES with sister company MSG to reduce infrastructure costs while expanding reach beyond traditional cable subscribers. The transition marked a significant evolution in how the brand delivers content to viewers who increasingly prefer direct-to-consumer platforms over legacy cable packages. [edit]