Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network, the regional sports channel aligned with the iconic Major League Baseball team, and MSG Network (MSGN), the television network owned by entertainment and sports venue Madison Square Garden, have launched a joint venture focused on offering operational support to streaming platforms.
The 50/50 venture, Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment (GAME), will look to provide content owners with technology and operational support to launch direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platforms, as well as data analytics.
YES Network chief executive Jon Litner will sit on GAME’s new board of directors along with MSG Network’s chief executive Andrea Greenberg.
The move comes after YES and MSG both launched their DTC platforms to air the games of their respective teams, with the YES App offering games involving baseball’s New York Yankees, as well as action from basketball’s Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.
MSG+, meanwhile, airs games from the basketball's New York Knicks, as well as ice hockey’s New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Islanders.
Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) have traditionally tailored their offerings to cable or satellite providers in the US. However, with fans increasingly dropping cable television subscriptions in favor of streaming, RSNs are looking to launch DTC platforms.
Litner said: “As we continue to capitalize on the momentum created by YES’ digital offerings, we look forward to collaborating with MSG Network to further elevate the fan experience.
“With the launch of GAME, we are excited to develop new product offerings, and premium features and functionality, to serve audiences like never before, while also providing scalable tech solutions for third-party content owners seeking to deliver state-of-the-art streaming experiences to their customers.”
Greenberg added: “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.”
