There are still roughly three months to go prior to the start of the 2020 WNBA season, but if one is used to catching your favorite teams on YouTube TV, it may be the right time to begin looking at alternatives.
Streaming television service YouTube TV has announced it will drop the YES Network and other Fox Sports regional sports channels from its service beginning on February 29. YES became the official broadcast network for the New York Liberty starting last season.
To bring you 70+ channels, we have contracts with content owners that are periodically renegotiated. Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of FOX Regional Sports Networks and YES Network, is one of the largest owners of local TV stations in the US.
— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 27, 2020
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
We do not take this decision lightly. 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.
— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 27, 2020
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.
— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 27, 2020
As mentioned in YouTube TV’s Twitter thread, the dispute stems from a snafu in negotiations with the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which acquired 21 regional Fox Sports networks from Disney as a result of Disney’s merger with 21st Century Fox. Sinclair also owns a minority stake in YES Network.
The disagreement also affects other regional sports channels that broadcast WNBA teams – including Fox Sports North (Minnesota Lynx), Fox Sports Indiana (Indiana Fever), Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas Wings) and Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix Mercury).
Last season, the Las Vegas Aces had 16 of its 17 home games broadcast on local station MyLVTV, which is also owned by Sinclair. Aces games aired on AT&T SportsNet in its debut season in 2018.
YouTube TV, in 2018, inked a deal to become a strategic partner for the WNBA Finals through last season.
Sinclair, since closing the deal on its purchase of the Fox regional sports channels, has yet to rebrand the networks. It has also had carriage disagreements with other providers including Comcast and Dish Network.
