Speaker Heastie Statement on Comcast and YES Network

Today, we are two days away from Opening Day of the 2025 MLB season and the Yankees home opener. As a member of the New York State Assembly that represents the Bronx and as a diehard Yankees fan, I am asking that Comcast come to a resolution with the YES Network over the carriage agreement and ensure New Yorkers have access to the channels they signed up for and fans are able to watch our beloved Yankees.

Comcast serves hundreds of thousands of people in the region. A region that is renowned for fierce fandom and allegiances to their teams. Failure to come to an agreement will deny New Yorkers the ability to watch a channel they were told they would have when they subscribed to Comcast. And it will deny fans – not just of the Yankees but of the Brooklyn Nets – of their ability to watch their team. For many, the ability to watch sporting events live is an important part of the decision to stay with a cable provider, a guarantee that they can watch every moment of their favorite teams’ season as it happens.

Baseball is America’s pastime and a mainstay in our culture that brings together families across generations and creates bonds between friends and strangers alike. It has united us during tragedy and brought us hope. From little kids playing with their friends and dreaming of coming to the plate with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, to the fans who have been around for decades, through the highs and lows, championship rings and devastating losses, it is so important that fans are able to tune in on Thursday and catch the Yankees home opener.

I urge Comcast to come to the table and negotiate a deal with the YES Network to give customers the ability to watch the channels they were told would be available when subscribing, and to allow fans to watch our team.