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YouTube TV, Sinclair reach deal to keep 19 of 21 Fox regional networks on platform

YES Network, Fox Sports West not included in deal
Posted at 10:02 AM, Mar 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-05 13:02:04-05

YouTube TV and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Thursday that the two companies had reached an agreement to continue broadcasting 19 of 21 Fox regional sports networks.

The agreement means that YouTube TV can continue to broadcast live MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA and college sports games on the streaming platform.

However, the deal between Sinclair and YouTube TV does not include Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West. Primarily serving southern California, the two networks are the broadcast partners with the MLB's Los Angeles Angels, the NBA's Los Angles Clippers and the NHL's Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.

The deal also does not include the rights to YES Network, which serves New York markets and carries games for the MLB's New York Yankees, the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, the WNBA's New York Liberty, and MLS New York City FC. Sinclair owns a 20 percent stake in YES.

An agreement between the two companies was in doubt as of last week, when YouTube TV announced that it would be dropping Fox regional sports networks on Feb. 29. Days later, YouTube TV agreed to carry the networks while negotiations continued.

Late last year, Dish Network dropped Fox regional sports networks after it failed to reach a deal. Sinclair purchased the sports networks from Disney in 2019.

YouTube TV had over 2 million subscribers at the end of 2019.