Disney/ESPN to Acquire YES in the FOX Deal

[413Blue]

Included in the mega Disney/FOX deal, is FOX regional sports networks, including YES. Assuming YES is going to be our long-term home network, this may have some impact on us. Obviously, we wouldn't be on FSGO anymore, but most likely WATCHESPN, or whatever new platform Disney is planning to launch with Bamtech.
ESPN guys will be in the booth, instead of FOX guys.
The deal won't close at least until late 2018, so no near-term impact.

 

[LionNYC]

1. FOX owns 80% of YES, the other 20% is owned by Yankees Global Enterprises. Now it will be Disney owning that 80%.

2. Yes, we are likely to switch from being on Fox Sports Go to WatchESPN or now just the ESPN app as they have everything on that.

3. Everyone in the booth for NYCFC games works as an employee of YES not FOX. That being said, Ian Joy works for FOX too not just YES. I pray we don't lose Ian Joy. I know he lives in LA and has a much bigger role in FOX now working Champions League/Europa League/Bundesliga but he's the best in MLS.

4. Yeah, won't effect us in the 2018 season. Likely will have effects in the 2019 season.

There's also a $2.5 billion exit agreement that if the deal doesn't close then Disney pays FOX $2.5 billion. So it's likely going to go through.

 

[Kjbert]

What happens to FS1 and FS2?

 

[413Blue]

What happens to FS1 and FS2?

They remain with the FOX network and FOX News

 

[413Blue]

1. FOX owns 80% of YES, the other 20% is owned by Yankees Global Enterprises. Now it will be Disney owning that 20%.

2. Yes, we are likely to switch from being on Fox Sports Go to WatchESPN or now just the ESPN app as they have everything on that.

3. Everyone in the booth for NYCFC games works as an employee of YES not FOX. That being said, Ian Joy works for FOX too not just YES. I pray we don't lose Ian Joy. I know he lives in LA and has a much bigger role in FOX now working Champions League/Europa League/Bundesliga but he's the best in MLS.

4. Yeah, won't effect us in the 2018 season. Likely will have effects in the 2019 season.

There's also a $2.5 billion exit agreement that if the deal doesn't close then Disney pays FOX $2.5 billion. So it's likely going to go through.

1. I assume you meant Disney owning 80%.
3. I know it's standard, in other sports, for the network to hire the Pbp guy, with the club hiring the color guy. I just assumed, with Ian Joy being a Fox Sports guy, we had a similar setup. I don't know for sure.


No way this deal doesn't go through. Five years ago, it's blocked, but with the way the media landscape has shifted, and the direction it's going in, this deal has little anti-trust concerns. They've stripped out all of the FOX assets that could have presented issues, so it's going through.

 

[adam]

As long as they now have a secondary network to switch us to in times of conflict, then more power to the. No more delayed broadcasts!!!