New Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph Tsai is looking into ways to bolster the team’s digital streaming presence on the YES Network. Tsai, who co-founded Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, struck a $3.3 billion deal to acquire sole ownership of the Nets in August.
Tsai recently hired David Levy, the former president of TBS, to serve as the new CEO of the Nets. In an interview with the New York Post, Tsai says that Levy will meet with YES Network president Jon Litner to discuss maximizing the team’s digital rights.
“We have a long-term contract with YES. It’s a fixed amount, but there’s definitely room to look into new ways of delivering the content locally,” Tsai told the Post. “YES is a linear TV presentation. They really haven’t leveraged the digital rights yet.”
The YES Network, which also televises the New York Yankees, NYCFC, and Liberty games, was sold by The Walt Disney Company this past summer. The network is now majority-owned by the Yankees, while Sinclair Broadcast Group holds a 20% stake and Amazon owns 15%.
Amazon’s desire to be a major player in the sports streaming space—evidenced by the tech giant’s deal to stream Thursday Night Football—could mean that the tech giant will have a role in expanding YES Network’s digital coverage of the Nets. According to the Post, Tsai acknowledged the importance of catering to sports fans who consume content primarily on their phones.
“It’s an exciting new world,” Tsai said. “Looking at the business of sport from my perspective, I’m coming from the internet world where you’re seeing a massive shift of, first, young users coming online, and usage going on mobile.”
