The Yankees are teaming up with Amazon to become the first MLB team to let fans "watch games on their phones or laptops without a cable subscription," according to Josh Kosman of the N.Y. POST. Sources said that the plan by YES network is to "allow online streaming for a limited number of Yankees games -- possibly on Amazon's Prime Video service -- starting as soon as the 2020 baseball season." Sources also said that the "ultimate goal is to provide an annual streaming package at a cost -- say one year for $99." The move comes as the Yankees saw their TV ratings "drop 17% this year" despite team winning the AL East. Sources said that while earlier game times were a "main culprit, cord-cutting also played a role." Making the move possible was a "unanimous vote last month by all MLB team owners to OK the streaming of local games." The vote may "seem like a game-changer, but it could be years before most teams are able to start streaming their games due to complicated contracts with local cable providers and the regional sports networks that carry their games." The Yankees have it "easier because the team owns 20% of its local TV network, which means it won't be fighting with YES over the streaming rights." Sources said that the "only remaining barrier for the Yankees are the cable companies that carry YES games like Spectrum and Optimum" (N.Y. POST, 12/4).
