YouTube TV dropped the New York Mets-dedicated cable network SNY, in the latest sign of decline for the "regional sports network" model. SNY exits the platform at midnight on June 30. In an email to subscribers announcing the change, YouTube TV declined to offer an explanation -- saying only it's occuring "despite our best efforts" -- and recommended Mets fans tune in to games on Fox, ESPN, or TBS. - SNY (which stands for SportsNet New York) is primarily owned by Sterling Equities, a private firm controlled by former Mets owner Fred Wilpon; Charter and Comcast both hold minority stakes.
- Regional Sports Networks (or RSNs) pay costly licensing fees for the rights to broadcast live sports; this results in high carriage fees for platforms like YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
- Diamond Sports Group, which owns a number of RSNs and the Bally Sports streaming platform, is currently going through the bankruptcy process.
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