YES Network said that it launched a YES Rewards loyalty program for users of its streaming app.

The program, created with LiveLike, lets users who sign up to earn gift cards for watching live New York Yankees baseball games (and Brooklyn Nets or New York Liberty basketball games in the future), watching other YES programming or playing games on the app.

“The YES App was designed to connect fans to their favorite teams while offering an innovative and engaging feature set,” Jonathan Zarrilli, manager of strategy and business development at YES Network, said. “YES Rewards, powered by LiveLike, will tie all of these features together into one ecosystem intended to reward our most engaged fans. We look forward to exploring all the ways that ‘YES Rewards’ can be used to build community and expose users to everything that the YES App has to offer.”

The YES app is available to viewers of the New York-area regional sports network who are traditional pay TV subscribers and as a direct-to-consumer product.

“As the sports streaming landscape changes, it is more important than ever to be bringing value to fans and subscribers year-round, and the YES App has invested a lot of resources into developing innovative features that put fans first and lean into the power of community,” Miheer Valavalker, co-founder and CEO of LiveLike, said. “We are delighted to be working closely with the YES team to now incentivize fans to use these features and reward them for showing their passion for their New York sports teams.”

YES Network is celebrating the first anniversary of its streaming app by continuing to develop technological innovations to enhance sports fans’ viewing experience. 

The YES app, which launched last April and streams live New York Yankees baseball, Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty basketball and New York City FC soccer action, is providing fans with unique, in-game interactive experiences with features such as in-game statistical overlays, watch party offerings, favorite player highlights and other information.

In March, YES added a free Pick-N-Play Live experience to Nets telecasts that allows users to predict in-game situations such as which players will score the most points in the game or which team will commit the next turnover. Users can keep track of their points through a live, onscreen leaderboard that’s updated during the live game telecast and compete for prizes like gift cards or team merchandise.

YES VP of strategy and business development Matt Duarte spoke to Multichannel News about the network’s continuing app development strategy. Here’s an edited transcript of that conversation.  

Also: Sinclair and Charter Reach Deal, Includes Bally Sports RSNs, YES Network 

MCN: How is YES Network positioning its app to increase usage and time spent on the offering?

Matt Duarte: We see the app as a new way to connect with our existing audience in a more engaging way that has multiple touch points throughout the day. We have a finite inventory on our linear channel, but with the app there are multiple ways for us to engage with and create a unique viewing experience tailored to individual fans through the introduction of the things that we've done with respect to stats, overlays, watch party features and free-to-play games. Our latest Pick-N-Play Live game that we recently introduced allows the user to really customize how they would like to watch the game. Some people are really stats-heavy and want to watch that way, while some people want to talk to their buddies down the road — this allows them a way to make that happen. It’s really become a digital destination for all of our fans across our teams. We’re able to really push the envelope from a technological perspective to create the best possible experience throughout our game and our other content.

MCN: The Pick-N-Play Live offering is not quite gambling, but do you foresee an opportunity where the app could be used for legal gambling at some point?

MD: I think it's a really good question, but for now we're really in the first steps in terms of what we're trying to do with this product, which is really engagement and lengthening the amount of time that we can get our fans to interact physically with our product and our content. I think the name of the game for [Pick-N-Play] specifically is to increase that engagement and watch time, and also to provide motivation for a larger group of fans who like to gamify the experience to really come in and watch a few games. I think down the line it could be more of a conversation of how exactly strategically we want to play in that field, but right now it's all about engagement, playing to those competitive juices and trying to play some games and win some prizes. 

MCN: Is there one particular feature users are gravitating to on a nightly basis? 

MD: I think there's been growth across all of the different features, but specifically it’s the live stats, given its longevity in terms of how long we've had it and the ways that we've improved upon it from a design perspective. We’ve added a live pitch cast from last year’s Yankees season that allows users to actually see the location of the balls and strikes on the screen and see the different matchups between hitters and pitchers over the last few years. It almost looks like it's part of the actual linear broadcast which is cool.

In addition, you will see factoids and trivia questions about our game that our digital team curates throughout the course of the game, which is really cool as well. For big games and big moments, the watch party feature has been really popular. If there's a close game with five minutes in the fourth quarter, viewers can go in and then invite a friend to watch Kevin Duran hit a game-winning jump shot. It's a really cool experience to be able to do that. 

MCN: Is there a specific metric you can provide to quantify the app’s usage on a game-by-game basis?

MD: We introduced a favorite player feature where we actually allowed fans to go into the app and select their favorite players. At that point, we’re able to curate and send highlights and different content around those different players to the actual fan. Between that and the rollout of the watch party feature, we’ve seen a 53% increase in viewership for the app since the [February] NBA All-Star break in terms of unique viewers per game for the Nets. I’m not going to say that the team’s performance didn’t also help increase viewership during that time, but you can see that the fan base is obviously interested in using the features when they tune in. We’re hoping to capitalize on that momentum and that wave heading into the Yankee season.

MCN: Is there any concern that the app becomes so popular with fans that it actually siphons viewers away from the linear YES Network? 

MD: It's really a companion where you can watch not only the game, but also interact with it as a second-screen experience. We think those play really well, especially the free Pick-N-Play game. I think it's all about optionality and offering our fans access no matter where they are and on whatever platform they have to really expand that usage and make sure they can watch their favorite teams whenever they can. ■ 

The NBA Friday released the television schedule for the first half of its 2020-21 season, including its Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. holiday lineup of games.

ESPN and ABC will televise a total of 49 games during the first half of the season, which begins Dec. 22. The schedule includes five Christmas Day games --  New Orleans Pelicans-Miami Heat; Golden State Warriors-Milwaukee Bucks; Brooklyn Nets-Boston Celtics; Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers-Denver Nuggets. ABC will air five primetime Saturday night games through Feb. 27, beginning Jan. 30 with the Lakers-Celtics game.

TNT will air 36 games through Feb. 27, including a Dec. 22 opening night doubleheader featuring the Warriors and Nets, followed by Lakers-Clippers. TNT’s three-game Martin Luther King Jr. holiday lineup includes Warriors-Lakers, Phoenix Suns-Memphis Grizzlies and Bucks-Nets.

Related: NBA to Start New Season in September

NBA TV will air 61 live games during the first half of the season, beginning with a Dec. 26 tripleheader featuring the Grizzlies-Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers-New York Knicks, Houston Rockets-Portland Trailblazers games. 

The schedule for the second half of the season will be released at a later date, according to the league, which will play a truncated 72 game schedule due to the pandemic. 

15 Seconds of Fame (15SOF), a social media app that works with sports arenas to deliver better fan experiences, is partnering with the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center.

The collaboration with 15SOF and YinzCam, a professional sports app vendor, will enable fans to download content of themselves from the Brooklyn Nets jumbotron, directly to their phone using the 15 Seconds of Fame app. The app is available on iOS and Android.

"The Nets are a world-class organization that truly values the fan experience," said 15SOF chief marketing officer Mitch Rotter. "We are proud to partner with the Nets and YinzCam to seamlessly bring the 15SOF platform to fans from all over the world who come to Brooklyn."

The Internet was abuzz on Monday after Cablevision CEO and Madison Square Garden executive chairman James Dolan lashed out at a frustrated New York Knicks fan, suggesting that he was an alcoholic and telling him to root for the rival NBA Brooklyn Nets “because the Knicks don’t want you.”

According to Deadspin.com, the New York Post and several other media outlets, long-time Knicks fan Irving Bierman – the father of filmmaker Aaron Bierman, sent a heated e-mail to Dolan on Friday, lambasting the Knicks owner for the team’s dismal start and begging him to sell the team. While Bierman, who claimed to be a Knicks fan for 60 years had some harsh words for the team owner, it wasn’t any worse than what Dolan probably hears from the stands while watching games at the Garden.

The screed had little effect on Madison Square Garden stock -- shares were down less than 1% (61 cents each) to $77.50 per share in early trading Monday.

Madison Square Garden, the owner of the Knicks, declined comment.

What was unusual was Dolan’s response. In a heated, typo-filled e-mail -- which sources confirmed was genuine -- that was published by several media outlets, Dolan called the fan “sad,” suggested he may be alcoholic and told him the team doesn’t need fans like him anymore.

“What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice,” Dolan wrote in the e-mail. “I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting.for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you.”

Dolan and the Knicks have been under fire as the team has faltered even after bringing in high-profile former Los Angeles Laker and Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson as Knicks president in March in a five-year deal worth $12 million per year.

While the hiring of Jackson was a high point, according to the NY Post, the new president low-balled his choice of a coach – Steve Kerr, the former Turner Sports analyst, Phoenix Suns executive and Chicago Bulls player under Jackson – offering him a three-year deal worth about $13.2 million to coach the team. Kerr signed as head coach of the Golden State Warriors in May in a reported five-year $22 million deal.

The Knicks are in last place in the NBA Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division with a 10-41 record, 24.5 games behind first place.

Dolan, according to reports, has kept a low profile with the Knicks since hiring Jackson, attending most home games but limiting his comments about the team’s predicament. The e-mails come just as the Garden gets ready to host the 64th Annual NBA All-Star game on Feb. 15.

Here is Bierman’s email:

Subject: I have been a knicks fan since 1952

At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise.

As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarrassed by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE.

Respectfully,

[Aaron Bierman's dad]

And Dolan’s response:

Mr Bierman

You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am.just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting.for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you.

Respectfully

James Dolan

Derek Jeter's last season for the New York Yankees helped the club's regional sports network become the most-watched of those services in the nation for the 11th time in 12 years.

YES Network rang up double-digit gains in both primetime and total-day within the New York DMA during 2014.

YES’ scored a 16% rise in average primetime delivery to 58,000 households in the DMA from Dec. 20, 2013 through Dec. 28, 2014, up from 50,000 during Nielsen's 2013. According to YES officials, that was 23% more than the second-most-watched RSN in the country.

On the demo watch, YES registered advances of 22% and 16% among men 25 to 54 and persons of that age, respectively.

Measured on a total-day basis, the RSN, which also televises Brooklyn Nets' NBA games, posted a 10% gain to 23,000 households in 2014,, an average that was 44% great than the RSN runner-up. Deliveries for men 18 to 49 and persons 18 to 49 climbed at 17% and 13% clips in 204.

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For their part, Yankees' game telecasts grew 15% to 223,000 New York DMA households from 194,000 in the 2013 campaign. Demo growth was ever greater: men 25 to 54 improved 28%; men 18+ jumped 20%; adults 25 to 54 increased 20%; persons 2+ were ahead 18%; and persons 18 and older moved up 17%.

Bronx Bombers' support programming also connected in 2014:  the pregame shows rose 25% to 45,000 from 36,000 in 2013, while post-game coverage advanced 23% to 86,000 from 70,000.

Yankees Batting Practice Today on YES enjoyed a 6% year-over-year increase to 18,000 in 2014 from 17,000.

Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium last Sept. 25 -- the captain delivered a game-winning single to right in the bottom of the ninth -- was the most-viewed program ever on the YES Network, averaging a 10.84 rating and 1.25 million viewers in the New York DMA.  The game telecast peaked at 1.99 million viewers from 10:15 to 10:30 p.m. (ET)  and a16.55 average rating, making it  the most-viewed quarter-hour in YES’ history 

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YES officials believe the Jeterian Yankee Stadium finale is the most-watched game in the history of RSNs.

With all of its regionals that have team deals now live-streaming NBA games in-market, Fox Sports Net has begun to promote the pro hoops TV Everywhere experience with local marketing activities.  

Fox Sports Wisconsin last week tipped off promotional support for the availability of live-streaming of Milwaukee Bucks contests to authenticated subscribers, according to a Fox Sports spokeswoman. Similarly, Fox Sports Indiana, home to the NBA Pacers, this week will initiate a marketing campaign alerting viewers that they can access streamed simulcasts of the RSN’s coverage at Fox Sports Go.com or through Android or iOS-supported devices. Upon signing on with Fox Sports Go, authenticated subscribers can then watch the NBA team that is available through their pay-TV package. 

After testing the technology with a number of distributors and a handful of clubs last season, all 17 of Fox Sports Net's regional sports networks with NBA team deals are now streaming the contests, as well as pre- and post-game fare, in-market, including YES Network.

As part of the Fox Sports Go offering, the RSN, which televises Brooklyn Nets games, launched the service to Time Warner Cable customers on Oct. 29 with the team's 2014-15 season opener against the Boston Celtics (pictured). Cablevision subscribers gained streaming entry last week. YES is also streaming encores of the team’s telecasts, Nets Magazine, The Michael Kay Show and some college basketball.

Like the other FSN regionals, the YES simulcasts feature commercials from the telecasts themselves. Fox Sports originally included “slates” in the pods. The spokeswoman said the company is working on integrating dynamic ad insertion to the mix, with an eye toward streaming distinct spots during the second half of the season.

The six Comcast SportsNet regionals that have launched NBA in-market streaming are running separate ads from the RSNs’ TV schedules.

MSG Network has announced it will commence streaming New York Knicks games in December. 

DirecTV Sports Networks president Patrick Crumb in a recent interview said his group has reached an agreement with the NBA for in-market streaming, and hopes to offer TVE service for the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets sometime later this season.

Thus far, Fox Sports has inked NBA TVE deals for its RSNs with Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Cox and Cablevision, AT&T U-verse, Suddenlink, Wide Open West and MidContinent Cable. Negotiations continue with other key distributors: Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network and Verizon FiOS.

The addition of Time Warner Cable has bolstered the TVE streaming presence for a number of NBA teams, including Milwaukee. FSN Wisconsin is now running promos for the service during pre-, post- and in-game Bucks telecasts. Announcements are also delivered over the public address at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, where Fox Sports Girls have also demonstrated how the Fox Sports Go app works.

A similar plan will be executed for the Pacers this week and then be extended to various RSNs over the course of the season, according to the Fox spokeswoman.