YES Network Concludes 2018 as Most Watched RSN in the Nation

Buoyed by its best New York Yankees ratings in six years, the YES Network finished 2018 as the most-watched regional sports network (RSN) in the country in both Primetime and Total Day. This marks the 14th time in 16 years that YES has been the most-watched RSN in the country.

2018 YES Network Highlights

• YES averaged 25,000 TV Households in Total Day in the New York DMA in 2018, 39% greater than the #2 RSN, NESN, which averaged 18,000 TV Households
• YES’ 25,000 TV Households Total Day average was greater than that of the other three New York RSNs combined
• YES averaged 61,000 TV Households in Primetime in 2018, 9% greater than NESN, the #2 RSN, which averaged 56,000 TV Households
  • The 61,000 TV Households was YES’ best Primetime delivery in six years – since 2012
• YES had its best-unduplicated market reach among millennials (Persons 18-34) in three years
• 45.6% of YES’ average Total Day audience in 2018 was female, the highest such percentage among all New York RSNs in the DMA

2018 Yankees on YES Highlights

• Yankees games on YES averaged a 3.60 TV Household rating this past season, its best Yankees ratings since 2012 (six years)
• Yankees Primetime games on YES ranked #1 in the New York market in Primetime this past season, beating the Primetime average of every other TV network in the DMA
• Yankees games on YES generated more viewing in New York (6.6 billion minutes consumed) than the top 11 Primetime entertainment shows combined (6.1 billion minutes consumed)
• From Memorial Day to Labor Day, ratings for Yankees Primetime games on YES were the second-highest among all Primetime programs in the New York DMA, trailing only 60 Minutes
• For the entire 2018 season, ratings for Yankees Primetime games on YES out-rated all late evening newscasts in the New York DMA
• YES’ Yankees games achieved six-year highs in key demos such as Males 25-54, Persons 25-54 and Females 25-54
• YES’ Yankees Pre-Game Show enjoyed its best ratings since 2009 and its Yankees Post-Game Show notched its best ratings since 2011
• Yankees Batting Practice Today enjoyed its highest ratings ever, and Yankees Extra Innings generated its second-highest ratings ever

The Popularity of the Yankees on YES Beyond the New York DMA

• YES’ Yankees viewership grew by 36% when adding audience from 11 outer markets to New York DMA figures
• Yankees games on YES averaged a 2.0 TV Household rating or better in 8 of the 11 outlying DMAs (beyond the New York DMA), including:
  • Binghamton – 4.43
  • Utica – 3.96
  • Albany-Schenectady-Troy – 3.82
  • Watertown – 3.16
  • Hartford/New Haven – 2.66
  • Syracuse – 2.39
  • Elmira/Corning – 2.38
  • Rochester – 2.00

The Michael Kay Show

• Ratings for YES’ live simulcasts of The Michael Kay Show in 2018 were the third-highest for any radio simulcast ever on YES (0.27 average TV Household rating in 2018)

YES Digital

• YES averaged 17 million video views per month this Yankees season on YES’ various digital platforms, a 42% year-over-year increase
• YES has the largest digital audience of any RSN in the country, including more than 400,000 Facebook followers, 250,000 Instagram followers, 175,000 Twitter followers, and more than 60,000 YouTube subscribers