Local sports broadcasting in New York just underwent a massive shock. The Gotham Sports App is shutting down. YES Network and MSG Networks are pulling their plug and moving everything straight to DAZN.
If you tried watching the Yankees, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, or Sabres over the last couple of years, you dealt with the headaches of regional sports network apps. Streaming local games has been messy. Cord-cutting broke the traditional cable model, and regional sports networks have been scrambling to survive. The Gotham app launched in August 2024 as a joint effort to bundle local teams under one roof. It did not last. Now, DAZN is taking over as the exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming home for both networks starting with the 2026-2027 NBA and NHL seasons.
What does this mean for you? Let's break down the real impact of this massive shift.
The End of Gotham Sports and the Rise of DAZN
The partnership brings seven major New York-area franchises under the DAZN umbrella. DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev framed this as a massive U.S. expansion play. It follows DAZN's recent acquisition of streaming tech developer ViewLift for about $100 million. They wanted a major footprint in the American sports market, and bagging the YES Network and MSG Networks gives them instant authority in the country's biggest media market.
For users, the transition is supposed to be smooth. Current subscribers to the Gotham Sports App will keep uninterrupted access while YES and MSG migrate users over to DAZN. The exact migration timeline will roll out in the coming months, timed deliberately to avoid disrupting the middle of the current MLB season.
What Cable Subscribers Need to Know
If you pay for a traditional cable, satellite, or virtual pay-TV bundle that already includes YES Network or MSG Networks, you breathe a sigh of relief. You get access to the DAZN platform for these regional feeds at zero extra cost.
You verify your pay-TV provider credentials inside DAZN just like you did with the old app. The linear 24/7 feeds, on-demand highlights, and Emmy Award-winning original programming stay intact.
Standalone streaming subscribers—those without a traditional TV bundle—will have to see how pricing shakes out. Standalone pricing details haven't dropped yet, but DAZN aims to scale its subscription base aggressively.
Why Regional Sports Networks Had to Pivot
Standalone RSN apps have struggled with user retention and high overhead costs. Operating an independent streaming infrastructure is expensive. By partnering with a global giant like DAZN, YES and MSG hand off the heavy tech lifting to a platform that already streams massive combat sports and international events to millions globally.
The numbers tell an interesting story. After price adjustments earlier in the year, the YES Network saw a 33% boost in its streaming audience. Even so, the standalone RSN app model hit a ceiling. Partnering with DAZN gives these networks immediate stability and access to better app architecture.
Expect the final details on user migration and standalone subscription fees to hit the news cycle before the puck drops on the 2026-27 hockey season. Keep using your current login for now, but get ready to download a new app before winter hits.
