Just a year ago, YES Network experienced a season that not only saw the network dropped from the Comcast lineup, but also struggle with a Yankees franchise that would go on to finish fourth in the American League East, spelling a rough outing for the staple RSN. Flash forward a year, and new network President Jon Litner – who took on the duties in Sept. 2016 – is now overseeing a completely different trajectory for the channel, bolstered by a Yankees team that is poised for a Wild Card slot with rising stars such as Aaron Judge, while the channel has found peace with the region’s MSOs.
The former Group President of NBC Sports Group is riding a viewership surge that has seen average total viewership for the YES Network’s Yankees game telecasts through the first half of the 2017 season swell 57% year-over-year in the New York DMA to mark the outlet’s highest first-half viewership for Yankees telecasts in five years. Cynopsis Sports caught up with Litner to chat about his first year atop the channel, the Aaron Judge effect and the future of the network.
Litner on joining YES Network: Having spent 25 years in the business across an assortment of different sports network and leagues, I had the opportunity to reflect on where I thought I would have the most fun and where I could really have an impact. For me, the opportunity to be in New York with my hands behind the wheel of a regional sports network anchored by the New York Yankees, along with the Brooklyn Nets and our MLS franchise NYC FC, where I could build on what is an amazing trajectory for the YES Network in partnership with FOX and the Yankees was rally attractive to me.
On goals: I had some personal goals when I took over, but the number one thing that I wanted to make sure – from an operational perspective – that the management transition went smoothly and I think it clearly has. We have a great executive team, the production values have never been stronger, and our ad sales revenue is back in a positive trajectory. In addition, our digital efforts have seen incredible growth and innovation as we look to serve our audience in new ways.
On the next level: The genie is now out of the bottle and we are celebrating that. The more people across all demographics who want to touch the Yankees to be a part of an extraordinarily talented team that has captivated the city, that fact is that not everybody can see them in the comforts of their living room. We are beginning to do that through our digital product which is seeing enormous growth, and features an audience that is far more active than traditional viewers through elements such as our Facebook Live production. We are also looking to serve the fan through technology where we are looking at augmented reality, 4K, our Yogi production truck, etc.
On Aaron Judge and this year’s team: The impact that the Yankees have had on this city this year and the impact that Aaron Judge has had on baseball nationwide has been astounding. Aaron is this extraordinarily talented young man with this great story who plays the game hard the right way, but – above and beyond that – what he has been able to do transcends team affiliations. He has become a national story and is a guy who, when he comes to the plate, people tune in because they don’t want to miss it. He has been terrific for the team and for us.
