YES Network new 3 year deal with MLBAM includes revenue sharing and Jim Kaat chats

(SBJ): "The YES Network this week plans to relaunch its Web site, with the enhanced online presence influenced significantly by a new three-year agreement with MLB Advanced Media.

• While there is no leaguewide agreement yet on live in-market streaming of games — an issue that has been actively debated within baseball for several years — YES’s moves are emblematic of regional sports networks seeking to maximize their online profiles within the current framework.

The new-look yesnetwork.com will feature three video highlights per game, up from two in the prior accord with MLBAM; a new design that resembles MLB.com and the Yankees.com team site;

• an extensive series of text and video blogs from both network personnel and outside sources such as the
• River Ave. Blues blog; and greatly expanded social-networking capabilities....

Despite the anemic advertising market, YES sold several title-sponsor deals for the updated site, including Chevrolet returning for a player-of-the-game segment, and Papa John’s and Avis buying into text-messaging functions supported by YES and MLBAM.

• Financial terms of the YES-MLBAM pact were not disclosed, but

• the deal includes revenue-sharing provisions.

Other new content initiatives for the YES site include a weekly video feature that explores the intersection of sports and entertainment culture, and in-game chats with former YES announcer Jim Kaat....

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