Boston-area NESN, which carries Boston Red Sox and Bruins games, was dropped by YouTube TV last week. It’s the latest regional sports network to be dropped by a broadcaster looking to cut costs.
Sinclair’s networks, which have exclusive local rights to 42 professional teams, have been dropped by YouTube TV, Hulu, Dish Network, Sling TV and FuboTV since last year. Without sports in its second quarter, Sinclair’s sports revenue fell 38% year-over-year to $616 million.
It’s unclear if these cost-saving measures will be reversed once leagues predominantly featured on RSNs like MLB, the NBA and NHL start their next seasons. Any significant shift in the revenues RSNs bring in could lead back to the teams. MLB teams alone collect more than $2 billion annually in local TV contracts.
