BRONX, N.Y. — On this date in 2002, the Yankees Entertainment Sports Network (YES) made its debut. As part of ushering in a trend of team-owned regional sports cable networks, the New York Yankees made the move.
Previously, the team had aired its games on Madison Square Garden Network (MSG) from 1989 to 2001.
The shift gave the New York Yankees center stage away from the Garden owned New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
In addition to Yankee games, the network’s early days saw programming such as Yankeeography, Center Stage with Michael Kay, Mike, and the Mad Dog simulcasts from WFAN and the NBA’s New Jersey Nets.