[EdwinB]

Days before the 2022 Major League Baseball season kicks off on April 7, the New York Post reported that 21 New York Yankees baseball games would air exclusively on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service and only would be available to Prime subscribers.

In the past, those matches would probably have been broadcast for free on local television. The games also will not air on regional sports network YES, which broadcasts most other Yankees games on cable or satellite, even though Amazon joined with Sinclair Broadcast Group and others to savefrom acquire a stake in YES in the 2019.

These "lost" Yankee games became a hot topic on sports radio and in the local press.

"When the masses realize the change, that's when the chaos will begin," wrote Bob Raissman, sports media columnist for the New York Daily News. "Will fans even know where to find a Yankees game this season?"

That question can be asked regarding other teams and other sports. Indeed, the increasing availability of streaming video is not something that is limited to New York. But because it can replace traditional ways of watching games outside of stadiums, die-hard fans across the country may have to chase games from one service to another, or pay to watch sports on TV that were previously free to watch. .