YES Network Adds Bare-Knuckle Fighting to Its Lineup

The YES Network, home of the New York Yankees, has signed a content and promotional deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). The partnership is a low-cost bet to add programming to the network's linear and streaming platforms as it adapts to the post-cable landscape.

• Content over combat: The agreement, which begins January 9, focuses on library content, not live fight rights. YES will air BKFC’s docu-series, classic fights, and podcasts across its channels, with a nationwide push on its Gotham Sports App.

• A bet against the bundle: For YES, the move provides fresh material to attract subscribers to The Gotham Sports App, the streaming platform it launched in 2024 as its strategic answer to cord-cutting. “BKFC delivers a passionate, fast-growing fan base,” said Jason Feneque, a YES Network director, seeing the deal as a way to engage “younger and more diverse fans.”

• A mainstream audition: For BKFC, the deal is a massive boost in legitimacy. The partnership with an established media brand gives the controversial fighting style access to the lucrative New York market and a national platform, serving as a powerful gateway to attract new fans.

This is a symbiotic deal reflecting a larger trend in sports media: RSNs are hunting for low-cost, high-engagement content to fill schedules, while niche sports crave the mainstream exposure that legacy media brands provide.