Optimum TV subscribers will miss Yankees and Mets camp reports on MLB Network this week
MLB Network
MLB Network will be airing reports from Mets camp on Wednesday and Yankees camp on Thursday for its annual “30 Clubs, 30 Camps” preview series.
But Optimum TV subscribers will not see those reports unless there is a resolution to the carriage dispute that has had MLB Network off the broadcast platform since Jan. 31.
The standoff affects about 1 million viewers in the metropolitan area, many of them on Long Island.
MLB Network’s report from Mets camp featuring Robert Flores and former Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd will air on “MLB Tonight” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The network’s Yankees report featuring Lauren Shehadi and former Yankees and Mets outfielder Chris Young will air on the same show at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
To date, Optimum TV subscribers in the New York area have not missed any Yankees or Mets spring training games because most of those games televised by MLB Network would have been blacked out locally.
The Mets are scheduled to appear on the network (not blacked out in the New York area) on March 14 against the Astros using the Houston broadcast.
MLB Network is broadcasting daily spring training games involving non-New York teams that are available in the New York market. The network is also planning robust coverage of next month’s World Baseball Classic. The regular season opens on March 25.
A spokesperson for MLB Network declined to comment on Tuesday. An Optimum spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement earlier this month, Optimum said: “MLB Network carries a limited number of live, out-of-market MLB games — many of which are available elsewhere — and offers niche content, which our customers should not be forced to pay for if it does not align with their viewing preferences.”
In a statement earlier this month, MLB Network said: “To date, we have offered terms similar to what’s been agreed to by close to 300 other providers. We’re more than prepared to engage in meaningful dialogue that would result in continuing our 15+ year partnership . . . We always encourage viewers who would like to watch MLB Network to visit mlbnetwork.com to find out where they can watch our content.”
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
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