SNY dominates YES Network in Subway Series viewership

We hope Michael Kay is sitting down. And not just because it’s been a rough go lately.

The voice of the New York Yankees, who just can’t help himself from getting into media spats and screeching about Juan Soto, didn’t exactly have a picture-perfect 2024, either. He grew particularly irate when SNY touted the Mets’ broadcast as “best booth” during an ad on his radio show. The trio of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling had their fun with it, even if the latter of the SNY broadcast booth could feel Kay’s pain.

Now, we’re not going to pretend Kay’s heart broke when the Mets took two of three from the Yankees over Fourth of July weekend. But we also won’t say he wasn’t silently wincing once he saw the numbers.

And no, we’re not talking about the Mets outscoring the Bronx Bombers 22-17 at Citi Field.

We mean the ratings gap — a huge one — between SportsNet New York and the YES Network. According to Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal, those three Subway Series games from July 4-6 averaged 356,000 viewers on SNY. That’s a staggering 70% jump over YES’s viewership for the same series.

Among adults aged 25-54, SNY outperformed its competitors with a 154% advantage. Among adults aged 18-34, the lead was even bigger, at 166%. Plus, the July 4 game was the best ever on MLB Network.

So what does this all mean? Simply put, the Mets’ broadcast is dominating the ratings battle, especially with younger viewers. Does that signal a shift in fan attention and engagement? Perhaps, but context is also required. The Yankees, after getting swept by the Boston Red Sox in mid-June, have sputtered to go 9-13 in their last 21 games.

That said, the Yankees are stumbling into the All-Star break no matter what happens over the next four games. Even if they drop all four, they’ll still be six games over .500 — but that doesn’t play in the Bronx. Not now. Not with this roster. Not even if Jeff Passan wants fans to “shut the f*ck up.”

If anything, it only cranks up the pressure.

Despite the Yankees’ skid, Kay has gone to bat for the front office, loudly defending Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman while swatting away calls for heads to roll. But there’s a growing disconnect between performance and perception, and Kay’s stuck in the middle of it. The team isn’t delivering, the fans are restless, and for now, the city’s attention is drifting, not toward the Bronx, but across the river.

And the Mets — and SNY — are soaking it up.