Professional sports entered the world of live-game in-market streaming with the announcement of an agreement between YES Network, Cablevision Systems and Major League Baseball Advanced Media to give qualified subscribers to the cable operator the chance to view live New York Yankees games on their PCs starting with the team's July 8 road game against the Minnesota Twins.

Cablevision customers with the Family Cable expanded-basic tier or better and high-speed-data service Optimum Online will be able to view the games live on their PCs within the ball club's home broadcasting territory, and those using Cablevision's Optimum WiFi wireless Internet service will be able to watch on laptops or other portable computers.

The live-streaming package is available for a one-time fee of $49.95 for the rest of the 2009 baseball season or $19.95 for any 30-day period.

The games will be delivered in true HD, just as the contests on the MLB.TV service offered by MLBAM are.

Quotes from the press release issued by the three parties follow:

Major League Baseball president and chief operating officer Bob DuPuy:

We are delighted to partner in this collaborative effort to deliver greater access to Yankees fans within their local market. This agreement represents an important opportunity for Yankees fans to stay connected with their favorite team while providing them the portable flexibility to do so when they cannot be at the ballpark.

YES president and CEO Tracy Dolgin:

This is a landmark agreement in that it respects our partners' core business models while enhancing their new business prospects. At the same time, Yankees fans have more choices than ever before to follow the team, and there are no extra costs passed on to those who choose not to sign up for the package. Of course, Yankees fans can continue to watch the most storied franchise in sports on the YES Network.

Cablevision senior vice president of product management John Trierweiler:

We offer Optimum customers the best television, phone and high-speed-Internet products in the market, and the addition of live streaming Yankees' games as an additional option for our customers further differentiates the value and choice we are able to provide. This is an exciting development for our customers, making live Yankees' games available for the first time on broadband and through our free Optimum WiFi wireless Internet service, and we look forward to introducing this package on July 8 with the baseball season in full swing.

Yankees managing general partner and co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner:

This is an important and groundbreaking agreement among YES, Cablevision and MLBAM that greatly benefits Yankee fans. This gives fans the flexibility to watch Yankees games on YES almost anywhere. It is an enormous step forward, and I know our fans will jump on the opportunity.