Matt Duarte

Matt Duarte

YES Network
VP, Strategy and Business Development

Matt Duarte, who joined the YES Network in December 2019, is responsible for identifying and recommending new business opportunities and partnering with YES’ senior leadership to drive overall company strategy.

The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country 18 of the last 21 years, is the exclusive regional television home of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Nets. The network has won 151 New York Emmy Awards since its 2002 launch.

Duarte, who was named to Sports Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list in June of 2024, works closely with a variety of different departments within YES. He collaborates with Finance regarding budgets and short- and long-term growth plans; with Affiliate Sales on traditional and alternative distribution strategy; and with Marketing, Programming and Production on a variety of initiatives.

In addition, Duarte has played a leadership role in the creation and growth of Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment (“GAME”), the digital joint venture between YES and MSG Networks that was formed in January 2024. In particular, he has led YES’ overall strategy and operational work as it relates to The Gotham Sports App, the exclusive new TV Everywhere and DTC streaming home of the YES Network and MSG Networks which GAME launched in October 2024.

Duarte’s earlier achievements at YES include managing the development and launch of the multiple Emmy Award-winning YES App (The Gotham Sports App’s predecessor), which became the #1 free sports app in the Apple App Store upon its March 2021 launch.

Duarte also oversaw the buildout and March 2023 launch of the YES Network’s direct-to-consumer offering, providing fans in YES’ regional coverage territory an option to subscribe directly to YES via the YES App.

Duarte was named to Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable magazines’ 40 Under 40 list in 2023.

Also in 2023, The YES App won the award for Best Fan Engagement Tool in the Cynopsis Sports Media Awards competition and won two Gold Awards (Platform of the Year – D2C and Best in Fan Engagement) and two Silver Awards (Innovation of the Year and Best User Experience) in the global SportsPro OTT Awards competition.

The YES App won four New York Emmy Awards in its first three years of eligibility. In 2022, it was named Best Regional Sports App in the CableFAX Regional Rainmaker Awards competition, received a NextTV Innovation Award at the NextTV Summit, and captured three Gold Awards in the global SportsPro OTT Awards competition. The YES App was also named Best Mobile Video App in the Cynopsis Digital Model D Awards competition in 2021.

Prior to YES, Duarte was the first enterprise manager in Madison Square Garden’s MBA Rotational program in 2018-2019, where he rotated among Marketing Partnerships, MSG Sports, and Business Strategy & Venue Operations. In this role, he identified and recommended revenue opportunities and operations enhancements to senior executives. Earlier, he was assistant vice president, US Corporate Banking at Wells Fargo.

Duarte earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Amherst College in 2012, with a double major in Economics and Spanish. He received a Master’s Degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 2018.

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