Behind-the-scenes Account: The True Tale of the Chamber's Assault on YES Network (Op-Ed)
In the ongoing carriage dispute between the YES Network and Comcast, the YES Network has denied any direct connection between Comcast and the New York City Black Chamber of Commerce (NYCBCC). The statement comes in response to an Op-Ed by Tosha Miller, the President of the NYCBCC, who suggested that the FCC may have given preferential treatment to the YES Network in a dispute with Comcast in March.
The YES Network's response focuses on clarifying the NYCBCC's modest financial size and organizational structure. According to IRS public records, the NYCBCC had less than $50,000 in receipts in 2023, and possibly only Tosha Miller and a relative are its employees. The YES Network questions the origin and motives of Miller's Op-Ed but does not link Comcast or the YES Network to the NYCBCC financially or operationally.
While Comcast has been involved with other Black Chambers, such as the African-American Chamber of Commerce for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, there is no substantiated connection between Comcast and the NYCBCC, as per the YES Network’s response and public records.
The YES Network has requested equal distribution and availability as Comcast treats SNY, its competitor, keeping SNY on basic cable while relegating YES to a higher, more expensive cable tier. Comcast has been accused of using corporate muscle to its advantage against independent programmers, a claim that the company has not explicitly addressed.
Tosha Miller has been running the NYCBCC since 2011, as stated on her LinkedIn page. Another organization run by Miller, JTAM, had its tax-exempt status revoked by the IRS in 2011. The relationship between Tosha Miller, the NYCBCC, and Comcast is a subject of research, with questions regarding potential Comcast contributions to the NYCBCC.
In a separate context, Comcast Rise, a Comcast initiative, has reportedly awarded support to entities with missions similar to the NYCBCC. However, it is not clear if Comcast contributes to the NYCBCC.
The YES Network is currently embroiled in a carriage dispute with Comcast, a situation that could lead to a larger audience for SNY and lower costs for SNY's customers and Mets' fans compared to YES' customers and Yankees' fans. This discrepancy could potentially benefit Comcast, as it might attract more subscribers to its cable service.
References:
[1] YES Network Statement on NYCBCC Op-Ed (2023) [2] Comcast Sponsors African-American Chamber of Commerce Event (2022)
The YES Network's financial interests are at stake in the ongoing dispute with Comcast, as it seeks equal distribution and availability similar to that of YES' competitor, SNY. However, the YES Network hasclamied no direct financial or operational links between Comcast and the New York City Black Chamber of Commerce (NYCBCC), despite speculation and research into potential Comcast contributions to the NYCBCC.
In another context, Comcast's initiative, Comcast Rise, has reportedly provided support to entities with missions similar to the NYCBCC, but it remains unclear if Comcast offers financial support to the NYCBCC itself. While Comcast has been involved with other Black Chambers, such as the African-American Chamber of Commerce for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, there is no substantiated connection between Comcast and the NYCBCC.
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