The arbitrators would, under Hindery's plan, examine YES's fair market value, subscriber fees for other regional sports networks nationwide and how they are packaged.
However, Britain is seeing the fastest rise in consumers likely to subscribe to high-end handsets such as the iPhone, with 61% growth in the market for high-value subscribers, compared with Spain with just 4% growth.
These partnerships could help generate new high-value subscribers.
But even using new-economy valuation measures it looks a touch pricey: its market capitalisation implies that investors value its subscribers at $30,000 apiece.
Fred Moran, who follows the cable industry for Jeffries & Company, said that the price was high but that Comcast was offering $4,300 a subscriber, about what most subscribers are valued at today.
The channel, which has more than 62 million subscribers is valued at about $2.7 billion.
Verizon, the largest wireless carrier in the United States, is valued at about $4,000 per subscriber, while Sprint PCS, which is smaller but faster growing, is valued at about $10,000 per subscriber.
Last month, the Gallic rapscallion said that Vivendi would pay less than $600 per Stream subscriber, valuing the total acquisition at below $480 million.
Telecom Italia said that Stream was valued at $1,350 for each subscriber.
The stigmatized seller, excluding its cash, is now valued at just $380 per subscriber.
