Root Sports Northwest

Root Sports Northwest is an American regional sports network owned as a 71/29 joint venture between the Seattle Mariners and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) respectively, the latter of which operates it through its sports unit as part of the AT&T SportsNet chain of regional networks and as an affiliate of Bally Sports. Headquartered near Seattle in the city of Bellevue, Washington, the channel broadcasts regional coverage of sports events throughout the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on professional sports teams based in Seattle and Portland. It is available on cable providers throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska and nationwide on satellite via DirecTV.

Root Sports Northwest
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaWashington
Oregon
Idaho
Montana
Alaska
Nationwide (via satellite)
NetworkAT&T SportsNet
(carries some programming sourced from Bally Sports)
HeadquartersBellevue, Washington
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Ownership
Owner
History
LaunchedNovember 1988 (1988-11)
Former namesNorthwest Cable Sports
(1988–1989)
Prime Sports Northwest
(1989–1996)
Fox Sports Northwest
(1996–1999)
Fox Sports Net Northwest
(1999–2004)
FSN Northwest
(2004–2008)
FS Northwest
(2008–2011)
Links
Websitenorthwest.rootsports.com
Availability
(some events may air on overflow feed Root Sports Northwest Plus due to event conflicts)
Streaming media
DirecTV StreamInternet Protocol television
FuboTVInternet Protocol television

History

Root Sports Northwest was launched in late 1988 as Northwest Cable Sports,[1] by Tele-Communications Inc. and Viacom. Early programming included games from Washington and Washington State Universities and Tacoma Stars soccer games.[2] By 1989, it affiliated with the newly formed Prime Sports Network & was rebranded Prime Sports Northwest.

In 1996, News Corporation, which formed a sports division for the Fox network two years earlier after it obtained the broadcast rights to the National Football Conference (NFC) and sought to create a group of regional sports networks, acquired a 50% interest in the Prime Network from Liberty.[3] Later that year on November 1, News Corporation and Liberty Media relaunched the Prime Network affiliates as part of the new Fox Sports Net group, with the Seattle-based network officially rebranding as Fox Sports Northwest.[4] The channel was rebranded as Fox Sports Net Northwest in 2000, as part of a collective brand modification of the FSN networks under the "Fox Sports Net" banner. Subsequently, in 2004, the channel shortened its name to FSN Northwest, through the networks' de-emphasis of the "Fox Sports Net" brand.

On December 22, 2006, News Corporation sold its interest in FSN Northwest and sister networks FSN Utah, FSN Pittsburgh and FSN Rocky Mountain to Liberty Media, in an asset trade in which News Corporation also 16.3% traded its 38.5% ownership stake in satellite provider DirecTV for $550 million in cash and stock, in exchange for Liberty Media's stake in the company.[5] On May 4, 2009, DirecTV Group Inc. announced it would become a part of Liberty's entertainment unit, part of which would then be spun off into the separate company under the DirecTV name, in a deal in which Liberty would increase its share in DirecTV from 48% to 54%, with Liberty owner John Malone and his family owning a 24% interest. DirecTV would operate its newly acquired FSN-affiliated networks through DirecTV Sports Networks,[6][7] a new division formed when the split off from Liberty Media was completed on November 19, 2009.[8]

On December 17, 2010, DirecTV Sports Networks announced that its four Fox Sports Networks-affiliated regional outlets would be relaunched under the "Root Sports" brand.[9] The network officially rebranded as Root Sports Northwest on April 1, 2011, with The Dan Patrick Show as the first program under the new Root Sports branding. For nominal purposes, the Root Sports networks continued to carry programming distributed mainly to the Fox Sports regional networks to provide supplementary sports & entertainment programming.

In April 2013, the Seattle Mariners announced that they would acquire controlling interest in Root Sports Northwest, as part of a long-term extension of its contract with the team through the 2030 season. DirecTV remained a minority stakeholder and controlling partner, and the network continued to operate under the Root Sports brand.[10]

DirecTV was subsequently acquired by AT&T;[11] on July 14, 2017, its sister networks were re-branded as AT&T SportsNet. Root Sports Northwest did not adopt the AT&T SportsNet brand, likely because AT&T is not the majority owner of the service.[12][13] Nonetheless, Root Sports still introduced a rebranded version of AT&T SportsNet's new on-air graphics.[14]

Ahead of their 2021–22 seasons, Root Sports Northwest acquired the regional rights to both the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, and the Seattle Kraken –a new NHL expansion franchise which began play that season.[15][16]

In October 2021, Root Sports added an overflow channel, known as Root Sports Plus, to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Mariners, Kraken, and Blazers.[17] Also that month, Root Sports, along with sister networks AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, and AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, was removed from Dish Network satellite and Sling streaming TV services.[18]

Despite the announcement that Warner Bros. Discovery would leave the regional sports network business in March 2023, Patrick Crumb, Seattle-based president of AT&T Sportsnet operations, stated that Root Sports would not be affected by the changes, presumably due to its majority ownership by the Seattle Mariners.[19]

Programming

Seattle Mariners

Root Sports holds the regional television rights to the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball, producing and televising over 150 live regular season games (out of 162 total), along with 30+ minute pregame and post-game shows that air before and after all telecasts produced by the network. Other Mariners programming on the network includes live Spring Training games, Mariners All Access, which includes both weekly editions during the regular season and several other in-season and off-season specials each year, and Mariners Mondays, a three-hour weekly program that airs during the winter months that highlights memorable games and moments from the past season.

Prime Sports Network began Mariners' broadcasts in 1994, with sixteen of the scheduled 88 televised games; the remainder were broadcast over-the-air on KSTW.[20] A players' strike canceled the last quarter of the 1994 season and the first several weeks of the 1995 season.

Seattle Kraken

Root Sports holds the regional television rights to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League. Root Sports was announced as the team's inaugural regional television partner on January 26, 2021.[21]

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA reached an agreement to carry games on Fox Sports Net Northwest beginning in the 2002-03 season, replacing the unpopular BlazerVision pay-per-views and team-run Action Sports Cable Network. This lasted until 2007, when the team signed with Comcast SportsNet Northwest (now NBC Sports Northwest).[22]

When the Trail Blazers' contract was up for renewal in 2016, Root Sports outbid NBC Sports Northwest for the rights through the 2020–21 season. However, the team declined and renewed with NBC Sports Northwest instead, as Root Sports could not guarantee a carriage agreement with Comcast (NBCSNW's parent company).[15][16]

In June 2021, it was announced that Root Sports had acquired the regional television rights to the Trail Blazers beginning in the 2021–22 season; the network's wider carriage, especially on streaming services and satellite, in comparison to NBCSNW was a factor in the acquisition. The timing of the deal was bad as Dish Network dropped all AT&T Sports Networks, including Root Sports, just before the start of the season on September 30. [23] All Trail Blazers telecasts are produced in-house by the team.[15][24]

Seattle Seahawks

Root Sports carries shoulder programming for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, airing head coach Pete Carroll's weekly press conference, branded as Seahawks Press Pass, and the team's weekly magazine program, Seahawks All Access.

Utah Jazz and Vegas Golden Knights

Until 2023, Root Sports carried Vegas Golden Knights games and related programming produced by then sister-network AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain on cable providers in Idaho and Montana.[25][26] DirecTV and streaming providers have access to those games by tuning to AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. On October 25, 2023, Sinclair and the Jazz announced a territory expansion where Root Sports will continue to air Utah Jazz games produced by KJZZ-TV.[27] Prior to the 2023–24 NBA season, Jazz games were also produced by AT&T Sports Rocky Mountain. Due to territory rights, neither Portland Trail Blazers nor Seattle Kraken games will air in these areas of Idaho and Montana.[28][29] Golden Knights games left Root Sports in 2023 to pursue over-the-air broadcasting in partnership with Scripps Sports, as well as an OTT subscription service called KnightTime+; this arrangement covers Root Sports' territory.[30] However, the Jazz continue to air games on Root Sports Northwest, simulcasting broadcasts produced by the team for KJZZ-TV and the Jazz+ streaming service.[31]

Teams by media market
MLB NBA NHL
Seattle Mariners[32] Portland Trail Blazers[28] Utah Jazz
(produced by KJZZ-TV)		 Seattle Kraken[29]
Washington(excluding Seattle)YesYesYesYes
Seattle marketYesYesNoYes
Oregon(excluding Portland)YesYesYesYes
Portland marketYesYesNoYes
Alaska(all markets)YesYesNoYes
Idaho(excluding Spokane)YesNoYesNo
Spokane marketYesNoYesYes
Montana(excluding Spokane)YesNoYesNo
Spokane marketYesNoYesYes

Collegiate programming

In the winter, the network home to West Coast Conference basketball. Local WCC coverage is primarily focused on the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Portland Pilots, and includes both live games and The Mark Few Show, a weekly coaches' show for Gonzaga men's basketball. The network also airs Talkin' Ducks and Talkin' Beavers, insider programs featuring the teams of Oregon and Oregon State, respectively.[33]

Former programming

On-air staff

Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball/WCC basketball
  • Greg Heister – Gonzaga and WCC basketball play-by-play
  • Dan Dickau – Gonzaga and WCC basketball color commentator
  • Richard Fox – Gonzaga and WCC basketball color commentator
  • Francis Williams – college basketball color commentator and studio analyst

Portland Trail Blazers

Seattle Kraken

Seattle Mariners
  • Brad Adam – Mariners pre-game and post-game host, basketball play-by-play, studio host and sideline reporter (2000–present)
  • Aaron Goldsmith – Mariners play-by-play announcer (2016–present) (currently he is the secondary Mariners Radio play-by-play announcer for Mariners Radio Network since 2013)
  • Rick Rizzs – Mariners play-by-play announcer (currently he is the lead Mariners Radio play-by-play announcer for Mariners Radio Network since 2011)
  • Dave Sims – Mariners baseball play-by-play (2007–present)
  • Mike Blowers – Mariners baseball analyst (2007–present)
  • Dave Valle – Mariners baseball analyst (2010–present)
  • Ryan Rowland-Smith – Mariners studio analyst
  • Jen Mueller – host of Mariners All Access and sideline reporter (2007–present)
  • Bill Krueger – senior baseball analyst (2000–present)

Others
  • Angie Mentink – host of many of the network's magazine show and a sideline reporter (1999–present)
  • Warren Moon – host of Seahawks All Access (2003–present)
  • Tom Glasgow – football and basketball play-by-play (2008–present)
  • Jason Stiles – football analyst (2006–present)
  • Taylor Barton – college football color commentator and studio analyst

Former on-air staff
  • Shaun Alexander – host of The Shaun Alexander Show (2002–2004)
  • Cara Capuano – anchor/reporter (2004–2008)
  • Brian Davis – NBA host (2004–2008, now Oklahoma City Thunder play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports Oklahoma)
  • Jason Gesser – football analyst and contributor for Cougars All Access (2009–2011)
  • Dave Niehaus – Mariners play-by-play announcer (died on November 10, 2010)
  • Don Poier – play-by-play announcer (died on January 21, 2005)
  • Kerry Sayers – anchor/reporter (2002–2004, now at WSCR and WFLD in Chicago)
  • John Strong – Portland Timbers play-by-play (2007–2013)
  • Mack Strong – college football analyst and host of Mack Strong: Seahawks Insider (2008–2011)
  • Sonny Sixkiller – college football analyst
  • Lenny Wilkens – NBA expert and college basketball analyst (2006–2013)
  • Nicole Zaloumis – sideline reporter (2008–2010, now with Sirius XM Radio)
  • Vinnie Richichi – Mariners sideline reporter

Portland Timbers
  • Jake Zivin – Timbers play-by-play, host of Timbers in 30
  • Ross Smith – Timbers color commentator
  • Nat Borchers – Timbers color commentator
  • Samantha Yarock – Timbers sideline reporter

Seattle Sounders
  • Keith Costigan – Sounders FC play-by-play
  • Matt Johnson – Sounders FC play-by-play
  • Kasey Keller – Sounders FC color commentator
  • Steve Spanish – Sounders FC color commentator

Carriage

On September 30, 2021, Dish Network's carriage agreements for Root Sports Northwest, and AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh and Rocky Mountain expired.[37] Shortly thereafter, DirecTV announced an agreement to carry the channel on its satellite TV service and on DirecTV Stream, its streaming service.[38]

FuboTV added Root Sports Northwest in October 2021. It became the first streaming-only television provider to offer the channel, after neither Hulu nor YouTube TV signed a carriage agreement.[39]

Comcast told customers on October 10, 2023, that it moved Root Sports Northwest to its highest priced "Ultimate" tier, angering many sports fans. The carrier planned to offer a discounted upgrade fee for six months.[40]

References
  1. Bergum, Steve (August 18, 1990). "Delayed WSU telecasts not available from Cox". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. B1.
  2. "ICI, Viacom sports pact is official" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine: 51. April 10, 1990. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  3. R. Thomas Umstead (July 8, 1996). "Liberty Sports regionals will become Fox Sports net". Multichannel News. The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  4. Nick Daschel (November 1, 1996). "PRIME SPORTS TO BECOME FOX SPORTS NW". The Columbian. Columbian Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  5. "News Corp. Reaches Deal with Liberty Media". The New York Times. December 22, 2006. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  6. Todd Spangler (May 4, 2009). "DirecTV, Liberty Media Announce Spin-Off Plan". Multichannel News. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  7. "DirecTV, Liberty Media Detail Spinoff Plans". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. May 4, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  8. Mike Reynolds (November 20, 2009). "Liberty Sports Rebrands As DirecTV Sports Networks". Multichannel News. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on 2015-04-17. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  9. "'Root Sports' new name for sports networks". Denver Business Journal. American City Business Journals. December 17, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  10. Nick Eaton (April 16, 2013). "Update: Mariners buy, will control Root Sports Northwest TV network". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on 2013-04-19. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  11. "Root Sports regional nets now part of AT&T Sports Networks". Awful Announcing. Ken Fang. April 9, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  12. "AT&T Rebranding Three ROOT Sports RSNs as 'AT&T SportsNet' in July". Sports Video Group. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-20. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  13. "Root Sports Southwest is now AT&T SportsNet Southwest". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2017-07-15. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  14. "ROOT Sports NW Debuts New Graphics on Mariners Telecasts". From the Corner of Edgar & Dave. 2017-07-15. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  15. "ROOT Sports acquires Portland Trail Blazers' broadcast rights". The Seattle Times. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  16. McIntosh, Andrew (26 January 2021). "NHL's Seattle Kraken signs multiyear TV broadcast rights deal". Puget Sound Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  17. "Root Sports Plus channel guide".
  18. "DISH removes AT&T SportsNet". AT&T SportsNet. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  19. "ROOT Sports Northwest says it's not impacted by Warner Bros. Discovery exiting local sports business". The Seattle Times. 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  20. "M's, PSN unite". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). May 18, 1994. p. C1.
  21. Clark, Ryan S. "Seattle Kraken hire John Forslund and announce TV broadcast deal". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  22. Mike Tokito (January 27, 2015). "Present and past show challenges Trail Blazers have in solving TV dilemma: Media Mike Check". oregonlive.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  23. Baker, Geoff (30 September 2021). "ROOT Sports' deal with Dish Network expires, leaving subscribers out of luck to watch Mariners and Kraken". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  24. Freeman, Joe (9 June 2021). "Portland Trail Blazers' television broadcast moving to Root Sports with 4-year deal". The Oregonian. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  25. "Golden Knights Available To ROOT Sports Viewers In Montana And Idaho". nhl.com. October 12, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  26. "Vegas Golden Knights Available to Root Sports Viewers in Montana and Idaho". Root Sports Northwest. October 26, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  27. "Utah Jazz Expand Broadcast Territory to Reach 3M+ Additional Fans Across Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming". NBA.com. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  28. "Trail Blazers Questions". Root Sports Northwest. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  29. "Kraken Questions". Root Sports Northwest. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  30. published, George Winslow (2023-05-05). "Scripps Inks Multiyear Deal to Air Vegas Golden Knights NHL Games". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  31. "Utah Jazz expand broadcast territory into Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming". Deseret News. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  32. "Mariners Questions". Root Sports Northwest. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  33. Oregonian/OregonLive, Aaron Fentress | The (2022-09-02). "Talkin' Ducks: Oregon football season preview and Georgia game predictions". oregonlive. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  34. "Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  35. Feuerstein, Daniel (29 September 2022). "MLS killed the TV star: A farewell to MLS regional broadcast crews". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  36. "Scripps TV stations to air Big Sky Conference games starting in 2022". MontanaSports.com (MTSPX). 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  37. "ROOT Sports' deal with Dish Network expires, leaving subscribers out of luck to watch Mariners and Kraken". The Seattle Times. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  38. Baker, Geoff (2021-10-13). "ROOT Sports, DirecTV reach deal to broadcast Kraken, Trail Blazers games". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  39. Brown, Tim (2021-10-14). "Root Sports now live on fuboTV: How to watch Blazers games without cable in 2021". oregonlive. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  40. Baker, Geoff (2023-10-10). "Xfinity customers will have to pay significantly more to watch Kraken, Mariners". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
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