View source for Root Sports Northwest

{{Short description|American regional sports television network}}
{{redirect|Root Sports|the group of regional sports networks formerly called Root Sports|AT&T SportsNet}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Root Sports Northwest
| logo = Root Sports logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_caption = 
| logo_alt = 
| image = 
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1988|11|}} {{specify|date=April 2015}}
| closed_date = 
| picture_format = [[720p]] ([[HDTV]])<br>[[480i]] ([[SDTV]])
| owner = [[Seattle Mariners]] (Baseball Club of Seattle, LP)
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| area = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]<br>[[Oregon]]<br>[[Idaho]]<br>[[Montana]]<br>[[Alaska]]<br>Nationwide (via satellite)
| headquarters = [[Bellevue, Washington]]
| former_names = Northwest Cable Sports<br>(1988–1989)<br>Prime Sports Northwest<br>(1989–1996)<br>Fox Sports Northwest<br>(1996–1999)<br>Fox Sports Net Northwest<br>(1999–2004)<br>FSN Northwest<br>(2004–2008)<br>FS Northwest<br>(2008–2011)
| replaced = 
| replaced_by = 
| sister_channels = 
| timeshift_service = 
| website = {{URL|http://northwest.rootsports.com/|northwest.rootsports.com}}
| availability_note = <br>{{small|(some events may air on overflow feed Root Sports Northwest Plus due to event conflicts)}}
| online_serv_1 = [[DirecTV Stream]]
| online_chan_1 = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
| online_serv_2 = [[FuboTV]]
| online_chan_2 = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
}}

'''Root Sports Northwest''', sometimes branded simply as '''Root Sports''', is an American [[regional sports network]] owned by the [[Seattle Mariners]]. 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, Oregon|Portland]]. It is available on [[cable television|cable]] providers throughout [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Oregon]], [[Idaho]], [[Montana]], and [[Alaska]] and nationwide on [[direct broadcast satellite|satellite]] via [[DirecTV]].

==History==
Root Sports Northwest was launched in late 1988 as '''Northwest Cable Sports''',<ref name=delwsu>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r9RYAAAAIBAJ&pg=3711%2C5770849 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Bergum |first=Steve |title=Delayed WSU telecasts not available from Cox |date=August 18, 1990|page=B1}}</ref> by [[Tele-Communications Inc.]] and [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]]. Early programming included games from [[Washington Huskies|Washington]] and [[Washington State Cougars|Washington State]] Universities and [[Tacoma Stars]] soccer games.<ref>{{cite journal |title=ICI, Viacom sports pact is official |journal=Broadcasting Magazine |date=April 10, 1990 |page=51 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/89-OCR/BC-1989-04-10-OCR-Page-0051.pdf |access-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref> By 1989, it affiliated with the newly formed [[Prime Sports Network]] and was rebranded '''Prime Sports Northwest'''.

In 1996, [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]], which formed a sports division for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Umstead |first=R. Thomas |date=July 8, 1996 |title=Liberty Sports regionals will become Fox Sports net |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18535905.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145828/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18535905.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]] |periodical=[[Multichannel News]]}}</ref> Later that year on November 1, News Corporation and Liberty Media relaunched the Prime Network affiliates as part of the new [[Fox Sports Networks|Fox Sports Net]] group, with the Seattle-based network officially rebranding as '''Fox Sports Northwest'''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Daschel |first=Nick |date=November 1, 1996 |title=PRIME SPORTS TO BECOME FOX SPORTS NW |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23364934.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924191038/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23364934.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Columbian]] |publisher=Columbian Publishing Company}}</ref> 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 [[Root Sports Utah|FSN Utah]], [[Root Sports Pittsburgh|FSN Pittsburgh]] and [[Root Sports Rocky Mountain|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=News Corp. Reaches Deal with Liberty Media|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/news-corp-reaches-deal-with-liberty-media/?_r=0|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 22, 2006|access-date=April 9, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416162411/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/news-corp-reaches-deal-with-liberty-media/?_r=0|archive-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref> On May 4, 2009, DirecTV Group Inc. announced it would become a part of Liberty's entertainment unit, part of which would then be [[corporate spin-off|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 C. Malone|John Malone]] and his family owning a 24% interest. DirecTV would operate its newly acquired FSN-affiliated networks through [[DirecTV Sports Networks]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=May 4, 2009 |title=DirecTV, Liberty Media Announce Spin-Off Plan |url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/satellite/directv-liberty-media-announce-spin-plan/301694 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416234532/http://www.multichannel.com/news/satellite/directv-liberty-media-announce-spin-plan/301694 |archive-date=April 16, 2015 |access-date=April 16, 2015 |periodical=[[Multichannel News]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=DirecTV, Liberty Media Detail Spinoff Plans |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/business/businessnews/2009/05/04/DirecTV-Liberty-Media-detail-spinoff-plans/stories/200905040126 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=May 4, 2009 |access-date=March 27, 2019}}</ref> a new division formed when the split off from Liberty Media was completed on November 19, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Mike |date=November 20, 2009 |title=Liberty Sports Rebrands As DirecTV Sports Networks |url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/satellite/liberty-sports-rebrands-directv-sports-networks/301653 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417000446/http://www.multichannel.com/news/satellite/liberty-sports-rebrands-directv-sports-networks/301653 |archive-date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=April 16, 2015 |publisher=[[NewBay Media]] |periodical=Multichannel News}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|title='Root Sports' new name for sports networks|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2010/12/17/root-sports-new-name-for-sports.html|newspaper=Denver Business Journal|publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=December 17, 2010|access-date=December 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223140555/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2010/12/17/root-sports-new-name-for-sports.html|archive-date=December 23, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 and entertainment programming.

In April 2013, the Seattle Mariners announced that they would acquire controlling interest (a 71% stake) 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 (29% stake) and controlling partner, and the network continued to operate under the Root Sports brand.<ref name="spi-saletomariners">{{cite news |last=Eaton |first=Nick |date=April 16, 2013 |title=Update: Mariners buy, will control Root Sports Northwest TV network |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2013/04/16/report-mariners-taking-over-root-sports-making-it-their-own-tv-network/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419014047/http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2013/04/16/report-mariners-taking-over-root-sports-making-it-their-own-tv-network/ |archive-date=April 19, 2013 |access-date=April 16, 2013 |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]}}</ref>

DirecTV was subsequently acquired by [[AT&T]];<ref>{{cite web |last=Fang |first=Ken |date=April 9, 2016 |title=Root Sports regional nets now part of AT&T Sports Networks |url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/root-sports-regional-nets-now-part-of-att-sports-networks.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412060756/http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/root-sports-regional-nets-now-part-of-att-sports-networks.html |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |website=Awful Announcing}}</ref> 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.<ref name="svg-attsn">{{cite web |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=June 13, 2017 |title=AT&T Rebranding Three ROOT Sports RSNs as 'AT&T SportsNet' in July |url=http://www.sportsvideo.org/2017/06/13/att-rebranding-three-root-sports-rsns-as-att-sportsnet-in-july/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620001900/http://www.sportsvideo.org/2017/06/13/att-rebranding-three-root-sports-rsns-as-att-sportsnet-in-july/ |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |access-date=June 19, 2017 |website=Sports Video Group}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barron |first=David |date=July 14, 2017 |title=Root Sports Southwest is now AT&T SportsNet Southwest |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Root-Sports-Southwest-is-now-AT-T-SportsNet-11290112.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715014034/http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Root-Sports-Southwest-is-now-AT-T-SportsNet-11290112.php |archive-date=July 15, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> Nonetheless, Root Sports still introduced a rebranded version of AT&T SportsNet's new on-air graphics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://marinersblog.mlblogs.com/root-sports-nw-debuts-new-graphics-on-mariners-telecasts-c56ded1d5e0|title=ROOT Sports NW Debuts New Graphics on Mariners Telecasts|date=July 15, 2017|work=From the Corner of Edgar & Dave|access-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=June 9, 2021 |title=ROOT Sports acquires Portland Trail Blazers' broadcast rights |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/root-sports-acquires-portland-trail-blazers-broadcast-rights/ |access-date=October 29, 2021 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="psbj-2021-01">{{cite news|last=McIntosh|first=Andrew|date=January 26, 2021|title=NHL's Seattle Kraken signs multiyear TV broadcast rights deal|work=Puget Sound Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/01/26/nhls-seattle-kraken-signs-tv-broadcast-rights-deal.html|access-date=January 30, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, Root Sports added an overflow channel, known as Root Sports Plus, to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Mariners, Kraken, and Blazers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Root Sports Plus channel guide|url=https://northwest.rootsports.com/plus-guide/}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DISH removes AT&T SportsNet|url=https://rockymountain-attsn.att.com/dish-removes-att-sportsnet/|access-date=October 20, 2021|website=AT&T SportsNet.|language=en-US}}</ref>

After the announcement that [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] (WBD) would leave the regional sports network business in March 2023, Patrick Crumb, Seattle-based president of AT&T SportsNet operations, said that Root Sports would not be affected.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2023 |title=ROOT Sports Northwest says it's not impacted by Warner Bros. Discovery exiting local sports business |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/root-sports-northwest-says-its-not-impacted-by-warner-bros-discovery-exiting-local-sports-business/ |access-date=March 20, 2023 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In December of that year, ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' reported that the Mariners would acquire full control of Root Sports at the beginning of 2024, and that WBD would no longer produce Mariners telecasts.<ref name="seattletimes-2023-12-15">{{Cite web |last=Divish |first=Ryan |last2=Jude |first2=Adam |name-list-style=and |date=December 15, 2023 |title=Mariners to take full control of ROOT Sports NW, clouding team's financial outlook |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-to-take-full-control-of-root-sports-nw-clouding-teams-financial-outlook/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In November 2024, [[The Athletic|''The Athletic'']] reported that [[MLB Local Media]] would take over production of Mariners games to air on Root Sports.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Drellich |first=Evan |date=2024-11-22 |title=MLB plans new national TV packages for 2028; changes to revenue sharing, CBA crucial |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5933299/2024/11/19/mlb-plans-new-national-tv-packages-for-2028-changes-to-revenue-sharing-cba-crucial/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=[[The Athletic]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Ahead of the Mariners season, the network introduced a direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming subscription known as Root Sports Stream.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer|first=Daniel|date=March 21, 2025 |title=All Mariners games available blackout-free on ROOT Sports Stream |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/root-sports-stream-offers-all-mariners-games-blackout-free |access-date=March 24, 2025 |website=Major League Baseball|language=en-US}}</ref>

==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-plus-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 Seattle Mariners season|1994]], with sixteen of the scheduled 88 televised games; the remainder were broadcast over-the-air on [[KSTW]].<ref name=mpsunte>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CnQfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5227%2C5131964 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=M's, PSN unite |date=May 18, 1994 |page=C1}}</ref> A [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|players' strike]] canceled the last quarter of the {{mlby|1994}} season and the first several weeks of the {{mlby|1995}} season.

=== 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Knights Available To ROOT Sports Viewers In Montana And Idaho |url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-available-to-root-sports-viewers-in-montana-and-idaho/c-291862488 |website=nhl.com |date=October 12, 2017 |access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vegas Golden Knights Available to Root Sports Viewers in Montana and Idaho|url=https://northwest.rootsports.com/2017/10/26/vegas-golden-knights-available-to-root-sports-viewers-in-montana-and-idaho/ |website=Root Sports Northwest |date=October 26, 2017|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref> DirecTV and streaming providers had access to those games by tuning to AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. On October 25, 2023, [[Sinclair Broadcast Group|Sinclair]] and the Jazz announced a territory expansion where Root Sports will continue to air Utah Jazz games produced by [[KJZZ-TV]].<ref>{{cite web |date=October 24, 2023 |title=Utah Jazz Expand Broadcast Territory to Reach 3M+ Additional Fans Across Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming |url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-expand-broadcast-territory-to-reach-3m-additional-fans-across-idaho-oregon-montana-washington-and-wyoming |access-date=October 25, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BlazersFAQ">{{cite web |title=Trail Blazers Questions |url=https://northwest.rootsports.com/trail-blazers-questions/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=Root Sports Northwest}}</ref><ref name="KrakenFAQ">{{cite web |title=Kraken Questions |url=https://northwest.rootsports.com/kraken-questions/ |website=Root Sports Northwest |access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Winslow |first=George |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Scripps Inks Multiyear Deal to Air Vegas Golden Knights NHL Games |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/scripps-inks-multiyear-deal-to-air-vegas-golden-knights-nhl-games |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=TVTechnology |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Sarah |date=October 24, 2023 |title=Utah Jazz expand broadcast territory into Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/10/24/23929962/utah-jazz-expand-broadcast-territory-into-idaho-oregon-montana-washington-and-wyoming |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>

====Teams by media market====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" |
! MLB
! NBA
|- colspan="2"
! Seattle Mariners<ref name="MarinersFAQ">{{cite web |title=Mariners Questions |url=https://northwest.rootsports.com/mariners-questions/ |website=Root Sports Northwest |access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref>
! Utah Jazz<br><small>(produced by [[KJZZ-TV]])</small>
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''Washington''' || (excluding Seattle) || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| Seattle market || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''Oregon''' || (excluding Portland) || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| Portland market || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| '''Alaska''' || (all markets) || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''Idaho''' || (excluding Spokane) || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| Spokane market || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''Montana''' || (excluding Spokane) || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| Spokane market || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|}

=== Collegiate programming ===
The network is the regional home of [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball]], producing and airing all regular season contests not picked up by a national network, as well as the team's coaches show, ''The Mark Few Show''. The network also airs ''Talkin' Huskies'', ''Talkin' Cougars'', ''Talkin' Ducks'' and ''Talkin' Beavers'', insider programs featuring the teams of [[Washington Huskies|Washington]], [[Washington State Cougars|Washington State]], [[Oregon Ducks|Oregon]] and [[Oregon State Beavers|Oregon State]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fentress |first=Aaron |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Talkin' Ducks: Oregon football season preview and Georgia game predictions |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2022/09/talkin-ducks-oregon-football-season-preview-and-georgia-game-predictions.html |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}</ref>

=== Former programming ===
* [[Seattle SuperSonics]] basketball until the NBA franchise [[Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City|relocated]] to [[Oklahoma City]] (as the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]]) in 2008
* [[WNBA]] games from the [[Seattle Storm]], before those games moved over-the-air to former sister television station [[KING-TV]] (on its 5.2 digital subchannel) and [[KONG-TV]]
* Athletic events from the [[Pac-12 Conference]] (most often featuring [[Washington Huskies|Washington]], [[Washington State Cougars|Washington State]], Oregon, or Oregon State) until those were moved to the [[Pac-12 Network]] in 2012 and [[Fox Sports 1]] in 2013.
* Seattle Seahawks preseason football games
* [[Seattle Redhawks men's basketball|Seattle University Redhawks men's basketball]]
* [[Western Athletic Conference]] football and basketball
* The [[Western Hockey League]] (2008—2015)
* [[Seattle Sounders FC]] and [[Portland Timbers]] soccer matches, full game replays, studio and insider programming (currently airs on [[Apple TV]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023 |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/06/apple-and-mls-to-present-all-mls-matches-for-10-years-beginning-in-2023/ |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Feuerstein |first=Daniel |date=September 29, 2022 |title=MLS killed the TV star: A farewell to MLS regional broadcast crews |work=World Soccer Talk |url=https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/09/29/mls-killed-the-tv-star-a-farewell-to-mls-regional-broadcast-crews/ |access-date=October 18, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Big Sky Conference]] football (now aired by Scripps TV affiliates)<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Scripps TV stations to air Big Sky Conference games starting in 2022 |url=https://www.montanasports.com/big-sky-conference/scripps-tv-stations-to-air-big-sky-conference-games-starting-in-2022 |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=MontanaSports.com (MTSPX) |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Great Northwest Athletic Conference]] men's and women's basketball
* [[Mountain West Conference]] football and men's basketball
* [[Washington Interscholastic Activities Association]] football and basketball, including championship games
* [[Oregon School Activities Association]] high school football championships

==== Seattle Kraken ====
Root Sports held 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.<ref name="Kraken">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Ryan S. |title=Seattle Kraken hire John Forslund and announce TV broadcast deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2345628/2021/01/26/seattle-kraken-forslund-root-sports/ |access-date=January 26, 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref> Coverage included live broadcasts of 70-plus regular season games each year, as well as preseason and first-round playoff contests, pregame and postgame shows, game replays, and the weekly magazine program ''Inside Kraken Hockey''.

On April 25, 2024, the Kraken announced that they would be leaving Root Sports in favor of broadcasting over-the-air through a deal with [[Tegna Inc.|Tegna]] and its Seattle stations [[KING-TV]] and [[KONG (TV)|KONG-TV]], along with streaming through [[Sports on Amazon Prime Video|Amazon Prime Video]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=Kraken leaving ROOT Sports for new TV and streaming deals |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/kraken-leaving-root-sports-for-new-tv-and-streaming-deals/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 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-view]]s and team-run Action Sports Cable Network. This lasted until 2007, when the team signed with Comcast SportsNet Northwest (now [[NBC Sports Northwest]]).<ref name="Present and past show challenges">{{Cite web |last=Tokito |first=Mike |date=January 27, 2015 |title=Present and past show challenges Trail Blazers have in solving TV dilemma: Media Mike Check |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/12/present_and_past_show_challeng.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818062808/http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/12/present_and_past_show_challeng.html |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |access-date=August 10, 2016 |website=oregonlive.com}}</ref>

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).<ref name=":0" /><ref name="psbj-2021-01" />

In June 2021, it was announced that Root Sports had acquired the regional television rights to the Trail Blazers beginning in the [[2021–22 Portland Trail Blazers season|2021–22 season]]; the network's wider carriage, especially on streaming services and satellite, in comparison to NBCSNW was a factor in the acquisition. [[Dish Network]] dropped all AT&T Sports Networks, including Root Sports, just before the start of the season on September 30.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=September 30, 2021 |title=ROOT Sports' deal with Dish Network expires, leaving subscribers out of luck to watch Mariners and Kraken |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/root-sports-deal-with-dish-network-expires-leaving-subscribers-out-of-luck-to-watch-mariners-and-kraken/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |work=The Seattle Times |language=en}}</ref> All Trail Blazers telecasts are produced in-house by the team.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Freeman |first=Joe |date=June 9, 2021 |title=Portland Trail Blazers' television broadcast moving to Root Sports with 4-year deal |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/06/portland-trail-blazers-television-broadcast-moving-to-root-sports-with-4-year-deal.html |access-date=July 31, 2021 |work=The Oregonian |language=en}}</ref> Additional team content aired on the network includes pre- and post-game shows, game replays, and the weekly magazine program ''The Trail''.

On August 14, 2024, the Trail Blazers announced that they would be leaving Root Sports, though a replacement broadcaster had not been named at that time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-14 |title=Portland Trail Blazers end broadcast deal with Root Sports, effective immediately |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/nba/blazers/portland-trail-blazers-end-broadcast-root-sports/283-03438dbb-62a7-4fac-a95b-3375b04ded90 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=kgw.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The Trail Blazers would later launch the [[Rip City Television Network]] in collaboration with the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] to air games throughout the Oregon and Washington areas.

==On-air staff==

===Current 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

====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)
* [[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 (American football)|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 (sportscaster)|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 (sportscaster)|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 Holdings|Sirius XM Radio]])
* Vinnie Richichi – Mariners sideline reporter
* [[Dave Sims]] – Mariners baseball play-by-play (2007–2024)

====Portland Timbers====
* Jake Zivin – Timbers play-by-play, host of ''Timbers in 30''
* [[Ross Smith (soccer)|Ross Smith]] – Timbers color commentator
* [[Nat Borchers]] – Timbers color commentator
* Samantha Yarock – Timbers sideline reporter

====Portland Trail Blazers====
* [[Kevin Calabro]] – Trail Blazers play-by-play
* Lamar Hurd – Trail Blazers color commentator
* [[Brooke Olzendam]] – Trail Blazers sideline reporter
* [[Michael Holton]] – Trail Blazers studio analyst

====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

====Seattle Kraken====
* [[John Forslund]] – Kraken play-by-play
* [[J. T. Brown (ice hockey)|J. T. Brown]] – Kraken color commentator
* [[Eddie Olczyk]] – Kraken color commentator
* [[Ross Fletcher]] - Kraken studio host
* [[Alison Lukan]] – Kraken studio analyst/ice-level reporter
* [[Nick Olczyk]] – Kraken studio analyst

== Carriage ==
On September 30, 2021, [[Dish Network]]'s carriage agreements for Root Sports Northwest, and AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh and Rocky Mountain expired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=September 30, 2021 |title=ROOT Sports' deal with Dish Network expires, leaving subscribers out of luck to watch Mariners and Kraken |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/root-sports-deal-with-dish-network-expires-leaving-subscribers-out-of-luck-to-watch-mariners-and-kraken/ |access-date=October 29, 2021 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, [[DirecTV]] announced an agreement to carry the channel on its satellite TV service and on [[DirecTV Stream]], its streaming service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=October 13, 2021 |title=ROOT Sports, DirecTV reach deal to broadcast Kraken, Trail Blazers games |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/root-sports-directv-reach-deal-to-broadcast-kraken-trail-blazers-games/ |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Tim |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Root Sports now live on fuboTV: How to watch Blazers games without cable in 2021 |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/10/root-sports-now-live-on-fubotv-how-to-watch-portland-trail-blazers-games-without-cable-in-2021.html |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}</ref>

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 offered a discounted upgrade fee for six months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Xfinity customers will have to pay significantly more to watch Kraken, Mariners |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/xfinity-customers-will-have-to-pay-more-for-root-sports-northwest-to-watch-kraken-mariners/ |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

When the Mariners' First Avenue Entertainment acquired majority control of Root Sports in 2013, Comcast had 3.4 million subscribers in the team's home market. As of December 2023, according to an industry source, Comcast had about 1.2 million subscribers in the same market.<ref name="seattletimes-2023-12-15"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://northwest.rootsports.com/}}

{{Portland Trail Blazers}}
{{Seattle Mariners}}
{{Seattle Kraken}}
{{Bally Sports}}
{{Fox Sports Networks}}
{{Prime Network}}
{{Seattle TV}}
{{Portland TV}}
{{U.S. regional sports networks}}

[[Category:Cable television in the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Bellevue, Washington]]
[[Category:AT&T SportsNet]]
[[Category:Fox Sports]]
[[Category:Prime Sports]]
[[Category:Fox Sports Networks]]
[[Category:Sports television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1988]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Bally Sports]]
[[Category:Former Warner Bros. Discovery subsidiaries]]