Root Sports Northwest
A former regional sports network serving the Pacific Northwest, with programming centered on professional and collegiate teams in the region.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Root Sports Northwest was a regional sports network serving viewers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The channel specialized in live and supporting coverage of teams associated with the Pacific Northwest, particularly the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball, the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League, and, during its final period, the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. It also distributed collegiate sports, coaches’ shows, team magazines, press conferences, analysis, replays, and other locally oriented programming. The service began on November 5, 1988, as Northwest Cable Sports, a venture associated with Tele-Communications Inc. and Viacom. It joined the Prime Sports Network in 1989 and adopted the Prime Sports Northwest name. Following News Corporation’s expansion of regional sports networks, the channel became Fox Sports Northwest in 1996, later using Fox Sports Net Northwest and FSN Northwest branding. In 2006, ownership interests in the network moved from News Corporation to Liberty Media in an asset transaction involving DirecTV. The network subsequently operated under DirecTV Sports Networks. DirecTV announced the Root Sports identity for several of its regional outlets in December 2010, and the Northwest service formally adopted the Root Sports Northwest name on April 1, 2011. The Seattle Mariners acquired a 71 percent controlling interest in 2013 while DirecTV retained a minority interest. When DirecTV’s regional sports assets later became associated with AT&T, most sister networks were renamed AT&T SportsNet in 2017, but Root Sports Northwest retained its established name. The network expanded its portfolio before the 2021–22 sports season by adding regional rights for the Seattle Kraken and Portland Trail Blazers. It also introduced Root Sports Plus in 2021 to handle overlapping live events and experimented with direct-to-consumer distribution through Root Sports Stream in 2025. Distribution remained challenging: Dish Network and Sling removed the service after carriage negotiations ended, while Comcast moved it to a higher-priced tier in 2023. The Seattle Mariners ultimately took full control of the network in 2024 after Warner Bros. Discovery elected to exit the regional sports-network business. In 2025, MLB Local Media assumed production responsibilities for Mariners telecasts. The Mariners announced in September 2025 that Root Sports Northwest would close at the end of that year and that a replacement distribution model, Mariners.TV, would be developed for the 2026 season. The streaming service ended on December 14, 2025, and the linear channel ceased operations on December 31, 2025.
History
Root Sports Northwest launched in 1988 as Northwest Cable Sports, initially carrying college sports and local events such as Tacoma Stars soccer. It joined Prime Sports in 1989 and became Prime Sports Northwest. In 1996, after News Corporation and Liberty Media reorganized Prime affiliates into the Fox Sports Net group, the service was renamed Fox Sports Northwest. It later used Fox Sports Net Northwest and FSN Northwest names as the Fox regional-network brand evolved. Ownership changed substantially in the late 2000s. News Corporation sold its interest in the network and several sister outlets to Liberty Media in 2006. The regional networks became part of the sports operations associated with DirecTV after Liberty reorganized its entertainment assets. DirecTV announced the Root Sports brand in 2010, and the Northwest channel adopted the name in April 2011. The Seattle Mariners became the network’s majority owner in 2013 through First Avenue Entertainment. This ownership arrangement distinguished the Northwest outlet from other DirecTV regional networks. When DirecTV’s sports properties became associated with AT&T and sister channels were renamed AT&T SportsNet in 2017, the Mariners retained the Root Sports identity, although the network used graphics associated with the newer corporate group. Mariners coverage was the network’s central offering. The channel carried most of the club’s regular-season games, spring-training coverage, pregame and postgame shows, and programs such as Mariners All Access and Mariners Mondays. Other long-running programming included Seahawks press and magazine shows, Gonzaga basketball, and studio programs devoted to Washington, Washington State, Oregon, and Oregon State athletics. Over time, the schedule also included or formerly included Seattle SuperSonics, Seattle Storm, Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Western Hockey League, Pac-12, and other collegiate or amateur sports. The network’s late expansion included the Seattle Kraken, which selected Root Sports as its inaugural regional television partner in 2021, and the Portland Trail Blazers, whose rights returned to the network for the 2021–22 season. Root Sports Plus was introduced to manage simultaneous Mariners, Kraken, and Trail Blazers events. Distribution disputes continued, however, including the loss of Dish Network and Sling carriage and Comcast’s 2023 move of the channel to a premium tier. The service also added FuboTV and later introduced Root Sports Stream as a direct-to-consumer option. Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to leave the regional sports-network business led to renewed ownership changes. The Mariners obtained full control in 2024, and MLB Local Media began producing Mariners broadcasts in 2025. The Kraken and Trail Blazers both departed during the same period, choosing alternative broadcast and streaming arrangements. In September 2025, the Mariners announced the closure of Root Sports Northwest. Its streaming platform ended on December 14, and the linear network shut down on December 31. The Mariners then worked with MLB Local Media on Mariners.TV for the following season.
- 2025
Network closes
[1]Root Sports Stream ends on December 14 and the linear channel ceases operations on December 31.
- 2024
Mariners obtain full control
[1]The Mariners take full ownership after Warner Bros. Discovery exits the regional sports-network business.
- 2021
Kraken and Trail Blazers rights added
[1]Root Sports adds regional coverage of both teams for the 2021–22 seasons.
- 2013
Mariners acquire majority stake
[1]The Seattle Mariners acquire a 71 percent controlling interest.
- 2011
Root Sports Northwest launches
[1]FSN Northwest is renamed Root Sports Northwest on April 1.
- 1996
Fox Sports Northwest identity begins
[1]The Prime affiliate is relaunched within the Fox Sports Net regional-network group.
- 1989
Prime Sports affiliation
[1]The channel joins Prime Sports and becomes Prime Sports Northwest.
- 1988
Northwest Cable Sports launches
[1]The regional channel begins operations in the Pacific Northwest with programming that includes college athletics and local sports.
Products and positioning
A Pacific Northwest regional sports network built around local professional teams, regional distribution, and supplementary sports analysis and magazine programming.
Regional sports television network · 1988
Root Sports Northwest
The main linear regional sports channel, distributed by cable and satellite providers across the Pacific Northwest and focused on live professional sports, collegiate events, analysis, and locally produced team programming.
Sports television overflow channel · 2021
Root Sports Plus
An overflow service introduced in 2021 to carry simultaneous or conflicting Mariners, Kraken, and Trail Blazers events that could not all fit on the primary Root Sports schedule.
Direct-to-consumer streaming service · 2025
Root Sports Stream
A direct subscription streaming product introduced during the network’s final operating year. The service was discontinued before the linear channel closed.
Brand decisions
2025
Close the network and create a Mariners replacementStrategyBackground
The regional sports-network business was undergoing consolidation, while the Mariners controlled their own network and distribution strategy.
Action taken
The Mariners announced the closure of Root Sports Northwest and partnered with MLB Local Media on Mariners.TV for the 2026 season.
Aftermath
The streaming service ended on December 14 and the linear network ended on December 31, 2025.
2021
Expand professional sports rightsProduct launchBackground
Root Sports sought to strengthen its schedule and value to distributors by adding prominent regional teams.
Action taken
The network acquired rights to Seattle Kraken games and returned Portland Trail Blazers games to its schedule.
Aftermath
The service introduced Root Sports Plus to manage scheduling conflicts, although carriage disputes limited availability on some platforms.
2013
Mariners acquire controlling interestM&ABackground
The Seattle Mariners extended their regional television relationship and sought greater control over the outlet carrying their games.
Action taken
First Avenue Entertainment acquired a 71 percent stake, leaving DirecTV with 29 percent.
Aftermath
The Mariners later became the sole owner and continued using the Root Sports identity.
2011
Adopt Root Sports brandingStrategyBackground
DirecTV Sports Networks sought a common identity for several regional sports outlets after their separation from the Fox Sports Net branding structure.
Action taken
FSN Northwest was relaunched as Root Sports Northwest on April 1, 2011.
Aftermath
The channel retained the Root Sports name even after related regional networks adopted AT&T SportsNet branding.
Recent events
- 2025
Root Sports Northwest announces closure[1]
Bankruptcy
The Mariners announced that Root Sports would end operations at the close of 2025, with MLB Local Media supporting a replacement distribution model.
- 2024
Mariners assume full control of Root Sports Northwest[1]
M&A
The Mariners took full ownership and control after Warner Bros. Discovery divested its interest in the regional sports network.
- 2024
Seattle Kraken leave Root Sports Northwest[1]
Other
The Kraken announced a move to over-the-air distribution through Tegna’s Seattle stations and streaming through Amazon Prime Video.
- 2023
Comcast moves Root Sports Northwest to its highest-priced tier[1]
Pricing
Comcast shifted the channel to its Ultimate package, prompting criticism from subscribers and a temporary discounted upgrade offer.
- 2021
Root Sports adds Seattle Kraken and Portland Trail Blazers rights[1]
Product launch · Other
The network obtained regional rights for the expansion Seattle Kraken and returned Portland Trail Blazers games to its schedule.
- 2021
Dish Network and Sling drop Root Sports Northwest[1]
Other · Pricing
Carriage agreements expired and the services removed Root Sports and related AT&T Sports Networks from their offerings.
- 2013
Seattle Mariners acquire controlling interest in Root Sports Northwest[1]
M&A
The Mariners acquired a 71 percent stake through First Avenue Entertainment, while DirecTV retained a minority interest.
- 2011
Root Sports Northwest adopts Root Sports branding[1]
Other
The former FSN Northwest formally relaunched as Root Sports Northwest under DirecTV Sports Networks.
Sources1 sources
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