Root Sports
Encyclopedia
Root Sports is the collective name for a group of regional sports network
s owned by DirecTV Sports Networks, affiliated with the overall Fox Sports Net
system. While previously operating under FSN branding, they re-launched under the Root Sports name on April 1, 2011, coinciding with the start of the MLB regular season
.
Collectively, the Root Sports channels serve 8.3 million cable/satellite subscribers in 18 states.
, who exchanged the networks, $550 million, and their controlling interest in The DirecTV Group
for a 16.3% share of News Corp. that had been owned by Liberty. The Liberty Entertainment division (who owned the networks) was spun off and merged with The DirecTV Group in November 2009, followed by the networks becoming a part of a new division, DirecTV Sports Networks.
In December 2010, DirecTV announced that it would be re-branding its FSN affiliates in 2011 under the new name Root Sports. The new brand was created to emphasize connections between the network and fans who passionately support (or "root" for) their local teams. The networks will, according to DirecTV Sports Networks President/CEO Mark Shuken, have a "mindset" that "enables us to go from simply covering teams and games to providing an immersive experience as a fan and for the fan." The name also gives the channels their own unique brand, signifying independence from the Fox Sports Net system (although programming partnerships with FSN are still in place).
The Root Sports brand was phased in on the networks during the first quarter of 2011, and officially replaced the channels' Fox Sports Net branding (FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Northwest, FSN Rocky Mountain, FSN Utah) on April 1, 2011, to coincide with opening weekend of the Major League Baseball season
, as Root Sports holds broadcast rights for the MLB teams in their respective regions. The Dan Patrick Show
launched Root Sports at 9 a.m. EST on April 1, 2011.
Regional sports network
In the United States of America and Canada, a regional sports network, or RSN, is a cable television station that presents sports programming to a local market. The most important programming on an RSN consists of live broadcasts of professional and college sporting events, as those games generate...
s owned by DirecTV Sports Networks, affiliated with the overall Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
system. While previously operating under FSN branding, they re-launched under the Root Sports name on April 1, 2011, coinciding with the start of the MLB regular season
2011 Major League Baseball season
The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on Thursday, March 31, and ended on Wednesday, September 28. This marked the first time a season began on a Thursday since , and the first time a regular season ended on a Wednesday since...
.
Collectively, the Root Sports channels serve 8.3 million cable/satellite subscribers in 18 states.
History
Liberty Media originally acquired FSN's Pittsburgh, Northwest, and Rocky Mountain/Utah operations as part of a 2008 deal with News CorporationNews Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
, who exchanged the networks, $550 million, and their controlling interest in The DirecTV Group
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
for a 16.3% share of News Corp. that had been owned by Liberty. The Liberty Entertainment division (who owned the networks) was spun off and merged with The DirecTV Group in November 2009, followed by the networks becoming a part of a new division, DirecTV Sports Networks.
In December 2010, DirecTV announced that it would be re-branding its FSN affiliates in 2011 under the new name Root Sports. The new brand was created to emphasize connections between the network and fans who passionately support (or "root" for) their local teams. The networks will, according to DirecTV Sports Networks President/CEO Mark Shuken, have a "mindset" that "enables us to go from simply covering teams and games to providing an immersive experience as a fan and for the fan." The name also gives the channels their own unique brand, signifying independence from the Fox Sports Net system (although programming partnerships with FSN are still in place).
The Root Sports brand was phased in on the networks during the first quarter of 2011, and officially replaced the channels' Fox Sports Net branding (FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Northwest, FSN Rocky Mountain, FSN Utah) on April 1, 2011, to coincide with opening weekend of the Major League Baseball season
2011 Major League Baseball season
The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on Thursday, March 31, and ended on Wednesday, September 28. This marked the first time a season began on a Thursday since , and the first time a regular season ended on a Wednesday since...
, as Root Sports holds broadcast rights for the MLB teams in their respective regions. The Dan Patrick Show
The Dan Patrick Show
The Dan Patrick Show is a syndicated sports talk show hosted by former ESPN personality Dan Patrick. It is currently produced by DirecTV Sports Group and is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks. The three-hour program broadcasts live every day beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern/6 a.m. Pacific time on Fox...
launched Root Sports at 9 a.m. EST on April 1, 2011.
Networks
The Root Sports group consists of four FSN affiliated sports networks:- Root Sports Pittsburgh, all PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
except the Philadelphia market, most of West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, far Western MarylandWestern MarylandWestern Maryland is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon line to the north, Preston County, West Virginia to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. There is dispute over the...
and parts of Eastern OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. - Root Sports Northwest, serving the Pacific NorthwestPacific NorthwestThe Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, covers primarily teams from Washington and OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. - Root Sports Rocky Mountain, serving DenverDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, and the Rocky MountainsRocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. - Root Sports UtahRoot Sports UtahRoot Sports Utah is a regional sports network that serves Utah. It carries the NBA's Utah Jazz, college sports from the University of Utah and Utah State University, as well as Fox Sports Net programming. It originally launched in 1988 as an affiliate of the Prime Network known as Prime Sports...
, serving UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...