Root Sports Northwest

Root Sports Northwest
Launched	1987 (as Northwest Cable Sports)
Network	Fox Sports Networks
Owned by	Seattle Mariners DirecTV Sports Networks
Country	United States
Broadcast area	Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska
Headquarters	Seattle, Washington
Formerly called	Northwest Cable Sports (1987-1989) Prime Sports Northwest (1989-1996) Fox Sports Northwest (1996-2000) Fox Sports Net Northwest (2000-2004) FSN Northwest (2004-2011)
Website	http://northwest.rootsports.com/
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV	687 Main channel (SD/HD) 688 Overflow feed (SD) 688-1 Overflow feed (HD)
Dish Network	426 (SD) 5426 (HD)

Root Sports Northwest is an American regional sports network available in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. It is owned by DirecTV Sports Networks and the Seattle Mariners.

Programming

Root Sports has coverage of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Utah Jazz (via Root Sports Utah), and local coverage of the Pac-12, Western Athletic, Big Sky, Mountain West, and West Coast conferences. In 2008, FSN started broadcasting WHL hockey. Root Sports is still affiliated with Fox Sports Networks to secure its programming arrangements with the aforementioned collegiate athletic conferences.

History

It was previously known as Northwest Cable Sports, Prime Sports Northwest, Fox Sports Northwest, Fox Sports Net Northwest, and FSN Northwest. In 2007, Liberty Media acquired this network in a stock swap for DirecTV.^{[citation needed]} On May 4, 2009, The DirecTV Group Inc. said it would become a part of Liberty's entertainment unit, part of which would then be spun off as a separate company called DirecTV, which would own FSN Northwest.

In December 2010, the name "Root Sports" was chosen for three DirecTV Sports Networks, including FSN Northwest. The rebranding was completed on April 1, 2011 with The Dan Patrick Show as the first show under the Root Sports branding.

In April 2013, the Seattle Mariners announced that it would acquire a controlling interest in Root Sports Northwest. DirecTV Sports Networks will retain a minority stake in the network and will continue to manage it; the Root Sports branding will be retained. Additionally, the team extended its contract with the network until the end of the 2030 season.

On-air staff

• Angie Mentink: Host: College Football Northwest, College Basketball Northwest, Sideline reporter (1999–present)
• Brad Adam: Basketball Play-by-Play, Studio Host, Sideline Reporter (2000–present)
• Jason Gesser: Analyst: College Football Northwest, WIAA Football Championships (2007–present)
• Tom Glasgow: Football and Basketball Play-by-Play (2008–present)
• Ian Furness: WHL Play-by-Play (2009–present)
• Jen Mueller: Sideline Reporter (2007–present)
• Cathy Marshall: Sideline Reporter (2005–present)
• Dave Sims: Mariners Play-by-Play (2007–present)
• Mike Blowers: Baseball Analyst
• Bill Krueger: Senior Baseball Analyst (2000–present)
• John Strong: Timbers Soccer Play-by-Play
• Warren Moon: Seahawks All Access (2003–present)
• Mack Strong: Seahawks analyst and host of Mack Strong: Seahawks Insider, College Football analyst (2008–present)
• Lenny Wilkens: NBA Expert, College Basketball Analyst (2006–present)
• Sonny Sixkiller: Seattle Seahawks Color Commentary

Former on-air staff

• Cara Capuano: anchor, reporter (2004-2008), now back at ESPN (second stint)
• Brian Davis: NBA Host (2004–2008), now the play-by-play announcer for the Thunder on Fox Sports Oklahoma
• Kate Lamey: reporter, anchor (1996-2000)
• Dave Niehaus: Mariners play-by-play announcer (deceased - November 10, 2010)

• Don Poier: play-by-play announcer (deceased - January 21, 2005)
• Kerry Sayers: anchor, reporter (2002-2004) now at WSCR-AM in Chicago & WFLD-TV also in Chicago
• Nicole Zaloumis: sideline reporter (2008–2010), now with NFL Network

Former teams

• Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder)
• Portland Trail Blazers (now on Comcast SportsNet Northwest)
• Seattle Storm (now on KING-TV and KONG-TV)