AT&T SportsNet

On December 22, 2006, Liberty Media acquired four Fox Sports regional networks – FSN Utah, FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Northwest and FSN Rocky Mountain – as part of a deal with News Corporation, which exchanged the networks and its controlling 38.5% ownership interest in satellite provider DirecTV for US$550 million in cash and stock, in exchange for the 16.3% stake in News Corporation that had been owned by Liberty.{{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|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=2015-04-16|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Liberty Media Completes DirecTV Buyout|url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/132230-FCC_Approves_Liberty_Takeover_of_DirecTV.php|author=Ted Hearn|periodical=Multichannel News|publisher=Reed Business Information|date=February 25, 2008|access-date=April 22, 2011}} These three FSN affiliates became part of the Liberty Entertainment division, which also owned a stake in the Game Show Network.

On May 4, 2009, DirecTV Group Inc. announced it would become a part of Liberty Entertainment, and spin off certain properties into a separate company under the DirecTV name, in a deal in which Liberty would increase its share in DirecTV from a minority 48% to a controlling 54%, while Liberty owner John Malone and his family would own a 24% interest. DirecTV would then operate the four acquired FSN-affiliated networks through DirecTV Sports Networks,{{cite news|title=DirecTV, Liberty Media Announce Spin-Off Plan|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/satellite/directv-liberty-media-announce-spin-plan/301694|author=Todd Spangler|periodical=Multichannel News|publisher=Reed Business Information|date=May 4, 2009|access-date=April 18, 2015}} a new division formed on November 19, 2009, upon the spin-off's completion.{{cite web|title=Liberty Sports Rebrands As DirecTV Sports Networks|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/satellite/liberty-sports-rebrands-directv-sports-networks/301653|author=Mike Reynolds|periodical=Multichannel News|publisher=NewBay Media|date=November 20, 2009|access-date=April 18, 2015}}{{cite news|title=DirecTV Group to Combine With Liberty Entertainment|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=auGzOOELO3.0|author=Tim Mullaney|author2=Kelly Riddell|agency=Bloomberg News|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=May 4, 2009|access-date=April 22, 2011}}

In December 2010, DirecTV announced that it would rebrand its FSN affiliates collectively under the "Root Sports" brand. The new brand was created to emphasize connections between the network and fans who passionately support (or "root" for) their local teams. The networks would, according to Mark Shuken, president and chief executive officer of DirecTV Sports Networks at the time, 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."{{cite web|title=Root Sports to Launch April 1|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/root-sports-launch-april-1/111784|author=Tim Baysinger|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=March 31, 2011|access-date=April 1, 2011}} The introduction of Root Sports was also intended to signify a form of independence from FSN; however, the Root Sports networks will maintain their current affiliations with the group through a programming agreement.{{cite web|title=DIRECTV Sports Networks Will Rebrand FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Northwest, FSN Rocky Mountain in Spring 2011|url=http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=546739|publisher=Pittsburgh Penguins|date=December 17, 2010|access-date=March 22, 2011}}{{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=February 5, 2011}} The Root Sports brand was phased in on the networks during the first quarter of 2011, and officially replaced the channels' FSN branding (FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Northwest, FSN Rocky Mountain and FSN Utah) on April 1, 2011. The launch of Root Sports coincided with the opening weekend of the 2011 Major League Baseball season, as Root Sports holds broadcast rights for all of the MLB teams in their respective regions.

On August 6, 2014, DirecTV and AT&T (which was in the process of acquiring DirecTV) acquired Comcast SportsNet Houston – which had earlier been granted a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection placement through an involuntary petition filed by Comcast and NBCUniversal in September 2013{{cite news|title=Judge places Comcast SportsNet houston in bankruptcy|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/02/04/judge-places-comcast-sportsnet-houston-in-bankruptcy/|author=David Barron|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=February 4, 2014|access-date=February 4, 2014}} – as a 60/40 joint venture (with DirecTV as majority owner). The network was subsequently rebranded as Root Sports Southwest on November 17, 2014,{{cite news|title=CSN Houston bankruptcy filing surprises Astros|url=http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2013/09/bankruptcy-petition-filed-on-behalf-of-comcast-sportsnet-houston/|author=David Barron|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=September 27, 2013|access-date=April 18, 2015|archive-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821225917/http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2013/09/bankruptcy-petition-filed-on-behalf-of-comcast-sportsnet-houston/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Root Sports Southwest channel debuts Monday|url=http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2014/11/root-sports-southwest-channel-debuts-monday/|newspaper=Houston Chronicle (Ultimate Rockets)|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=November 17, 2014|access-date=November 17, 2014}}{{cite news|title=AT&T, DirecTV to take over Comcast SportsNet Houston|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/08/06/att-directv-to-take-over-comcast-sportsnet-houston/|author=David Barron|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=August 6, 2014|access-date=August 7, 2014}}{{cite news|title=CSN Houston Chap. 11 Closing Arguments Now Oct. 30|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/carriage-deals/csn-houston-bankruptcy-closing-arguments-pushed-oct-30/385107|author=Mike Reynolds|periodical=Multichannel News|publisher=NewBay Media|date=October 22, 2014|access-date=November 9, 2014}} becoming the first Root Sports network to not be a rebranded Fox Sports Networks affiliate.

In April 2016, following the completion of the acquisition of DirecTV by AT&T, DirecTV Sports Networks rebranded under the AT&T name as AT&T Sports Networks. Following this announcement, the channels began to downplay the Root Sports brand by replacing their logo bugs with an AT&T Sports Networks logo, restricting the Root Sports brand to station identification only.{{cite web|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/root-sports-regional-nets-now-part-of-att-sports-networks.html|title=Root Sports regional nets now part of AT&T Sports Networks|website=Awful Announcing|publisher=Ken Fang|date=April 9, 2016|access-date=April 9, 2016}} Three of the channels were re-branded as AT&T SportsNet on July 14, 2017, introducing new logos and on-air graphics. Root Sports Northwest adopted the new AT&T SportsNet graphics,{{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=2017-07-15|work=From the Corner of Edgar & Dave|access-date=2017-07-15}} but remains under the Root Sports brand; it is the only network in the group that is not majority-owned by AT&T.{{cite web|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/|website=Sports Video Group|date=13 June 2017 |access-date=19 June 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Root-Sports-Southwest-is-now-AT-T-SportsNet-11290112.php|title=Root Sports Southwest is now AT&T SportsNet Southwest|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=2017-07-15}}

Following AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner in 2018, AT&T SportsNet was moved into the WarnerMedia News & Sports division in March 2019, alongside Time Warner's existing national sports unit Turner Sports.{{cite news |last1=Feiner |first1=Lauren |title=WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT&T acquisition |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/04/warnermedia-reorganizes-its-leadership-team-after-att-acquisition.html |access-date=March 4, 2019 |work=CNBC |date=March 4, 2019}}

In February 2020, the New York Post reported that AT&T had abandoned a plan to divest the channels, after only receiving bids in excess of $500 million (rather than the $1 billion valuation it had expected).{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/02/17/atts-auction-to-sell-four-regional-sports-channels-falls-short/|title=AT&T's auction to sell four regional sports channels falls short|last=Kosman|first=Josh|date=2020-02-18|website=New York Post|language=en|access-date=2020-02-24}} In May 2021, it was announced that AT&T would instead divest the entirety of WarnerMedia, and contribute it into a joint venture with Discovery Inc., forming a new company later announced as Warner Bros. Discovery.{{cite web |last1=Kovach |first1=Steve |last2=Meredith |first2=Sam |date=May 17, 2021 |title=AT&T announces $43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/att-to-combine-warnermedia-and-discovery-assets-to-create-a-new-standalone-company.html |access-date=June 2, 2021 |website=CNBC}} Discovery announced on April 7, 2022, that Patrick Crumb, president of AT&T Sports Networks, would report to the yet-to-be-named Chairperson for Warner Bros. Discovery Sports; Jeff Zucker departed the company upon the completion of the merger, but his successor Chris Licht will only oversee CNN.{{cite web |title=Discovery, Inc. Announces Future Leadership Team for Warner Bros. Discovery |url=https://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-newsroom/discovery-inc-announces-future-leadership-team-for-warner-bros-discovery/ |website=Discovery, Inc. |access-date=April 8, 2022 |date=April 7, 2022}} The merger was completed the following day.{{cite news |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=April 8, 2022 |title=Discovery Closes $43 Billion Acquisition of AT&T's WarnerMedia |website=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-close-warner-bros-discovery-1235200983/ |access-date=April 8, 2022}} During this time until closure, the networks licensed the AT&T branding and logo.

On February 24, 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it would leave the RSN business. The company also sent messages to teams it has deals with, notifying them they had until March 31 to reach an agreement to take their rights back or acquire the networks. If no deal was made before the deadline, Warner Bros. Discovery stated that the channels would go into Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. Those teams with deals with Root Sports Northwest are not affected because that channel already is majority-owned by the Seattle Mariners.{{Cite web |title=Warner Bros. Discovery tells teams it is leaving RSN business |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2023/02/24/rsn-breaking-news.aspx |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2023-02-24 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery Seeks to Exit Regional Sports Networks Business |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warner-bros-discovery-seeks-exit-rsn-business-att-sportsnet-1235333847/ |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-24 |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=2023-03-20 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}

Despite the March 31 deadline passing, the Houston Astros and Houston Rockets continued to negotiate to take over AT&T SportsNet Southwest from Warner Bros. Discovery,{{cite web|last=Barron| first=David|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/general/article/astros-rockets-att-sportsnet-southwest-purchase-17838568.php|title=Astros, Rockets negotiating to take over AT&T SportsNet Southwest|website=Houston Chronicle|date=March 14, 2023|accessdate=March 14, 2023}} while Major League Baseball continued to negotiate a deal to keep all the RSNs operational through the end of the 2023 MLB season.{{cite web|last=Lucia| first=Joe|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/warner-bros-discovery-mlb-nearing-deal-to-keep-rsns-running-through-2023-season.html|title=Warner Bros. Discovery, MLB nearing deal to keep RSNs running through 2023 season|website=Awful Announcing|date=April 10, 2023|accessdate=April 18, 2023}} Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Jazz signed deals to move on from AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain to over-the-air television in their home markets.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=Vegas Golden Knights, Scripps Sports announce 'historic' broadcast partnership |url=https://www.ktnv.com/news/golden-knights/vegas-golden-knights-scripps-sports-announce-historic-broadcast-partnership |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Utah Jazz will air games free, sell streaming packages to fans next season |url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2023/06/20/utah-jazz-will-air-games-free-sell/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}} Then on August 28, John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal reported that Fenway Sports Group, controlling owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins, would take over AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh;{{Cite web |date=2023-08-28 |title=Sports Media: WBD Sports closer to exit from nearly all of its RSN business |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/08/28/media.aspx |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}} Three days later, Fenway and the Penguins announced that AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh would be rebranded to SportsNet Pittsburgh on October 2.{{Cite web |title=Penguins Announce 'SportsNet Pittsburgh' as Regional Sports Network |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-announce-sportsnet-pittsburgh-as-regional-sports-network/c-345709464 |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=NHL.com |language=en-US}} The Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies were also reported to be considering whether to assign their local telecast rights to Major League Baseball, or sign deals with SportsNet Pittsburgh or Altitude Sports and Entertainment respectively. On September 29, the Astros and the Rockets announced that they have closed the deal to acquire AT&T SportsNet Southwest, and then rebranded the channel as Space City Home Network on October 3.{{Cite web |title=ASTROS AND ROCKETS ANNOUNCE ASTROS AND ROCKETS ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORK AT&T SPORTSNET SOUTHWEST |url=https://www.nba.com/rockets/news/astros-and-rockets-announce-astros-and-rockets-announce-acquisition-of-regional-sports-network-att-sportsnet-southwest |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}} On October 6, all full-time employees of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain were laid off, with that network shutting down on October 21, ahead of their December 31 deadline.{{Cite web |title=AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain shutting down, leaving Rockies broadcasts in limbo for 2024, sources say |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2023/09/05/att-sportsnet-rocky-mountain-shutting-down-rockies-broadcasts/ |website=The Denver Post |date=2023-09-05 |access-date=2023-10-11}} However, SportsNet Rocky Mountain would still air until that designated end date, with the channel's final 2 months on the air broadcasts airing some national and syndicated sports programs, including some SSN Sports shows, Sports Stars of Tomorrow, and the World Poker Tour, among others.

In December of that year, the Seattle Times reported that the Mariners would acquire full control of Root Sports at the beginning of 2024.{{Cite web |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}}

Currently, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, AT&T SportsNet Southwest and ROOT Sports Northwest maintain alternate (or overflow) feeds under the AT&T SportsNet Plus or ROOT Sports Plus brand (with the network's regional name suffixed preceding the "Plus" title) for the broadcast of two or more events involving teams that the respective networks hold the broadcast rights to carry. These overflow feeds are available via digital cable, telco and satellite providers in their home markets, which may provide alternate programming when not used to carry conflicting scheduled game broadcasts.

Since 2017, AT&T SportsNet streaming is available to TV Everywhere authenticated subscribers. AT&T SportsNet Southwest will be added to FuboTV starting February 11, 2019, becoming the first over-the-top streaming service to provide any AT&T SportsNet channel{{Cite web|url=https://southwest-attsn.att.com/2019/02/05/att-sportsnet-to-be-available-to-fubotv-customers-in-the-southwest-television-territory/|title=AT&T SPORTSNET TO BE AVAILABLE TO fuboTV CUSTOMERS IN THE SOUTHWEST TELEVISION TERRITORY|last=ndelgreco|website=AT&T SportsNet.|access-date=2019-02-10}}

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• {{Official website|http://www.attsportsnet.com/}}{{Dead link|date=February 2025}}

{{Fox Sports Networks}}

{{Sports television in the United States (defunct)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ATandT SportsNet}}

Category:Sports television networks in the United States

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2009

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2011

Category:2011 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:TNT Sports

Category:Warner Bros. Discovery

Category:Former AT&T subsidiaries

Category:Former Warner Bros. Discovery subsidiaries

Category:Former Liberty Media subsidiaries

Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2023