The Brief
• Sunday marked the final Seattle Mariners game ever televised on ROOT Sports, ending nearly four decades of partnership through various network iterations
• Major League Baseball will take over Mariners broadcasts starting in 2026, with MLB already handling partial production for the 2025 season
• The Mariners acquired full ownership of ROOT Sports in 2023 before deciding to transition to MLB’s broadcast model
SEATTLE, Wash. — Sunday marked the end of an era for Seattle Mariners fans as the team played its final game ever televised on ROOT Sports, concluding a partnership that spanned nearly four decades through multiple network iterations and ownership changes.
Starting in 2026, Major League Baseball will take over all Mariners broadcasts, with the league already assuming partial production responsibilities for the 2025 season. ROOT Sports will officially cease operations on December 31.
The network’s history with Seattle baseball dates back to 1988, when it launched as a joint venture between Tele-Communications Inc. and Viacom. Over the years, the organization operated under various names, including Fox Sports Northwest, FSN Northwest, Prime Sports Northwest, and Northwest Cable Sports, following ownership by Liberty Media and DirecTV.
In 2013, the Mariners took control of their broadcast destiny by purchasing a 71% stake in the company, becoming the functional owners of their own broadcaster. The team acquired full ownership in 2023, following Warner Bros. Discovery’s exit from its partnership.
“We continue to focus on finding new ways to bring our games in 2026 and beyond to our fans, and we’ve determined joining with Major League Baseball is the best path,” Mariners chairman and managing general partner John Stanton said in a statement.
According to Major League Baseball, fans should not expect wholesale changes to their viewing experience when the transition occurs. The organization promises to share specific details about television broadcasts before the 2026 season begins.
“Beginning in 2026 and moving forward, Major League Baseball will provide opportunities to bring new features and benefits to viewers of Mariners baseball,” Stanton added.
For longtime supporters like Don Robbins, the transition brings mixed emotions about losing the local connection that ROOT Sports provided throughout its various incarnations.
“It certainly hits home in so many different ways,” Robbins said. “ROOT Sports has always been the local show for the Mariners, and being able to grow up and watch the Mariners be shown through ROOT Sports and their having a close connection with the players and teams. It made things more personable. Kind of tugs at the old heartstrings.”
ROOT Sports and its predecessor networks provided local coverage that many fans credit with creating a more intimate viewing experience. The network’s broadcasters developed relationships with players and the organization that translated into programming that felt distinctly Seattle-focused.
Robbins recalled one of his most cherished memories from the network’s coverage: hearing legendary broadcaster Dave Niehaus call Edgar Martinez’s famous double in 1995 that propelled the Mariners to the American League Championship Series. That moment represents the type of local broadcasting connection that fans hope will continue under MLB’s management.
The Mariners organization expressed gratitude for the network’s long-standing commitment to Seattle baseball.
“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and excellence demonstrated by the ROOT Sports staff over the nearly four decades they have televised our games,” the team said in a statement.
The move reflects broader changes in sports broadcasting, as leagues increasingly take direct control of their media rights and distribution. MLB’s takeover of Mariners broadcasts follows similar transitions by other teams as traditional regional sports networks face financial pressures and changing viewer habits.
While specific details about broadcast teams, streaming platforms, and pricing remain unclear, MLB’s assurance of continuity in the viewing experience suggests the transition may be less disruptive than some fans fear. The league’s promise of “new features and benefits” indicates potential enhancements to the current broadcast model.
The transition also represents the end of one of the more unique ownership structures in sports broadcasting, where a team owned its regional sports network. The Mariners’ decision to partner with MLB rather than continue independent operations reflects the challenges facing regional sports networks in an evolving media landscape.
As ROOT Sports prepares for its final weeks of operation, Mariners fans are processing the end of a broadcasting era while anticipating what MLB’s direct involvement might mean for their viewing experience. The change represents both an ending and a beginning for one of baseball’s most passionate fan bases.
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