Root Sports Pittsburgh

Root Sports Pittsburgh
Launched April 24, 1986 (as KBL)
Network Fox Sports Net
Owned by DirecTV Sports Networks
Country United States
Broadcast area Pittsburgh and all of Western, Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania, all of West Virginia except the eastern panhandle counties (metro D.C.), eastern and southeastern Ohio, western Maryland and the extreme eastern counties of Kentucky (see Armstrong Group Cable)
Nationally via Satellite
Formerly called KBL Entertainment Network (1986–1994)
Prime Sports KBL (1994–1996)
Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh (1996–2004)
FSN Pittsburgh (2004–2011)
Website http://pittsburgh.rootsports.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV 659 (SD/HD)
Dish Network 428 (SD+HD for selected programming)
Cable
Available on select cable systems Check local listings for channels

Root Sports Pittsburgh (formerly FSN Pittsburgh) is a regional sports network owned and operated by DirecTV Sports Networks. The channel first aired in the Pittsburgh metro area on April 24, 1986 as KBL with the season opener of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Mets from Three Rivers Stadium and expanded close to its modern day six-state broadcast area on May 9, 1986. It was initially owned by Prime Network. It was a network of Prime SportsChannel America when Prime and SportsChannel America merged. In 1996, News Corporation bought out Prime SportsChannel and changed KBL to Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh.

In 2006, News Corporation transitioned FSN Pittsburgh to Liberty Media, in a stock swap between the two companies of the DirecTV stock.

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 Pittsburgh.[1]

In December 2010, the name "Root Sports" was chosen for three DirecTV Sports Networks, including FSN Pittsburgh.[2] The rebranding was launched on April 1, 2011 with the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season.

Root Sports is the cable home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins. The network reaches more than 2.4 million viewers and delivers more than 350 live events each year - all of which are also available in high definition

On April 27, 2011, Root Sports Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Penguins reached a 20-year contract extension that lasts until the end of the 2028-2029 NHL season. [3]

Contents

Sports

Professional

College

High School

Regions Served

Root Sports Pittsburgh serves Pennsylvania, West Virginia, western Maryland, eastern and southeastern Ohio and New York.

Programming

National programming

Exclusive programming

Personalities

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Pirates

Anchors/Reporters

Dan potash field reporter

Former Personalities

References

  1. ^ Yao, Deborah (4 May 2009). "DirecTV, Liberty Media Detail Spinoff Plans". Associated Press. http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1512847.html. Retrieved 4 May 2009. 
  2. ^ 'ROOT SPORTS' new name for sports networks
  3. ^ Root Sports Pittsburgh to carry Penguins through 2028-29 season Pittsburgh Post-Gazette April 27, 2011
  4. ^ Pittsburgh Live Official Site

External links