Mariners to take full control of ROOT Sports Northwest network

The Seattle Mariners are set to acquire full ownership of the ROOT Sports Northwest regional sports network starting on January 1, as reported by Ryan Divish and Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. Having previously held a 71% stake since 2013, the Mariners will now take over the remaining 29% share from Warner Bros. Discovery, which is exiting the regional sports network (RSN) business.

Potential changes at ROOT are on the horizon, with Mariners chairman John Stanton meeting with staff members and being unable to guarantee job retention for everyone. Stanton conveyed that more information on the organizational side would be provided by mid-January. In a statement to Divish and Jude, Stanton emphasized the top priority of ensuring all Mariners fans have continued access to watch games from home.

ROOT Sports Northwest serves as the broadcasting home for the Seattle Kraken of the NHL, the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, and, in select markets, the Utah Jazz, along with certain college basketball games featuring Pacific Northwest schools. Any decisions regarding ROOT's future by the Mariners will have implications for other teams and existing contracts, making it uncertain whether the Mariners will remain with ROOT in its current configuration.

According to Divish and Jude, one option for the Mariners could be selling their broadcasting rights to Major League Baseball, similar to some teams affected by the Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy last March. While this possibility might be explored in the future, the Mariners are expected to continue with ROOT productions for 2024 and absorb the new costs associated with full ownership.

While owning a regional sports network has traditionally been viewed as positive or lucrative for sports teams, changes in the broadcasting landscape, such as the decline in cable subscriptions, have altered the dynamics. Comcast Xfinity's announcement of a subscription cost increase for ROOT in October adds to potential challenges in viewership.

With Warner Bros. Discovery no longer in the picture, the Mariners will bear the full burden of additional costs, impacting the team's baseball operations decisions. The team's offseason focus has been on cutting payroll, and there are indications that the Mariners may exceed their $140 million payroll for 2023 but not by a significant margin. As of Roster Resource's information, the Mariners have about $117.24 million committed for 2024, providing some spending flexibility as they seek offensive upgrades. Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto, known for roster-building through trades, may need to explore creative deals to improve the team without exceeding budget constraints.