AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain

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AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain
Logo for AT&T SportsNet.svg
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaColorado
Nevada
Wyoming
Utah
Southern Idaho
western Kansas
western Nebraska
western South Dakota
parts of California
Mohave County, Arizona
Nationwide (via satellite)
NetworkAT&T SportsNet
(carries some programming sourced from Bally Sports)
HeadquartersDenver, Colorado
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerWarnerMedia News & Sports
Sister channelsAT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
AT&T SportsNet Southwest
Root Sports Northwest
History
LaunchedNovember 15, 1988; 33 years ago (1988-11-15)
Former namesPrime Sports Network (1988–1989)
Prime Sports Network- Rocky Mountain (1989–1995)
Prime Sports Rocky Mountain (1995-1996)
Fox Sports Rocky Mountain (1996–1999)
Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain (1999–2004)
FSN Rocky Mountain (2004–2011)
Root Sports Rocky Mountain (2011–2017)
Links
Websiterockymountain-attsn.att.com
Availability
Cable
Xfinity (Denver)26 (SD)
665 (HD)
Comcast (Salt Lake City)52 (SD)
693 (HD)
Cox Communications (Las Vegas)313 (SD)
1313 (HD)
Available on most other cable systems in designated broadcast areaConsult your local cable provider or program listings source for channel availability
Satellite
DirecTV683 Main channel (SD/HD)
AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain Utah:
683-1 (HD)
AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain West:
684 (HD/SD)
IPTV
AT&T U-Verse757 (SD)
1757 (HD)
CenturyLink760 (SD)
1760 (HD)

AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain is an American regional sports network owned by WarnerMedia News & Sports, a division of AT&T's WarnerMedia, as part of the AT&T SportsNet brand of networks, and is an affiliate of Bally Sports.[1] Headquartered in Denver, Colorado,[2] the network broadcasts regional coverage of sports events throughout the Rocky Mountain region, mainly focusing on professional sports teams based in the Denver metropolitan area, Utah and Nevada.

AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain is available on cable providers and live stream website on Stadium throughout Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, Central & Eastern Idaho, northern New Mexico, western Kansas, western Nebraska, western South Dakota, parts of California, including all of San Bernardino County and Mohave County, Arizona; it is also available nationwide on satellite via DirecTV[3]

History[]

AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain was originally launched on November 15, 1988 as the Prime Sports Network, a joint venture between Bill Daniels, United Cable (controlled by TCI), and Home Sports Entertainment. The first live event ever shown on the network was a Denver Nuggets - Los Angeles Lakers NBA game. The network was originally broadcast from 5 p.m. to midnight weekdays and 11 a.m. to midnight on weekends. Additional programming included the Denver Zephyrs (minor-league baseball), college games from the Big Eight, the Western Athletic and the Missouri Valley conferences, and Denver University hockey. Additionally, there was coverage of skiing, hunting, fishing, rodeo, boxing, tennis, and golf.[4]

The network was one of the original members of the Prime Sports Network, a group of regional sports networks formed in 1989 as a partnership between Bill Daniels and TCI. It was officially renamed Prime Sports Network- Rocky Mountain to avoid confusion with the group which now had the same name. However, it still was often referred to on-air as "Prime Sport Network" or simply "PSN". In spring 1995, the network was renamed Prime Sports Rocky Mountain as part of a larger rebranding of the Prime's RSNs.

In October 1995, News Corporation, which formed a sports division for the Fox network two years earlier after it obtained the broadcast rights to the National Football Conference and sought to create a group of regional sports networks, acquired a 50% interest in the Prime Network from TCI parent Liberty Media.[5] Later that year on November 1, News Corporation and Liberty Media relaunched the Prime Network affiliates as part of the new Fox Sports Net group, with the Denver-based network officially rebranding as Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.[6] The channel was rebranded as Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain in 2000, as part of a collective brand modification of the FSN networks under the "Fox Sports Net" banner; subsequently in 2004, the channel shortened its name to FSN Rocky Mountain, through the networks' de-emphasis of the "Fox Sports Net" brand.

On December 22, 2006, News Corporation sold its interest in FSN Rocky Mountain and sister networks FSN Utah, FSN Northwest and FSN Pittsburgh to Liberty Media, in an asset trade in which News Corporation also traded its 38.5% ownership stake in satellite provider DirecTV for $550 million in cash and stock, in exchange for Liberty Media's 16.3% stake in the company.[7] On May 4, 2009, DirecTV Group Inc. announced it would become a part of Liberty's entertainment unit, part of which would then be spun off into the separate company under the DirecTV name, in a deal in which Liberty would increase its share in DirecTV from 48% to 54%, with Liberty owner John Malone and his family owning a 24% interest. DirecTV would operate its newly acquired FSN-affiliated networks through DirecTV Sports Networks,[1] a new division formed when the split off from Liberty Media was completed on November 19, 2009.[8]

On December 17, 2010, DirecTV Sports Networks announced that its four Fox Sports Networks-affiliated regional outlets – FSN Rocky Mountain, FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Northwest and FSN Utah – would be relaunched under the "Root Sports" brand.[9] The network officially rebranded as Root Sports Rocky Mountain on April 1, 2011, with The Dan Patrick Show as the first program to air under the new brand. For nominal purposes, the Root Sports networks continued to carry programming distributed mainly to the Fox Sports regional networks to provide supplementary sports and entertainment programming.

On June 12, 2017, AT&T Sports Networks announced that the network, along with Root Sports Southwest, Root Sports Pittsburgh, and Root Sports Utah, will rebrand under the name AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, with all network programming and on-air talent remaining intact.[10][11] The name change took effect on July 14, 2017.

On October 1, 2021, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain was removed from Dish Networks TV Service[12]

Programming[]

Professional sports[]

AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain holds the regional cable television rights to MLB's Colorado Rockies, the NBA's Utah Jazz, the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, and Major League Rugby's Glendale Raptors and Utah Warriors. The network airs pregame and postgame shows before and after all Rockies, Jazz, and Golden Knights games that it produces, as well as postgame shows for additional Golden Knights games that it does not televise. Additionally, the station produces and airs several Rockies insider programs, including The Club: Colorado Rockies, Rockies Double Play, and Rockies Real Time, and one Golden Knights insider program, Knight Life. Currently, the network does not air any ancillary shows for any of their other professional sports programming (other than the Jazz pregame and postgame shows), with some rare exceptions, including a 2018 documentary titled Hot Rod: The Untold Story of Hot Rod Hundley, that chronicled the life and career of the former Utah Jazz announcer.

College sports[]

The network also carries many collegiate sports events, including Mountain West Conference football and basketball, Big Sky Conference football, West Coast Conference basketball, Pac-12 Conference football and basketball game replays, Colorado College hockey, and, as a result of the network's continued affiliation with Fox Sports Networks, events from the Big 12, Big East, and Atlantic Coast conferences. In The channel also airs various collegiate and high school insider programming, including Colorado Prep Spotlight, Lobo Football with Bob Davie, Lobo Basketball with Craig Neal, Inside Wyoming Football with Craig Bohl, Inside Wyoming Basketball with Allen Edwards, and Rams Report with Mike Bobo.

Former programming[]

Professional sports[]

The channel formerly served as the regional cable broadcaster of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, losing the broadcast rights in 2004 when the owner of both teams, Stan Kroenke, launched the competing regional sports network Altitude Sports and Entertainment. The station also served as the regional home of select Western Hockey League broadcasts, beginning with the 2009–10 season and ending with the 2014–15 season.

College and high school sports[]

The network was previously the home of Denver Pioneers hockey and men's and women's basketball, until Altitude Sports and Entertainment took over coverage beginning with the 2016–17 season. Additionally, the channel served as the official TV home of the Colorado Buffaloes until 2012, producing and airing all football and men's basketball games not picked up by national networks, as well as select other sporting events and a heavy amount of insider programs. The creation of the Pac-12 Network ended the Buffs' longtime relationship with the network, though re-airs of some football and basketball games continue to air. Colorado High School Activities Association football was also a network staple until Altitude took over broadcasting rights beginning with the 2013 season.

Regional subfeeds[]

West subfeed[]

On May 23, 2017, it was announced that the network had acquired the regional cable rights to the new Vegas Golden Knights NHL expansion team. These telecasts are available in all of Nevada, and parts of Arizona, and California, including all of San Bernardino County, as well as Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho. The games are also made available on sister network Root Sports Northwest in northern Idaho and Montana.[13][14][15]

In June 2018, AT&T SportsNet acquired rights to the newly-relocated Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA.[16]

Utah subfeed[]

In late 1989, TCI launched Prime Sports Network-Utah as a replacement from their game-only Jazz Cable Network. Although it originally was considered a separate network, at some point it began to operate as a subfeed with almost identical programming. The main feature of this Utah-based network had always been Utah Jazz basketball games. Over the years it was known as Prime Sports Intermountain West, Fox Sports Utah and finally Root Sports Utah. When AT&T took over the network all Utah branding was dropped and it now operates as a true subfeed. Jazz games produced by AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain are also available in Idaho and Montana on sister-network Root Sports Northwest.

On-air staff[]

Current on-air staff[]

Colorado Rockies
  • Jenny Cavnar – Rockies pre-game and post-game host, fill in play by play, on field reporter
  • Drew Goodman – Rockies play-by-play and college basketball and football play-by-play
  • Jeff Huson – Rockies analyst
  • Conor McGahey – Rockies pre-game and post-game host, on field reporter
  • Tracy Ringolsby – Rockies pre-game and post-game analyst
  • Ryan Spilborghs – Rockies pre-game and post-game analyst[17]
  • Cory Sullivan – Rockies pre-game and post-game analyst
Las Vegas Aces
  • Anne Marie Anderson – Aces play-by-play
  • Rushia Brown – Aces color commentary
  • Amanda Pflugrad – Aces sideline reporter
  • Katy Winge – Aces sideline reporter
Utah Jazz
  • Thurl Bailey – Utah Jazz color commentary
  • Craig Bolerjack – Utah Jazz play-by-play
  • Alema Harrington – Jazz Live studio host
  • Holly Rowe – Utah Jazz color commentary
  • Michael SmithJazz Live studio analyst
Vegas Golden Knights
  • Darren Eliot – Golden Knights studio analyst
  • Dave Goucher – Golden Knights play-by-play
  • Shane Hnidy – Golden Knights analyst
  • Stormy Buonantony – Golden Knights reporter
  • Mike McKenna (ice hockey) – Golden Knights studio analyst
  • Daren Millard – Golden Knights studio host
College sports
  • Ceal Barry – college basketball analyst
  • Sherdrick Bonner – college football analyst
  • Drew Goodman – college basketball and football play-by-play announcer
  • Charlie Host – college hockey analyst
  • Mark Johnson – college football analyst
  • Jay Leeuwenburg – college football analyst
  • Taylor McGregor – college football sideline reporter
  • Brad Thompson – college football sideline reporter
  • Darius Walker – college football analyst
  • Ari Wolfe – college football play-by-play announcer

References[]

  1. ^ a b Todd Spangler (May 4, 2009). "DirecTV, Liberty Media Announce Spin-Off Plan". Multichannel News. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Denver.com: FSN Rocky Mountain / FSN Utah". Denver.com. Boulevards. Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  3. ^ "AT&T SPORTSNET TO BE AVAILABLE ON DIRECTV, U-VERSE and CENTURYLINK IN LAS VEGAS AND SURROUNDING AREAS".
  4. ^ "Rocky Mountain sports network launches tomorrow" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine: 52. November 14, 1988. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. ^ R. Thomas Umstead (July 8, 1996). "Liberty Sports regionals will become Fox Sports net". Multichannel News. The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  6. ^ "FOX SPORTS NET DEBUTS ON NOV. 1". The Columbian. Columbian Publishing Company. Associated Press. September 13, 1996. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  7. ^ "News Corp. Reaches Deal with Liberty Media". The New York Times. December 22, 2006. Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. ^ Mike Reynolds (November 20, 2009). "Liberty Sports Rebrands As DirecTV Sports Networks". Multichannel News. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "'Root Sports' new name for sports networks". Denver Business Journal. American City Business Journals. December 17, 2010.
  10. ^ "Root Sports regional nets now part of "AT&T Sports Networks"". Awful Announcing. 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  11. ^ "AT&T SPORTS NETWORKS WILL REBRAND ROOT SPORTS IN SUMMER 2017". ROOT SPORTS. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  12. ^ "DISH removes AT&T SportsNet". AT&T SportsNet. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  13. ^ "ROOT SPORTS Rocky Mountain To Become Golden Knights' Television Home". Vegas Golden Knights. May 23, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  14. ^ ndelgreco (May 23, 2017). "ROOT SPORTS TO BECOME OFFICIAL TELEVISION HOME OF THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS". AT&T SportsNet. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  15. ^ "Golden Knights officially announce TV deal with ROOT SPORTS". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Aces announce TV, radio deals for WNBA home games". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  17. ^ Thomas Harding (February 6, 2014). "Spilborghs joins Rockies' broadcast team". MLB.com. Retrieved February 8, 2014.

External links[]

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