The final live Seattle Mariners game telecasted on ROOT Sports will be this Sunday.
The Mariners announced Friday that MLB will take over the distribution of the team’s telecasts and streaming from ROOT Sports starting with the 2026 season. ROOT Sports will also go off air Dec. 31, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
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The Mariners released the following statement Friday:
“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. Beginning in 2026 and moving forward, Major League Baseball will provide opportunities to bring new features and benefits to viewers of Mariners 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 announcement will not impact telecasts and streaming of the remaining Mariners games this season.
The team and MLB will release full details about Mariners television broadcasts moving forward prior to the 2026 campaign.
The M’s are expected to have a new streaming option next season to replace the streaming service introduced by ROOT Sports this year. Other teams that have partnered with MLB for telecast distribution, such as the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, have streaming packages offered through MLB.
Mariners broadcasters who are under contract past this season will remain on the team’s broadcasts, according to a source.
The Mariners took over the majority stake (71%) of ROOT Sports in 2013 and full control at the end of 2023.
ROOT Sports was launched in 1988 as Northwest Cable Sports. It was rebranded several times before becoming ROOT Sports Northwest in 2011.
Seattle Sports 710 AM will remain as the home of Mariners radio broadcasts.
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