By RACHEL SHELLEY Sports Editor
ROOT Sports serves as a local and regional network for sports broadcasting around
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska, reaching 3.4 million homes.
Regionally, ROOT is operated by DIRECTV in four different regional networks, featured in over 22 states and reaches 13 million households. The network has exclusive programming and distribution partnerships with over 25 teams and conferences including the Northwest region, Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain and the Southwest.
ROOT sports is home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders
FC, Portland Timbers, and Gonzaga Bulldogs, but most importantly broadcasts for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Western Oregon University Wolves.
Many students have already experienced a ROOT sports game including the women’s
basketball game on Jan. 24. The men will be televised on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. when they take on Saint Martin’s in Lacey, Washington. These games are a part of a 10-game GNAC package from December through February.
Students who work during the basketball games get to experience working with a
sports broadcasting network. KWOU Station Manager Iain Dexter had his own positive
experience broadcasting the game with the ROOT crew.
“The experience working with ROOT Sports was incredible,” Dexter said. “Getting
the opportunity to meet and work with them was exciting as a college student. The guys worked with were helpful and easy going, making the experience more enjoyable.
“Having ROOT come to Western is great for the exposure of our school and students,” Dexter said. “Having a game air in the entire Northwest will hopefully bring more students to our school and bring us more opportunities for exposure.”
The next opportunity for Western exposure will be the men’s basketball game on Feb. 11 but anyone can watch GNAC games throughout February on TV depending on their cable package.
