The Seattle Mariners made a significant announcement on Friday, revealing their plans to shut down Root Sports Northwest at the end of the 2025 season. This decision will see Major League Baseball taking over all broadcast production, carriage, and streaming of Mariners games starting in 2026. The move signals a major shift in how the team’s games will be delivered to fans, as the organization looks to explore new opportunities for engaging with its audience.
This development brings an end to the long-standing presence of Root Sports Northwest, which has been a fixture in the region since its launch as Northwest Cable Sports in 1988. The Mariners assumed full ownership of the network in 2023, but now they are turning to MLB to handle all aspects of broadcasting moving forward. The team expressed confidence in MLB’s ability to enhance the viewing experience for fans and bring new features to viewers of Mariners baseball.
MLB has been involved in supporting the production of Mariners games in the past, and now they will be taking on full broadcast responsibilities starting in 2026. This transition reflects the changing landscape of sports broadcasting, as traditional cable networks face challenges in retaining viewers who are increasingly turning to alternative platforms for live sports content.
As fans continue to shift away from traditional cable packages, tech companies like Amazon are investing heavily in streaming live sports events. MLB’s decision to take over broadcasting for teams like the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies underscores the industry’s evolving approach to delivering sports content to audiences.
Mariners fans can expect continued access to games next season through both linear TV and streaming platforms, with MLB overseeing production and streaming infrastructure. While specific details such as channel assignments are still being finalized, the transition to MLB’s broadcasting services is intended to provide a seamless viewing experience for fans.
One potential outcome of this change is the introduction of “Mariners.TV” as a central hub for live game broadcasts online, similar to other team-specific streaming services powered by MLB. The Mariners recently launched the ROOT Sports Stream app, offering fans the opportunity to watch live games for a monthly subscription fee.
It remains uncertain whether the current lineup of Mariners announcers and analysts will continue to be part of the broadcast team next season. The transition to MLB’s broadcasting services will also result in layoffs for more than 25 staff members at ROOT Sports, according to reports from The Seattle Times.
Despite these changes, the Mariners are gearing up for a postseason run after clinching the AL West division title this week, marking a significant milestone for the team. Led by CEO and Chairman John Stanton, the Mariners are poised for success both on and off the field as they navigate this transition in broadcasting.
