While we wait to see how MLB is going to produce and air Mariners games on local broadcast TV this coming season with Root Sports gone, we do have some national dates so far from Fox/Fox13 here. Still waiting for a Seattle TV to pony up. Sinclair (KOMO)won't do it because of the Diamond Sports mess but it would be a big plus for Arc Seattle). KIRO is a non-$tarter. To me, KING (although the Kraken deal could be an obstacle in the spring) and Fox 13 (will have World Cup) would seem to be the only saviors. Both have duopolies, so great content available for one, but juggling needed. Here's a link to the national games already set for FOX/KCPQ:
https://x.com/i/status/2014489611113005360
Info from NBC in the comments at the bottom.
And this just in from TBS
MLB Tuesday will open up its 2026 regular season coverage on Tuesday, March 31, with a matchup of baseball’s home run leaders from the past two seasons: 2025 Home Run Champion Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners will host 2024 Home Run Champion Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees at 9:30 p.m. ET.
KSTW could be an option if CBS is willing to make the investment (CBS owns KSTW despite the CBS network being on KIRO). Their schedule is rather devoid of local content, and Mariners games would be a major boost to what has become a bit of an afterthought in the local television market.
ReplyDeleteCBS under new Paramount MGMT would seem unlikely at the moment. On the other hand it could propel there viewership and numbers. However, a baseball lockout is probably coming over the salary cap issue, so.l it's all speculative. The same issue cancelled the world series in 94.
ReplyDeleteA baseball lockout would certainly make picking up Mariners games a risky proposition. That being said, the team almost made it into the World Series last season, so they would be getting what is currently one of the top teams in the entire league.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the possible lockout would be 2027. That would get a full season in, but I doubt there will be a lockout because of the devastation from 1994.
ReplyDeleteNBC Sports' schedule is here: https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/ohtani-judge-yankees-red-sox-dodgers-yankees-cubs-cardinals-and-additional-premium-matchups-headline-2026-sunday-night-baseball-schedule-as-major-league-baseball-returns-to-nbc-and-peacock. M's do have three NBC games scheduled, only one of which is currently scheduled to be on NBC over the air - the others are Peacock exclusives that could be picked up by NBC Sports Network. As for the question about local OTA, I would say KSTW would be the most ideal play here. But I consider Comcast to be the elephant in the room here. The other teams that work directly with MLB, the league has put together a separate channel that all it airs will be the games. But for any of that I think to work for the M's, Comcast has to be willing to put it on basic and it was their decision to pull Root off basic and move it to that expanded tier in November 2023 which was the seed that resulted in Root's going off the air earlier this month. So unless Comcast is willing to change its mind and allow this new "M's game" channel to go on basic, the team is going to need to find someone - or basically ask all the stations in piecemeal form (20-40 games per station group) - to cover the local games. Incidentally, Mr. Lynch, if you weren't aware, 11 has picked up some of the Blazers games from Portland to add to the games CW is broadcasting locally. So there is some precedent here
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen that KSTW had picked up some Blazers games. Sounds like they could be interested in at least picking up at least a handful of Mariners games. KTLA in Los Angeles has similar arrangements with the Dodgers. Works quite well for them.
DeleteMike, yes 2027. I imagine there might be a lockout penalty clause if a station has paid for rights and then play was stopped.
ReplyDelete