Isn’t it ironic? Across 2024, a shift of live play-by-play for pro sports teams from cable television channels to free-to-air broadcast stations has largely been precipitated by the financial troubles and bankruptcy filing of Sinclair Inc. subsidiary Diamond Sports Group.
Now, it is Sinclair that has secured the broadcast TV rights to the NBA franchise serving Portland, Ore.
After three years, ROOT Sports in August ended its relationship with the Portland Trail Blazers, putting its TV rights in play.
It is now known that Sinclair Inc. has acquired them, and as such is launching the “Rip City Television Network” with the NBA franchise.
ABC-affiliated KATU-2 will serve as the broadcast home for the team; streaming access will come via “Blazervision.” The latter is a paid direct-to-consumer offering.
In a brief announcement appearing on the KATU website, the station touted that “for the first time in history, most of the Trail Blazer games will be free over the air.”
Games will be split between KATU-2.2, home of digital multicast network CHARGE!, and starting January 1, 2025, sibling KUNP-16, presently the home for Univision’s Spanish-language network in the market. This suggests Univision’s affiliation will be ending at KUNP come the end of 2024.
In Medford-Ashland, Sinclair-owned KTVL-10.3 will air Blazers games. Sinclair-owned KVAL-13 in Eugene-Springfield’s DT2 signal will be that market’s home for Blazers coverage.
Meanwhile, the Yakima/Tri-Cities market will get Blazers games via Sinclair-owned KEPR-19 and KIMA-29 on each station’s DT3 signals. For those in Seattle who root for the Blazers (and have moved on from the Supersonics era), KUNS-51, branded as “Arc,” will air games on the DT2 signal.
“Launching the Rip City Television Network and BlazerVision is a turning point for our fans,” said Dewayne Hankins, President of Business Operations for the Portland Trail Blazers. “We’ve put our fans first and started a new chapter, making it easier than ever to enjoy Trail Blazers basketball. Whether on TV or streaming with BlazerVision, we believe this is the best way to create lifelong fans and keep them connected. This is a big win for all of Rip City.”
Rob Weisbord, COO and President of Local Media at Sinclair, commented, “We’re looking forward to collaborating with the Trail Blazers to expand Rip City basketball’s reach through over-the-air broadcasts, which significantly broaden audience reach. Now, more fans across the Pacific Northwest can enjoy unparalleled access to the Trail Blazers through our KATU family of networks.”
Kevin Calabro and Lamar Hurd, along with Brooke Olzendam, will return for their eighth season to call all Trail Blazers games on the new broadcast home.
In Portland, Ore., Sinclair competes for viewers against TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate KGW-8; Gray Television’s FOX-affiliated KPTV-12; and Nexstar Media Group-owned CBS affiliate KOIN-6.