Definition
Root Sports Utah was a regional sports network (RSN) in the United States that provided live and recorded sports programming to viewers in the state of Utah. The channel operated as part of the Root Sports group of RSNs, which were owned by AT&T (through its subsidiary DirecTV Sports Networks) and later rebranded under the AT&T SportsNet name.
Overview
Root Sports Utah launched on June 23 2015, succeeding the former Fox Sports Utah channel after a rebranding of the Root Sports network family. The channel’s primary focus was the broadcast of professional, collegiate, and high‑school sports events that were of interest to Utah audiences. Its most prominent programming included live games of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, coverage of Utah college athletics (particularly the University of Utah and Brigham Young University), and select high‑school sports contests. In addition to live event coverage, the network aired sports news, analysis shows, and documentary-style programming.
In 2017, Root Sports Utah was rebranded as AT&T SportsNet Utah, aligning with a broader corporate rebranding of the Root Sports portfolio. The network continued operations under the AT&T SportsNet banner until July 2021, when AT&T announced the discontinuation of the AT&T SportsNet regional channels, including the Utah outlet. Following the shutdown, local sports broadcasting rights were transferred to alternative platforms, most notably the streaming service Utah Jazz TV and the Utah Sports Network (a partnership involving the Salt Lake Tribune and the Utah Jazz).
Etymology/Origin
The name “Root Sports” derives from the verb “to root,” meaning to support or cheer for a team. The branding was intended to convey a fan‑centric focus on local sports. The addition of “Utah” specifies the geographic market served by the channel.
Characteristics
- Ownership: AT&T (via DirecTV Sports Networks), later under the AT&T SportsNet umbrella.
- Broadcast area: Primarily the state of Utah, with limited carriage in adjacent states via satellite and cable providers.
- Distribution: Available on major cable systems (e.g., Comcast, Spectrum), satellite services (DirecTV, Dish Network), and select streaming platforms during its operational period.
- Key programming: Live Utah Jazz NBA games, Utah Utes football and basketball, BYU Cougars athletics, high‑school football and basketball, sports news programs such as “Root Sports Tonight.”
- Technical format: Standard‑definition and high‑definition (720p/1080i) feeds; audio in English with optional secondary audio programming for descriptive video.
- Closure: The network ceased operations in July 2021; the channel space was repurposed or removed from provider line‑ups, and rights for the Jazz were transferred to the team’s own streaming service.
Related Topics
- Regional sports networks (RSNs): Television channels that focus on localized sports coverage.
- AT&T SportsNet: The parent brand under which Root Sports Utah operated after 2017.
- Utah Jazz: NBA franchise whose games were a flagship property of the network.
- Utah Utes and BYU Cougars: Collegiate athletic programs frequently broadcast on the channel.
- Sports broadcasting in the United States: Industry context for the operation and eventual consolidation of RSNs.