Pirates, Penguins To Jointly Own Cable TV Sports Channel

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pirates and Penguins have reached an agreement to jointly own SportsNet Pittsburgh - the former AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh - beginning Jan. 1. That means the channel will continue to be the home of regionally televised games for both teams.

The daily operations of SportsNet Pittsburgh will continue to be managed by the New England Sports Network, which purchased AT&T SportsNet in September from Warner Brothers Discovery Sports. The New England Sports Network is owned by the Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Penguins.

Before the announcement of the Pirates-Penguins partnership on Wednesday, there was uncertainty over where fans would be able to see the baseball team on TV in 2024.

“Above all else, this was the right thing to do for our fans,” Pirates president Travis Williams said in a statement. “From the outset of this process, the most important thing to us was to ensure that they have the same level of access to Pirates game telecasts and the same high-quality production that they enjoy today."

The Bucs' on-air talent will remain largely unchanged. The crew in the broadcast booth will continue to work directly for the team. Meanwhile, SportsNet Pittsburgh is expected to announce details of expanded pre- and postgame coverage soon, lending to the possibility of additions to the in-studio team.

“We are thrilled that the Pirates are joining the SportsNet Pittsburgh partnership,” said NESN president & CEO Sean McGrail. “Over 150 Pirates games, in addition to the Penguins telecasts, makes SportsNet Pittsburgh a must-have sports destination for Pittsburgh fans.”