Trail Blazers announce over-the-air broadcast and subscription streaming partnership with Sinclair

The Portland Trail Blazers announced Monday night a new broadcasting partnership with Sinclair, which operates KATU in Portland, starting for the upcoming 2024-2025 season to air Rip City Television Network.

Earlier this year, the Blazers announced they were ending their deal with ROOT Sports following rising prices and the lack of easy access to the channel through cable and streaming services.

The new deal will allow nearly every game for the upcoming season to be watched over the air on KATU or KUNP, requiring just an antenna to tune into the games.

The deal also creates a new direct-to-consumer streaming option called BlazerVision, a nod to the franchise’s former pay-per-view channel in the 1990s.

The streaming option will cost $120 for a full season, or $19.99 a month, to stream to any smart devices.

For those outside the Portland metro area, games can be picked up on other Sinclair stations like KUNS in Seattle, KTVL in Medford, KVAL and KCBY in Eugene and KEPR in Yakima. The team said coverage is planned to expand in the coming months to reach more fans.

"Launching the Rip City Television Network and BlazerVision is a turning point for our fans,” Dewayne Hankins, President of Business Operations, Portland Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter, said in a press release. “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.”

The on-air talent will also remain the same Kevin Calabro, Lamar Hurd and Brooke Olzendam, returning for their eighth season. Pregame, halftime and postgame shows will also continue with favorites like Michael Holton, Neil Everett, Jamie Hudson, Terry Porter and Tom Haberstroh.

Full and half-season ticket holders will receive a subscription to BlazerVision for free for the upcoming season.

Fans who sign up for a full-season subscription to BlazerVision by Nov. 1 will also receive a pair of upper bowl tickets to a select Blazers game in 2024-2025.

The preseason begins Oct. 11 when the Blazers visit the Los Angeles Clippers. The regular season begins at home at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 when Portland welcomes in Golden State.