The Portland Trail Blazers have finalized their over-the-air (OTA) broadcast model for the 2024-25 season, launching the “Rip City Television Network.” As reported by the Sports Business Journal, this new model will be distributed across much of the Pacific Northwest through Sinclair channels and affiliates, significantly expanding the team’s broadcast reach. Previously, the Trail Blazers were on the Root Sports RSN, which only reached about a quarter of Portland’s viewing audience, leading to one of the league’s largest drops in broadcast ratings.
The newly unveiled “Rip City Television Network” will now reach markets including Seattle, Medford, Eugene, and Yakima/Pasco. In addition to this, the Blazers are also introducing a direct-to-consumer streaming service, “BlazerVision,” priced at $19.99 per month or $120 for the season. The platform, which taps into the NBA’s NextGen technology, is a throwback to the team’s original 1970s BlazerVision, a closed-circuit product during the Bill Walton era when every game was sold out.
Dewayne Hankins, the Blazers’ President of Business Operations, emphasized that this move was a fan-first decision. “I think we all believe that the best way to make lifelong Blazer fans is to have access that’s easy to the games, however they want to watch it,” Hankins told Sports Business Journal.
This transition mirrors a trend seen with other NBA teams like the Jazz and Suns, who have also moved away from the RSN model in favor of OTA telecasts. While Hankins acknowledged that the switch entails a smaller rights fee, he is optimistic that increased accessibility will lead to higher advertising revenue, merchandise sales, and ticket purchases in the long run.
Beyond game broadcasts, the Rip City Television Network will develop and distribute team-related content, such as behind-the-scenes documentaries and podcasts. It will also serve as a hub for the Blazers’ G League team, Rip City Remix, and possibly their upcoming WNBA expansion team. Hankins highlighted the opportunity, stating, “There’s no shortage of things that our fans are wanting to see and hear from us.”
