Blazing a Trail: The Portland Trail Blazers' Triumphant Return to Local TV

In a groundbreaking move, the Portland Trail Blazers have partnered with Sinclair Broadcast Group to launch the "Rip City Television Network," bringing the team's games back to local television for the first time in over two decades. This historic agreement not only expands the Blazers' broadcast reach but also offers fans unprecedented access to their beloved team, both on the air and through a new direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Unlocking the Passion of Blazers Fans Across the Region

Reviving the Tradition of Free-to-Air Blazers Basketball

For more than 20 years, Trail Blazers fans have been yearning for the opportunity to watch their team's games without the burden of costly cable subscriptions. This new partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group has finally made that dream a reality. The majority of the Blazers' games will now be broadcast on Sinclair affiliates, including KATU and KUNP in the Portland metropolitan area, as well as KUNS/TBD.TV Network in Seattle, KTVL/TBD.TV Network in Medford, KVAL, KCBY, and KPIC/TBD.TV Network in Eugene, and KEPR and KIMA/TBD.TV Network in Yakima/Pasco, Washington. This unprecedented move will undoubtedly reignite the passion of Blazers fans across the region, allowing them to connect with their team like never before.

Embracing the Next Generation of Blazers Supporters

Dewayne Hankins, the president of business operations for the Portland Trail Blazers, emphasized the importance of this agreement in making the team's games accessible to all fans. "For us, it was about making the right decision for the fans. We really wanted to make sure our fans were able to watch our games," he stated. Hankins recognized that the ability to watch Blazers basketball creates lifelong fans, and the organization is committed to fostering that connection with the community.

Expanding the Blazers' Broadcast Reach

The new agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group will quadruple the Trail Blazers' broadcast reach, ensuring that fans across the region can tune in to witness the team's exciting journey. This expanded coverage will not only benefit the die-hard supporters but also introduce the Blazers to a wider audience, potentially sparking a new generation of basketball enthusiasts.

Introducing BlazerVision: A Subscription-Based Streaming Service

In addition to the free-to-air broadcasts, the Portland Trail Blazers are also launching a paid, subscription-based direct-to-consumer streaming service called BlazerVision. Subscribers in Oregon and Washington will have the ability to watch games wherever they may be, as well as access to on-demand replays, classic games, and other exclusive content, including "The Trail Presented by Alaska Airlines." With an annual subscription of $120 or a monthly fee of $19.99, BlazerVision offers fans a comprehensive and immersive way to follow their beloved team.

Celebrating the Blazers' Broadcast Team

Returning for an eighth season to call Blazer games will be the dynamic duo of Kevin Calabro and Lamar Hurd, along with the talented Brooke Olzendam. Calabro, the Blazers' play-by-play announcer, expressed his excitement about the new broadcast network, stating, "We are fired up, man. We're excited about having our own broadcast network around the state of Oregon and get all the fans involved, and BlazerVision as well, for expanded content as well. So, there are so many ways to witness the Blazers this year."Lamar Hurd, the Blazers' TV analyst, emphasized the importance of accessibility, particularly for young fans. "As a kid, I couldn't afford cable. So if the game was not provided, I wasn't watching it, I maybe wasn't falling in love with the game," he said. "And with us being the Blazers, we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to use our basketball influence as an organization and help other people, and that manifests in a lot of different ways."The Blazers' broadcast team, along with the Blazers Dancers and mascots Blaze and Douglas Fur, joined the KATU crew on the TV station's roof to celebrate the partnership's announcement, further underscoring the excitement and energy surrounding this new era of Blazers basketball.