ROOT SPORTS announces 2015 Astros television schedule

HOUSTON, TX - ROOT SPORTS™, the new television home of the Houston Astros, announced today that the network will produce and broadcast up to 162 Houston Astros games during the 2015 Major League Baseball season.

"We are extremely excited about our debut on ROOT SPORTS, who will be outstanding partners," said Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan. "Our team has worked hard to ensure Astros games would be available on television for fans. This exciting, young team will bring great excitement for Houston this season."

Bill Brown, Alan Ashby and Geoff Blum will call the action in 2015. Brown will handle play-by-play duties, Ashby will provide both play-by-play and color analysis and Blum will serve as a color analyst. ROOT SPORTS' on-air personality Julia Morales will deliver coverage from on the field as Astros sideline reporter and contributor.

ROOT SPORTS will open and conclude each game with a Live Astros Pre and Postgame show. Kevin Eschenfelder will serve as primary host of these shows, with support from Bart Enis throughout the season. Mike Stanton and Art Howe will join Eschenfelder and Enis to provide game insight as studio analysts.

In addition to game coverage, ROOT SPORTS will air exclusive Astros programming throughout the season including new episodes of Bases Loaded, a weekly 30-minute show giving viewers an inside look at the Astros both on and off the field.

The network opened the 2015 season with four Astros Spring Training games and will begin coverage of the regular season on Opening Day, April 6th, when the Astros host the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Click here for a complete 2015 Houston Astros television schedule.

ROOT SPORTS is currently available on the following cable and satellite providers (check local listings):

• AT&T U-verse
• Coastal Link
• Ozona Cable
• DIRECTV
• Consolidated Communications
• Phonoscope
• Comcast Xfinity
• enTouch

Media requesting additional information should contact ROOT SPORTS Nik Del Greco at 412-316-3823, [email protected]. Visit ROOTSPORTS.com for complete schedule.

ROOT SPORTS Southwest is the home of the Houston Astros and Houston Rockets. The network reaches over 4 million households across five states and delivers more than 250 live events each year.

ROOT SPORTS Southwest is jointly-owned by DIRECTV and AT&T and is managed by DIRECTV Sports Networks LLC, which operates regional sports networks in the Southwest, Northwest, Pittsburgh and Rocky Mountain regions. The four networks combined reach approximately 13 million households across 22 states and own exclusive programming and distribution partnerships with more than 25 teams and conferences. DIRECTV Sports Networks is a subsidiary of DIRECTV, the world's most popular television service.

-ASTROS-