ROOT SPORTS and the Pittsburgh Pirates are now streaming in-market Pirates games for authenticated pay TV subscribers. As part of an agreement with MLBAM (MLB Advanced Media), Pirates games will stream at no additional cost to authenticated pay TV subscribers of ROOT SPORTS distribution affiliates who have chosen to participate.
The current list of participating distributors is below:
Consolidated Communications, Zito Media, Beaver Valley Cable, CAS Cable, Aurora by HTC, Citizens Fiber, Kuhn Communications, LHTC Broadband, QCOL, Windstream, Adams Cable Service, Armstrong, MetroCast, Service Electric Cablevision, Armstrong, MetroCast, Service Electric Cablevision, Service Electric Cable TV, Suddenlink, and DIRECTV.
Streaming will also be available for Atlantic Broadband and Blue Ridge customers soon.
AT&T Sports Network's addition of Pirates authenticated in-market streaming rights is part of its ongoing effort to make sports content available to fans in new and convenient ways.
"This is an important step for ROOT SPORTS and great news for Pirates fans," said Patrick Crumb, president of AT&T Sports Networks, which owns and operates ROOT SPORTS. "We will continue to work toward expanding our streaming rights portfolio so fans will have additional ways to watch the sports content they love."
"The way in which our fans stay connected to Pirates baseball is ever evolving. It is important that we provide our fans with the opportunity to consume our games in the ways in which they desire to consume them. In-market streaming from any mobile device allows us to do just that," said Frank Coonelly, Pirates President. "We appreciate that our partner, ROOT SPORTS, has made this commitment to our fans and its viewers."
To stream Pirates games, viewers must be current customers with one of the authenticated ROOT SPORTS distributors and subscribe to a level of service that includes the regional sports network. For the 2017 season, games will be made available to the distributors to stream to their authenticated customers and MLBAM will authenticate ROOT SPORTS viewers on MLB.com, Pirates.com and MLB.com At Bat. A link to the live streams will be made available 30 minutes prior to first pitch on MLB.com and MLB.com At Bat with the steam begin live following ROOT SPORTS pregame.
Fans can find the Pirates broadcast schedule at pirates.com/broadcast.
MLB Streaming FAQ
Q: How can I stream Pirates games in-market?
A: ROOT SPORTS is offering video providers the ability to deliver live Pirates games on a streaming basis. The games will be available to those viewers who are a subscriber to a cable or satellite company that carries ROOT SPORTS and has opted to make available the games for streaming. The games can be made available to stream from those providers' platforms (web and app). For now, games are only available on MLB.com and the MLB.com At Bat app to customers whose provider agrees to allow MLB to authenticate the viewer as a subscriber of ROOT SPORTS. To stream the games, you will need to be an authenticated pay TV subscriber of ROOT SPORTS.
Q: Where do I go to see the games?
A: As always, you can see the games on your TV provider's ROOT SPORTS channel. This offering will allow you to also see our broadcasts on the digital platforms of your provider, i.e., their website and app, the ROOT SPORTS web and app (once available) and MLB.com and MLB.com At Bat app. At this moment, the only platforms capable of delivering the stream to customers are MLB.com and MLB.com At Bat. However, we anticipate having a ROOT SPORTS app in the very near future.
Q: When will the stream be available on my phone?
A: The streaming icon will appear on your Pirates home screen in the MLB.com At Bat app and on Pirates.com 30 minutes prior to each first pitch.
Q: Is there an additional cost?
A: There is no additional cost as long as you are a valid video subscriber who subscribes to a video package that contains ROOT SPORTS in the Pittsburgh market. Data charges may apply for mobile app viewing. Please check with your provider.
Q: Is ROOT SPORTS available without a video subscription?
A: No, the only way to access digital streaming of ROOT SPORTS is to have a valid pay television subscription that contains ROOT SPORTS.
Q: If my video provider does not carry ROOT SPORTS will I now be able to watch Pirates games by streaming them on MLB.com or MLB.com At Bat?
A: No, the only way to stream the games on either platform in the local broadcast market is to have a valid pay television subscription that contains ROOT SPORTS.
Q: Do I need an MLB.TV or At Bat paid subscription if I already have ROOT SPORTS as part of my cable/satellite package?
A: No, you will use your current video subscriber login to authenticate to watch games within the local broadcast market.
Q: How do I authenticate my video provider account?
A: You will choose your provider from the available options, and log in with your video subscriber login to be authenticated.
Q: What providers in the Pittsburgh area are participating and can be authenticated?
A: At this time, please visit Pirates.com or the MLB.com At Bat app to find out if your provider has made live Pittsburgh Pirates games available for online streaming.
Q: What happens if my provider is not listed?
A: If your provider is not listed, they either do not carry ROOT SPORTS, or they are not making available the streaming rights. Please contact your provider to let them know you would like to receive this service.
Q: I forgot my username and password. What do I do?
A: You will need to follow directions on your video provider's site to recover your username and/or password.
Q: What if I travel out of town; can I still stream the games?
A: Not at this time.
Q: Is there a way to stop, pause and or record the live games?
A: MLB.com/MLB.com At Bat does allow you to stop or pause the live game as part of this service. Such features will vary between providers.
Q: What are the technical requirements and what devices will work?
A: You will be able to watch from both PC and Mac platforms. Additionally, you will be able to watch on both Apple and Android devices. To watch games on any of these platforms, you will need to authenticate with your pay TV subscription credentials with a valid subscription to ROOT SPORTS.