DIRECTV Sports Networks Appoints Steve Raymond Vice President, Affiliate Relations

DIRECTV Sports Networks today announced that industry veteran and former Disney and ESPN Networks executive Steve Raymond has been appointed vice president, Affiliate Relations, overseeing all affiliate relationships across cable, satellite and telecomm operators, as well as other emerging distributors, on behalf of DIRECTV Sports Networks’ three ROOT Sports regional sports services: ROOT Sports Northwest, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh. Raymond will report to DIRECTV Sports Networks President Patrick Crumb.

Raymond arrives at DIRECTV Sports Networks after more than two decades at the Walt Disney Company, most recently serving as senior vice president of national accounts. In that role, Raymond oversaw all distribution activities for Disney and ESPN Networks throughout the western region including retransmission consent.

“Steve possesses a rare combination of insight and experience that immediately enhances our entire organization,” said Crumb. “He already enjoys long and productive working relationships with many of DIRECTV Sports Networks’ affiliate partners and has a proven track record of growing the distribution of sports networks.”

Raymond will work out of DIRECTV Sports Networks’ Denver office, as well as the company’s headquarters in Seattle, where Crumb is based.

As vice president, Affiliate Relations, Raymond now manages key strategic relationships between DIRECTV Sports Networks and distributors including Comcast, DISH Network, Verizon, AT&T U-Verse and several others. He is responsible for maintaining full value on behalf of the three ROOT Sports networks, while also increasing their availability through cable, satellite, telecomm and other emerging media partners. Raymond is also managing, leading and coaching a team of direct reports who are responsible for the Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Northeast (Pittsburgh) regions.

“I could not be more thrilled to join DIRECTV Sports Networks’ talented team of executives,” said Raymond. “I look forward to applying my experience in content distribution to develop new growth opportunities across all ROOT Sports properties.”

Raymond, who grew up in Wichita, Kan., holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and is a member of the board of trustees for the National Sports Center for the Disabled and Adaptive Spirit.

DIRECTV Sports Networks’ ROOT Sports Northwest, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh are currently available in 18 different states and hold exclusive telecast rights to more than two dozen professional or collegiate teams and conferences. Those include the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Utah Jazz, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Big Sky Conference, Mountain West Conference and West Coast Conference, among others.

About DIRECTV Sports Networks: Seattle-based DIRECTV Sports Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of DIRECTV and operates three regional sports networks branded as ROOT SPORTS. The three networks (based in Bellevue, WA, Denver and Pittsburgh) are distributed across 18 states and hold exclusive regional telecast rights to more than two dozen professional and collegiate teams including the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, Utah Jazz, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers and Gonzaga University. The ROOT SPORTS Networks also provide Big Sky, Mountain West, Pac-12, Big 12, Conference USA and other collegiate football, basketball and other events.

For DIRECTV Sports Networks:Robert Mercer(310) 964-4683rgmercer@directv.com

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