Rockets, Astros games to broadcast on new ‘Space City’ network

The Houston Rockets will be broadcast under a newly-named regional sports network (RSN) for the 2023-24 season, a source inside the organization told Chron on Saturday. 

‘Space City Home Network’ will be the new name for the network currently known as AT&T SportsNet Southwest, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Houston Astros games will also be broadcast on ‘Space City Home Network’ when their 2024 season begins next March. 

KHOU 11 News’ Jason Bristol was the first to report Saturday’s news. 

The Rockets and Astros are set to act as joint owners of the newly-named RSN, per a Rockets’ source. Though for consumers, the launch of ‘Space City Home Network’ won’t impact their ability to watch local games. The network will operate as a traditional RSN available via cable providers, and via streaming options currently available. Contract details for AT&T SportsNet Southwest’s on-air talent have not been released as of Saturday. 

The joint venture between the Astros and Rockets marks something of a new era for the two franchises, who were thrust into partnership when Warner Bros. Discovery announced in August it was fully exiting the RSN business. Just how long this partnership lasts—and how profitable the venture will be for either franchise—remains an open question. But those concerns are for a later date, likely in the coming years rather than the coming months.

For now, Rockets and Astros fans can rest easy amid the national RSN crisis. Both franchises will continue to have their games broadcast locally in their traditional format moving forward, with the change to ‘Space City Home Network’ serving largely as new branding measure.