SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DIRECTV Sports Networks today announced that sports industry veteran and former ESPN executive Jim Noel has been appointed as senior counsel of the company and its three ROOT Sports-branded regional sports networks: ROOT Sports Northwest, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh. Noel will report to DIRECTV Sports Networks President Patrick Crumb and will be based in the company’s corporate headquarters in Seattle.
As the senior counsel, Noel will oversee all legal affairs of the company and support all business functions, including affiliate distribution and television rights agreements with team and league programming partners.
“We are thrilled Jim is joining DIRECTV Sports Networks,” said Crumb. “His extensive legal experience and knowledge of the sports television business make him a great addition to our leadership team.”
Noel joins DIRECTV Sports Networks with more than 30 years of legal and business experience in the sports industry. Most recently, he was the chief legal officer of the United States Golf Association. Prior to the USGA, Noel spent 19 years at ESPN Networks, where he held both legal and business positions, including vice president, Business Affairs & Programming and assistant general counsel. Previously, Noel worked for the National Football League as director of Legal Affairs for NFL Properties and as assistant counsel to the Commissioner and NFC Coordinator.
“I’m pleased and proud to be joining such an outstanding organization,” said Noel. “DIRECTV is a world-class company, and DIRECTV Sports Networks provide vibrant television platforms for tapping into the passions that fans have for their home teams. I look forward to playing a role in continuing to grow our businesses.”
Noel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon and a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law.
ROOT Sports Northwest, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh are distributed in 18 different states and hold exclusive telecast rights to more than two dozen professional and collegiate teams and conferences. Those include the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Utah Jazz, 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.
