"Pirates and Penguins Forge Historic Partnership in SportsNet Pittsburgh Ownership"
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins have reached an agreement for joint ownership of the SportsNet Pittsburgh network. The partnership ensures that Pirates games will continue to be broadcasted on the network, with expanded pregame and postgame coverage. The deal, which is expected to be short-term, provides stability for Pirates fans while allowing the team flexibility for future alternatives. The arrangement has raised eyebrows due to the involvement of the New England Sports Network (NESN), owned by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which also owns the Penguins and holds an 80% stake in SportsNet Pittsburgh. Both teams are working towards offering a direct-to-consumer streaming option in the future. Financial terms and potential streaming options are yet to be disclosed, but the Pirates' president stated that the broadcast situation will not impact the team's payroll.