The addition of several hundred thousand DirecTV and U-verse subscribers in the Houston area "has boosted viewership" for Root Sports Southwest, according to David Barron of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. DirecTV said that the RSN's net growth in Houston-area subscribers since its launch in November "outpaces DirecTV's national growth by a factor of 3.5." Astros games have "drawn more total viewers in the baseball season's first two months" than the entire '14 season on the defunct CSN Houston. Both the Rockets and Astros have "enjoyed success" since the RSN's launch." Entering the Astros' current homestand, Root Sports Southwest "already has surpassed" by 30% the "number of total Nielsen ratings points CSN Houston compiled" for the entire '14 season. Meanwhile, Rockets games averaged a 1.91 local rating in Houston for the regular season, up from 1.21 last year on CSN Houston. The first-round NBA Playoff series featuring Rockets-Mavericks averaged a 3.78, up from 1.63 for Rockets-Trail Blazers last year. But the RSN "lost an opportunity for more exposure with the collapse of the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger, which would have given Root a significant toehold" in Austin, San Antonio, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Waco and other TWC markets in Texas. The RSN also has "been unable to reach carriage deals with Dish Network." DirecTV Sports Networks President Patrick Crumb said that he "remains optimistic of future deals with Suddenlink ... and other carriers that do not currently carry the channel." Root Sports Southwest also has "signed new advertising sponsorships for Astros games with Southwest Airlines, Houston Methodist Hospital and The Woodlands Church" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/31).
