Former ESPN Executive Noel Joins DIRECTV Sports Networks as Senior Counsel

DIRECTV Sports Networks have announced 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.

The three regional sports networks inlcude ROOT Sports Northwest, order 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, impotent 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.”

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.