The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Rockets President of Business Operations Gretchen Shierr Talks SCHN+

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

Rockets President of Business Operations Gretchen Shierr Talks SCHN+

All right, so the name of it is called Space City Home Network Plus. Is that correct? Yes, S-C-H-N-plus, if you're looking at it through the app store or on your TV. Okay. And it is a pay service that, frankly, a lot of other networks have done in other parts of the country. You guys have been working on this with the Astros for several months now, correct? Yes, we have. I mean, when we acquired the network two years ago with the Astros, you know, we were super fortunate.

that ownership came together to make sure that we had a stable, regional option that stayed consistent for fans. So our biggest priority was making sure that we kept that programming, we kept the talent, we kept the technology, we had all of their relationships with the cable and linear distributors in place, and then that got us ready to launch the digital and streaming version, which we did today. All right, schmplus.com is the website, or you can go right to your app store. We're talking about basically, if you add the Astros and the Rockets together, about a dollar per game, correct?

You can do it a monthly and also a yearly subscription. Is that accurate? That is accurate. Okay. And it's all the other programming on the network as well. But yes, primarily the live broadcaster, what we know drives the viewership. Well, I would say this. If you got rid of the A team, probably would have some more viewers.

I don't know if that show has done much, but it certainly has heard our image here at the radio station. So I'm just teasing boys. Hey, and the best thing is for someone like me that is a direct TV subscriber, I get the app as part of the package, correct? Correct. So through your direct TV, your Uverse, Fubo, we're working closely with Expendity. We're not quite there with them yet, but you can log on to Bay City Home Network Plus, use your existing linear subscription if you already get the channel. and you will be able to access it through both places, through what you currently have,

through your cable and your satellite and also through Space City Home Network Plus. You know, Gretchen, I don't know how many people, sports fans pay attention to the sports business side of things, but I will say the world of television when it comes to the new TV deal, the NBA is signed, what we're seeing this in other sports. How much of the local, regional, national stuff

really occupies your plate, and maybe not so much on a day-to-day, basis, but it feels like it's always a conversation piece with every sports league, including the NBA right now, about where the future is when it comes to revenue and distribution and placement. It feels like this was something that, while it gives you more outlook, it also gives a lot of people a lot of uncertainty about where to find games and educating people about such things.

Yeah, I mean, it's the world of technology and media is changing super fast and has been over the last several years. Look, as we, all sports are global and are continuing to grow, the NBA particularly, especially our brand, but at the end of the day, we are the Houston Rockets, and we are a hyper-local team and franchise who is, you know, very, very engaged in our local community and making sure that everybody who loves this team has the opportunity to watch it has always been our top priority. It took us a little bit to get everything working. out to be able to do it in a way that was that was well done from a technology standpoint, but also that was going to last for years to come so that there wouldn't be multiple changes

year over year, which you were seeing in other markets. And we're really fortunate through the Fritita family and with the partnership with the Astros, that we will have this stable network both on linear and now, now through the streaming app for a long time. What are geographic restrictions as far as within the country? and really without the, I mean, there's Rockets fans throughout the world. Yeah. So, I mean, throughout the world, like the way that not to go down a rabbit hole in terms of how sports leagues and media rights work.

But for the NBA, the easiest way to describe it is about 150 miles from Houston is the local territory that Space City Home Network is allowed to show Rockets games for. For baseball, it extends a little bit more. It extends into Louisiana and Arkansas and a little bit more into into into, into Space City Home Network, is allowed. the state, but the territory itself is the same as what the network is on regular TV. And then anything outside of that kind of belongs to the leagues, and you can see that in other places. So if you are a Rockets fan in New York, this is a local option for fans. So outside of our territory, you would still need to go to other options, whether that be

league pass or other ways to access the NBA's broadcast. Well, I'll just say it. make sense? Yeah, it does. And I'll say this. Looking at social media today, just a huge sense of relief because, look, Gretchen, when we were growing up, it was cable over the air, and we were lucky to have cable if we had it. Now, you've got everybody trying different ways to watch television, and, you know, everybody's got to spend their own money, their own way on what they want to buy and what not buy. But this now gives the option for people that are like, hey, I like this particular carrier, but it doesn't carry Rockets games or Astros games. I'm kind

of screwed. Yeah, optionality is the best thing. And this provides every single person that is in Houston and is in our broadcast territory now has the option to access our games. Hopefully they choose to do it, but everyone now has access regardless of what decisions they're making on how they consume media. And again, if you are a current cable subscriber, satellite streaming provided, the linear channels remain on the providers as they do today. There's no additional charge on that.

It just gives some other folks some options that are not mainstream like DirecTV or cables folks plan B so it is again the website is s c hnplus.com or you can go right to the app stores and available and you're saying that Apple TV and Amazon Fire are currently available correct correct and we're expecting Roku momentarily this week just technology stuff that it should be ready soon and then we're working on others as well okay very good Gretchen thank you for the visit and congratulations on this service and a lot lot of folks will be very happy about it and we will see you tonight for the game against the Kings.