PORTLAND FIRE AND PORTLAND THORNS ANNOUNCE LANDMARK BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAY MEDIA’S FOX 12 PLUS (KPDX)

Core Insights - The Portland Fire and Portland Thorns have established a multi-year media partnership with Gray Media's KPDX (FOX 12 Plus) to become the regional broadcast home for both teams, emphasizing a commitment to women's sports [1][2] - The partnership with Kiswe will introduce a direct-to-consumer streaming platform for the Portland Fire, offering fans access to live games, original programming, and team storytelling [1][4] Group 1: Media Partnership - FOX 12 Plus will be the exclusive local broadcast home for the Portland Fire, airing all available games and select games simulcast on FOX 12 (KPTV) [2] - The partnership aims to enhance visibility for women's sports and provide free over-the-air game access to fans [2][5] - Game broadcasts will be produced in collaboration with Raycom Sports, ensuring comprehensive coverage including pregame and postgame shows [2][3] Group 2: Streaming Platform - The Portland Fire will launch a branded streaming platform in partnership with Kiswe, featuring interactive live game streaming and exclusive content [3][4] - Kiswe's CEO emphasized the goal of creating a community-centric platform that connects fans with the team [4] - The platform will also include original studio programming focused on both teams and community initiatives [4] Group 3: Future Developments - RAJ Sports plans to open the world's first dual-sport women's performance center in 2026, designed to support both the Fire and Thorns [9][10] - The performance center aims to foster innovation and enhance athlete development [9][10] - The Portland Thorns have a strong history in women's soccer, leading the NWSL in average attendance and winning multiple championships [10]