The Phoenix Suns have announced plans to move its television broadcasts to local TV stations, leaving Bally Sports Arizona in the process.
In a deal with Gray Television, the Suns TV broadcasts would air on stations owned by the company in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. Additionally, Suns broadcasts will be available for fans to stream on the Suns website and app.
The franchise has aired its games on Bally Sports Arizona since 2003, when it was known as FOX Sports Net Arizona.
The Suns claim the move will make games “available to nearly 2.8 million households in Arizona”, which would more than triple the current reach of Bally Sports Arizona.
“We’re not focusing on money. We’re focusing on winning, success, and taking care of fans, taking care of the community,” new team owner Mat Ishbia told ESPN. “What happens is you always end up making money. It always works out.
“We’re going to have more fans than ever before. We’re going to have more people who will have eyeballs on Devin Booker and Deandre [Ayton] and Kevin Durant, Chris [Paul] and cheer the team on. And more people buying merchandise because they’re bigger fans.”
“At the end of the day, what local viewers watch in patterns is local news and local sports,” Gray Television CEO Pat LaPlatney told Sportico. “To get back into the local sports business, that’s huge for us.”
According to several reports, Bally Sports Arizona believes it has a clause in its contract with the franchise that allows it to match any offer the team receives for its local television rights. However, as parent company Diamond Sports Group undergoes bankruptcy proceedings, it remains to be seen whether or not the company will exercise that option. Diamond Sports Group was late on its payment to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and was ordered to pay at least 50% of its rights fee to the club by a court mandate.
Games played by the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, also owned by new Suns owner Mat Ishbia, would also air its broadcasts on local television in the Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma markets.
