A bankruptcy judge in Texas last week put a halt to the Phoenix Suns’ plans to air their games locally on the area’s Gray Television affiliate next season, but the Phoenix Mercury don’t appear to be impacted.
Both the Suns and Mercury are trying to ditch Bally Sports, as parent company Diamond Sports Group is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings. The decision to drop Bally Sports was announced back in April. On May 3, Diamond Sports filed an emergency motion in federal bankruptcy court, claiming the Suns and Mercury breached their contract with the network.
But the judge exempted the Mercury in their order on the motion, saying that the Mercury’s deal with Diamond Sports was different than that of their NBA counterparts.
Mercury games will air locally on KTVK, known as Arizona’s Family 3TV and be available across Arizona on KPHE (AZ Family Sports Network). The first broadcast on Gray TV will come on May 25. Cindy Brunson will call the play-by-play, with Ann Meyers Drysdale adding color commentary.
ESPN is going to be broadcasting Phoenix’s first two contests of the new season.
