After Bally Sports Arizona asked out of its contract with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, the team has landed a new television deal with Scripps Sports.
81 of 82 regular season Coyotes broadcasts will be seen on Channel 15.2, the Antenna TV network, in Phoenix. The Scripps-owned ABC affiliate in the market will provide “a strong marketing platform for Coyotes telecasts”.
“Scripps Sports looks forward to working with the Arizona Coyotes to showcase their exciting young team,” said Brian Lawlor, President of Scripps Sports. “We believe the future of this team is bright, and we look forward to making the games available for all fans to enjoy.”
The news of the new television deal comes after Diamond Sports Group — parent company of Bally Sports Arizona — claimed the network’s contract with the Coyotes “no longer fits within the debtors’ long-term plans and should be rejected.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Scripps Sports and provide free Coyotes games to our fans,” said Coyotes Owner, Chairman & Governor Alex Meruelo. “This is a major win for us to be able to increase our reach and continue to grow the great game of hockey in the desert. We are committed to winning, committed to the Valley, and committed to doing what’s best for our incredibly loyal and passionate fanbase.”
The Coyotes will produce the broadcasts. Play-by-play announcer Matt McConnell, analyst Tyson Nash, and studio hosts Todd Walsh and Jody Jackson will remain the team’s television broadcast crew.
In addition to being broadcast in Phoenix, Scripps Sports stations in Tucson and Salt Lake City will also air Coyotes games.
The deal is the third rights deal struck by Scripps Sports since launching in December of last year. The group now owns the television rights to the Vegas Golden Knights and a portion of the national WNBA package.
A direct-to-consumer streaming platform is also in the works for Coyotes fans not located in the Phoenix, Tucson, or Salt Lake City markets.
