The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury have agreed to a two-year extension with Gray Media and will continue broadcasting their games for free over the air.
That keeps the Suns’ games on Arizona’s Family (Channel 3) through the 2027-28 season.
The Mercury’s games appeared over the past two seasons on either Arizona’s Family or Arizona’s Family Sports, which in the Phoenix area is Channel 44 over the air.
The extension is worth more than $30 million per year, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, which has made up for the money Suns owner Mat Ishbia admitted he left on the table by moving to the over-the-air broadcasts that also has a subscription streaming option.
The Suns left the regional sports network framework and ended a partnership with Diamond Sports in 2023, as that organization was going through bankruptcy. Ishbia made headlines for giving away free TV antennas to fans after the move.
“This has always been about the fans. We were the first to make games available free over-the-air, bringing Suns and Mercury games to more fans in Arizona than ever before,” Ishbia said in a release. “We’re excited to keep our games free and accessible – growing our fanbase and the game of basketball by ensuring everyone in Arizona has access to watch the Suns and Mercury.”
According to the teams, the Suns’ local ratings have doubled over the past two years, averaging more than 125,000 viewers.
The Mercury’s ratings have more than quadrupled.
“We know the power of broadcast television and were confident the partnership would move the needle,” Gray Media co-CEO and president Pat LaPlatney said. “It has created a space for a new generation of Phoenix Suns and Mercury fans to easily connect and cheer on their teams. We see it in the viewership data.
“But most importantly, it ushered in a new era of live sports on broadcast television, opening the door for more deals of its kind to be done. We are excited to be on this journey with the Suns and Mercury as we continue to put the fan first.”
A handful of other teams followed Phoenix’s move to over-the-air, and more are expected to follow as regional sports networks have lost their grasp on local NBA, MLB and NHL teams across the country.
