Suns, Mercury renew free TV deal as ratings surge.

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00:00Welcome and thank you for tuning in. The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury have reached a two-year

00:06agreement with Gray Media, ensuring that their games will continue to be broadcast for free

00:11over the air. As a result of this deal, Suns games will be available on Arizona's Family Channel 3

00:18until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season. Over the last two seasons, Mercury games have been

00:25aired on either Arizona's Family or Arizona's Family Sports, which is accessible on Channel 44

00:31in the Phoenix area. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, this extension is valued at over $30

00:37million annually, compensating for the revenue that Suns owner Matt Ishbia acknowledged he forfeited

00:44by transitioning to over-the-air broadcasts, which also include a subscription streaming option.

00:49In 2023, the Suns opted to leave the regional sports network model and ended their

00:55partnership with Diamond Sports, which was facing bankruptcy. Ishbia gained attention for

01:00distributing free TV antennas to fans following this transition. This has always been about the

01:05fans. We were the first to make games accessible, Ishbia stated in a press release. He emphasized

01:11that the games of the Suns and Mercury are now available for free over the air, allowing more

01:16fans in Arizona to access them than ever before. He expressed enthusiasm about keeping the games free

01:23and accessible, which will help expand the fan base and promote basketball by ensuring that everyone

01:28in Arizona can watch the Suns and Mercury. The teams reported that the local ratings for the Suns have

01:33doubled in the last two years, with an average of over 125,000 viewers, while the ratings for the

01:39Mercury have increased more than four-fold. Pat Laplatney, co-CEO and president of Gray Media, emphasized the

01:46impact of broadcast television, expressing confidence that the partnership would significantly enhance

01:52viewership. He noted that it has created an opportunity for a new generation of fans to

01:57easily engage with and support the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, as reflected in the viewership statistics.

02:03Laplatney also highlighted that this development marks the beginning of a new era for live sports

02:08on broadcast television, paving the way for similar agreements in the future. He expressed excitement

02:13about being part of this journey. The Suns and Mercury are prioritizing their fans as they make this

02:19transition. Several other teams have also adopted Phoenix's approach to broadcasting games over the

02:25air, and it is anticipated that more teams will join this trend. This shift comes as regional sports

02:30networks are losing their influence over local NBA, MLB, and NHL teams nationwide. What are your thoughts

02:37on making sports more accessible to everyone?

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