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9h ago

Suns, Mercury Extend Free Over-the-Air TV Deal With Gray Through 2028

The extension cements a fan-first model built on free broadcasts plus team-run streaming after viewership surged.

Phoenix Suns, Mercury Extend Free-TV Deal Through 2028 in Arizona Markets
Feb 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia watches a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • All Suns, Mercury and Valley Suns games will continue to air free over-the-air across Arizona via Arizona’s Family through the 2027–28 season.
  • ESPN reports the deal is worth more than $30 million per season, restoring local rights revenue the franchises forfeited in 2023 when leaving Diamond Sports.
  • Games will also remain available on the teams’ direct-to-consumer services, Suns+ and Merc+, which are powered by Kiswe.
  • Team data show local audiences grew sharply since the 2023 switch, with Suns viewership more than doubling to 125,000+ and Mercury up 425%.
  • Gray Media’s network expanded carriage to Tucson and Yuma via KPHE, reaching nearly 3 million households, while executives cast the model as a blueprint for other clubs after the prior Diamond Sports dispute was settled.