MESA, ARIZ. — Scripps Sports, led by the individual who formerly led the E.W. Scripps Co.’s owned stations, has scored its third rights agreement. It comes with the disintegration of Bally Sports Arizona, a victim of the Chapter 11 reorganization of its parent, Sinclair subsidiary Diamond Sports Group.
The latest deal sees the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes approve a multi-year agreement with Scripps Sports to televise all locally broadcast Coyotes games over the air to residents of Arizona — and surrounding states within the team’s broadcast territory.
It mirrors Scripps’ landmark agreement with another NHL franchise, the 2023 Stanley Cup Champion Las Vegas Golden Knights, signed earlier this year by Scripps Sports.
And, it comes after an agreement with the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury.
The partnership between the Coyotes and Scripps allows the broadcast company to bring non-nationally exclusive Coyotes games over-the-air within the team’s official territorial rights area.
As per club policy, the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. But, Scripps and the Coyotes confirmed on Wednesday morning that the deal has obtained the necessary approvals from the National Hockey League.
Timing is everything, as the Scripps contract was signed immediately after the Coyotes and Diamond agreed to end the Coyotes’ telecast rights agreement. The debtors in the Diamond Sports Group LLC bankruptcy subsequently submitted a motion and proposed order to reject the Coyotes telecast rights agreement to the bankruptcy court.
The owner of the Coyotes is Alex Meruelo, who owns Meruelo Media, which has radio and television properties in the Los Angeles market operated on a day-to-day basis by Otto Padrón.
“We are thrilled to partner with Scripps Sports and provide free Coyotes games to our fans,” said 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.”
For the 2023-2024 season, 81 of the 82 Coyotes games will be broadcast on the HD2 signal associated with ABC affiliate KNXV-15. It is the home of Antenna TV in Phoenix and can be found on Channel 95 on COX cable TV systems across the metropolitan area. On KNXV, Scripps will provide “a strong marketing platform” for Coyotes telecasts.
In Tucson, Scripps’ KGUN 9.2 will air Coyotes games. It can be found on Cox Channel 85 and Comcast Channel 1179 in Southern Arizona. For those in Salt Lake City, a neutral market for NHL coverage, Coyotes games will alternate between KUPX-16 and the DT2 multicast channel of KSTU-13, an Antenna TV affiliate.
One Coyotes game — Dec. 21 at the San Jose Sharks — will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+.
“Scripps Sports looks forward to working with the Arizona Coyotes to showcase their exciting young team,” said Brian Lawlor, the former leader of Scripps’ over-the-air TV stations who now serves as 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.”
Coyotes President/CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez added, “This is an innovative collaboration that will ensure that all our great fans can watch Coyotes hockey on television for free and allows us to better connect with our incredible fans and fans-in-waiting.”
Gutierrez said the Coyotes and Scripps also are committed to providing fans with a direct-to-consumer streaming option. Details will be announced when plans are finalized.
The Coyotes will be responsible for production of the games. Coyotes play-by-play announcer Matt McConnell, color analyst Tyson Nash and hosts Todd Walsh and Jody Jackson will remain involved with all Coyotes broadcasts.
Broadcasts will include pregame and postgame coverage for every game.
Additionally, Scripps and the Coyotes will co-produce a monthly 30-minute “Club Insider” program that showcases the team, its players and the organization on and off the ice. The show will air on Scripps’ KASW-61 in Phoenix and The CW Network-affiliated sibling in Tucson, KWBA-58.
The Coyotes open the 2023-24 NHL regular season on Friday, October 13 in New Jersey against the Devils.
