It’s a small revolution for the Suns and for the economy of an NBA franchise. ESPN Indeed, we learn that the contract between the broadcaster Bally Sports Arizona, close to bankruptcy, and the Phoenix franchise, which dates from 2003, is coming to an end and will not be renewed.
The consequence is simple: the Suns matches in 2023/2024 will be broadcast over the air, therefore free of charge, in Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma. As well as in streaming, via Kiswe, for the youngest who, more connected on tablets, computers and telephones, do not have a television. However, this option will be chargeable.
For the boss, “money is not a priority”
This is logically good news for local fans who, if they have a television, will be able to watch the matches without paying for a cable channel, as has been the case since 1981. For the Suns, on the other hand, it is a huge less income, as well as a chance to reach a wider audience. It is therefore an assumed calculation.
“Money is not our priority. We are more focused on winning, succeeding, taking care of our fans.” says new Suns owner Mat Ishbia. “We always end up making money. There will be more fans than ever to watch Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and cheer on the team. And these people will buy merchandise because they will have become big fans. »
The broadcaster has money problems
This change in policy is not only based on this desire to reach almost three million people (instead of 800,000 with cable) but is also undoubtedly explained by the economic problems of Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports. Arizona, which filed for bankruptcy in March.
Several MLB franchises broadcast by this network have not been paid, thus forcing the baseball league to request the cancellation of the contracts. The Suns did not suffer from payment defaults, but this precarious balance must have made the leaders think about whether or not to renew the contract with this broadcaster.
“The world of media is changing and the Suns will be leaders in this new way of thinking and doing”, concludes Mat Ishbia. The change is even now since it also concerns the Mercury matches in the WNBA, with the long-awaited return of Brittney Griner in a few weeks.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Devin Booker | 53 | 34.6 | 49.4 | 35.1 | 85.5 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 27.8 |
| Kevin Durant | 8 | 33.7 | 57.0 | 53.7 | 83.3 | 0.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 26.0 |
| Deandre Ayton | 67 | 30.4 | 58.9 | 29.2 | 76.0 | 2.6 | 7.4 | 10.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 18.0 |
| Mikal Bridges | 56 | 36.4 | 46.3 | 38.7 | 89.7 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 17.2 |
| Cameron Johnson | 17 | 25.3 | 47.4 | 45.5 | 81.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 13.9 |
| Chris Paul | 59 | 32.0 | 44.0 | 37.5 | 83.1 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.9 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 13.9 |
| Cameron Payne | 48 | 20.2 | 41.5 | 36.8 | 76.6 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 10.3 |
| Terrence Ross | 21 | 18.4 | 42.8 | 34.7 | 85.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 9.0 |
| Landry Shamet | 40 | 20.2 | 37.7 | 37.7 | 88.2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 8.7 |
| Damion Lee | 74 | 20.4 | 44.2 | 44.5 | 90.4 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 8.2 |
| Duane Washington, Jr. | 31 | 12.7 | 36.7 | 36.0 | 66.7 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 7.9 |
| Torrey Craig | 79 | 24.7 | 45.6 | 39.5 | 71.1 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 7.4 |
| Josh Okogie | 72 | 18.8 | 39.1 | 33.5 | 72.4 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 7.3 |
| Jock Landale | 69 | 14.2 | 52.8 | 25.0 | 75.2 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 6.6 |
| Saben Lee | 23 | 15.8 | 39.3 | 37.9 | 73.7 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 6.3 |
| Dario Saric | 37 | 14.4 | 42.7 | 39.1 | 81.8 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 5.8 |
| Bismack Biyombo | 61 | 14.3 | 57.8 | 0.0 | 35.7 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 4.3 |
| Tj Warren | 16 | 12.3 | 42.9 | 31.6 | 50.0 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 4.2 |
| Ish Wainright | 60 | 15.3 | 37.0 | 32.9 | 83.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 4.2 |
| Darius Bazley | 7 | 8.7 | 48.0 | 25.0 | 40.0 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 4.0 |
