• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 17, 2025

Coyotes Become Final Piece in Shifting Arizona Pro Sports Viewing Landscape

  • President Xavier Gutierrez said DSG’s decision to ditch the Diamondbacks in July kick-started alternative broadcast plans.
  • Coyotes have a week to take over production ahead of the start of NHL season.
Arizona Coyotes
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Xavier Gutierrez and other Arizona Coyotes executives didn’t have to look too far across the desert for a plan once regional sports broadcaster Diamond Sports Group bailed on a pro franchise in bankruptcy court. 

In July, a bankruptcy judge allowed DSG to reject the Arizona Diamondbacks’ broadcast rights, which forced the team to make a quick pivot to a new distribution deal anchored by MLB.TV. With the Phoenix Suns deal up, the Coyotes were left as the only major sports team on Bally Sports Arizona.

“For us, that’s when we really started [planning] in earnest,” Gutierrez, the president of the Coyotes, told Front Office Sports. “We had to continue to maneuver through the bankruptcy because we did not want to do anything to run afoul of any of the bankruptcy [proceedings]. We had to get an order in the court.”

That’s what came down on Thursday, as the judge agreed to allow DSG to reject their Coyotes rights. Within hours, the Coyotes announced a new local TV deal with Scripps Sports to broadcast 81 games over-the-air locally along with carriage on cable. 

The Coyotes are working on a direct-to-consumer offering for area fans. 

Minus the Coyotes, DSG now holds the rights to 11 NHL teams. 

In a Wednesday filing, DSG claimed that “rights fee payments under the Coyotes Agreement total tens of millions of dollars annually and increase yearly” in a deal that was supposed to run through the 2024-25 season. 

Gutierrez declined to comment on the financial impact of the change. 

The team’s focus now is taking over production of the game — something DSG had handled. The Coyotes open the NHL season on the road against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 13. 

“The Meruelo Group [founded by Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo] owns radio and television and production in L.A., and we’re really leaning into leadership from that part of the Meruelo Group universe,” Gutierrez said. “We’re going to be taking on the prior employees who have been doing the games for Bally Sports Arizona and Fox Sports Arizona before that. So, we feel very strongly that it’ll be a smooth transition from that perspective.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jon Ledecky

Islanders Owner Warns WNBA Against Labor Strife: ‘No Bueno’

Jon Ledecky drew a stark contrast between the two leagues.

NHL Expansion Fee Soars to $2B As League’s Value Surges

The buy-in price for the league will more than triple.
Jan 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Wells Fargo Center

Golden Knights Add Hockey Canada Trial’s Carter Hart

Hart is the only acquitted player to sign with an NHL team.
May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.
Aug 30, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Brandon Inniss (1) attempts to make a catch over Texas Longhorns defensive back Graceson Littleton (29) in the first half at Ohio Stadium.
October 16, 2025

SEC Games Help ABC Dominate College Football Ratings at Midseason

Texas–Ohio State on Fox remains the most-watched game of the season.
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
October 16, 2025

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Oct 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with teammates after game four of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center.
October 14, 2025

WNBA Finals Draws 1.5M Viewers, Second-Highest Series on ESPN

The four-game series averaged 1.5 million viewers.
MLS
October 14, 2025

MLS Publishes Unchecked AI-Generated Game Recaps

Humans are not reviewing the articles for accuracy.
Micah Parsons
exclusive
October 14, 2025

NFL Scorigami Creator Blames Glitches on Twitter Platform Changes

The bot has been glitching all NFL season, and fans have noticed.
Sep 5, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embraces after their match in the semifinal of the men’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
October 13, 2025

Six Kings Slam Returns With Record $6M Prize, Netflix Deal

The Six Kings Slam is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.