Phoenix Suns seeking 'fair resolution' as judge blocked move from ...

Phoenix Suns issued a statement in reaction to a bankruptcy judge blocking move from Bally Sports Arizona to Gray Television, Inc., and Kiswe to televise and stream their games starting next season.

“The Phoenix Suns and Mercury are excited to continue giving our fans everything they want for the best possible experience and making our games accessible to everyone,” Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein said in a statement. “We are committed to working collaboratively on a fair resolution that will be in the best interest of our fans, our community, and our players.”

Arizona's Family KTVK (3TV), KPHO (CBS5) and the statewide KPHE (AZ Family Sports Network) are the networks set to televise Suns games next season and WNBA’s Mercury games starting this season.

The Suns agreement is for up to five years, and the Mercury are on a two-year deal.

Diamond Sports Group filed an emergency motion last week against the Suns, alleging breach of contract after the NBA franchise announced it is leaving Bally Sports Arizona for Gray Television and Kiswe.

Bally Sports Arizona is one of 19 regional sports networks owned by Diamond Sports Group, which in March announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after it missed a $140 million interest payment.

A court document dated May 10 from a bankruptcy court in Houston reveals the Suns “violated the automatic stay under Section 362(a)(3) of the bankruptcy code” and will “continue to perform and comply with their obligation under the agreement in all aspects.”

Diamond Sports Group contends it is still under contract with the Suns until the 2022-23 NBA season is over. Even though the Suns no longer need Bally Sports Arizona to broadcast games because TNT or ESPN/ABC will air the rest until their playoff run is over, by going to Gray Television and Kiwse, Diamond Sports Group has first right refusal and can match any deal offered to the Suns and Mercury while under contract.

The May 10 court document adds that “all terms of the replacement offer and/or the replacement agreement that impede on any rights Diamond Arizona has under the agreement in any way are void. This order does not affect the rights under agreement between Gray, Kiswe, and the Suns about the Phoenix Mercury.”

The Suns announced last month they were joining Gray Television and Kiswe, a service that provides live streaming, will have their games televised and streamed “with or without a pay TV subscription,” by those companies.

The Suns project nearly 2.8 million viewers through this new deal.

The Mercury open the 2023 season May 19 at the Los Angeles Sparks. They announced May 4 their local television schedule, stating KTVK and KPHE will provide coverage for all 28 regular season games “eligible for local broadcast.”

ESPN (4), CBS (2) and ION (6) will televise the remaining 12. The WNBA and Scripps signed a multiyear deal in April to televise all Friday night regular season games on ION.

ESPN is broadcasting the Mercury’s opener at the Sparks and second regular-season game, a home opener against Chicago Sky.

Their first local televised game is set for May 25 against the Minnesota Lynx at Footprint Center.

Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale is set to work as an analyst for all Mercury broadcasts while Cindy Brunson will begin her second season handling play-by-play.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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