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Draft:Gray Broadcast Sports Networks

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The Gray Broadcast Sports Networks are a group of regional sports networks, distributed via terrestrial television, in the United States owned by Gray Media. The networks carry regional broadcasts of sporting events from various local professional, collegiate, and high school sports teams.

Gray Media, across these networks and its other owned television stations, also airs a limited amount of national sports programming. As of 2025, Gray airs national programming from the Professional Women's Hockey League, the American Association of Professional Baseball, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, Fight Sports, and the Military Basketball Association.[1][2][3][4][5]

Overview

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In June 2022, Gray launched the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network on the second subchannel of KVVU-TV in Las Vegas.[6] At launch, the network acquired the rights to air select sporting events from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In January 2023, Gray launched a second sports channel, Arizona's Family Sports, through low-power station KPHE-LD in Phoenix. This channel launched with the television rights for Phoenix Rising FC of USL Championship and Arizona Interscholastic Association athletic events.[7] In April 2023, Gray launched The Wax on WWAX-LD in Hartford, Connecticut. WWAX launched with broadcast agreements for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University and Trinity College.[8]

In early 2023, the Bally Sports Regional Networks and AT&T SportsNet, two of the largest regional sports network (RSN), were facing large economic uncertainly. In February 2023, AT&T SportsNet, announced it would leave the RSN business. In March 2023, Bally Sports announced they were filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As a result, Gray expressed interest to media outlets in acquiring some of the larger professional television rights previously held by these networks.[9][10]

In April 2023, Gray announced a broadcast agreement with the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns and Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury. The agreement marked the first time Gray acquired the rights to exclusively air a big four professional sports team. The Suns and Mercury previously aired on Bally Sports Arizona.[11] Games air on Arizona's Family Sports, which was expanded to the 13.5 subchannel of Gray-owned KOLD-TV in Tucson, and new stations in Yuma and Flagstaff.[12][13][14]

Gray has continued to announce new sports networks. In October 2023, Gray launched Peachtree Sports Network in Georgia and Alabama.[15] In July 2024, through a joint venture with Rock Entertainment Group, Gray launched Rock Entertainment Sports Network in Ohio.[16] In August 2024, Gray launched Matrix Midwest in St. Louis and Palmetto Sports & Entertainment in South Carolina.[17][18] In December 2024, Gray launched Tennessee Valley Sports & Entertainment Network.[19]

In September 2024, Gray announced an exclusive broadcast agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association. The Pelicans are the second NBA team, after the Suns, to reach an exclusive agreement with Gray.[20][21] Gray announced that Pelicans games would air on Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, which launched in October 2024 across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.[22][23]

Networks

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Network Station(s) Current rights
Arizona's Family Sports
Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network
Matrix Midwest
  • KMOV (St. Louis, MO)
Palmetto Sports & Entertainment
Peachtree Sports Network
Rock Entertainment Sports Network
Tennessee Valley Sports & Entertainment Network
Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network
  1. ^ "Gray Television Partners with American Association of Professional Baseball to Bring Summer Baseball to Viewers Free Over-The-Air". American Association of Professional Baseball. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  2. ^ Bresaola, Riccardo (May 20, 2024). "Fight Sports expands reach with Gray Television". SportCal. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "NCHC and Gray Media Team Up to Bring Select Games Over-The-Air to Viewers Across the Country". Sports Video Group. December 10, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  4. ^ Silverman, Alex (May 7, 2025). "PWHL adds U.S. linear distribution for playoff games". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "Gray Media's Broadcast Sports Networks Partner with the Military Basketball Association". Sports Video Group. April 14, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  6. ^ Anderson, Mark (August 10, 2022). "New local TV network to showcase UNLV sports". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Arizona's Family announces broadcast partnership with Phoenix Rising, launch of new network". Arizona's Family. January 25, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  8. ^ Kane, Shannon (April 3, 2023). "How to watch The Wax, WWAX-TV". WFSB. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "With RSNs Hobbled, Scripps And Gray Take Aim At Sports". TV News Check. January 26, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  10. ^ Lafayette, Jon (August 6, 2023). "Gray TV Talking To More Sports Teams and Leagues". Broadcasting + Cable. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  11. ^ Rizzo, Lillian (April 28, 2023). "Phoenix Suns and Mercury to move games from cable to local network and streaming". CNBC. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  12. ^ "New network to bring Suns and Mercury games to southern Arizona viewers". KOLD-TV. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Miller, Mark (September 26, 2023). "Arizona's Family Sports Launches On KAZS Yuma". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Ziedy, Melissa (September 26, 2023). "Arizona's Family Sports network is now available statewide". Arizona's Family. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Malone, Michael (September 25, 2023). "Peachtree Sports Network To Air on Gray Stations Across Georgia". NextTV. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Clinkscales, Jason (July 25, 2024). "Dan Gilbert's REG, Gray Media Form Rock Entertainment Sports Net". Sportico. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  17. ^ "Gray launches over-the-air sports network in St. Louis, Matrix Midwest". NewscastStudio. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  18. ^ Lafayette, Jon (August 1, 2024). "Gray Media Launches Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network on South Carolina Stations". Next TV. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "Atlanta Braves games to broadcast free on Tennessee Valley Sports & Entertainment Network in deal with Gray Media". WSMV. December 18, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  20. ^ Clark, Christian (September 17, 2024). "The Pelicans officially have a new TV broadcast home. Here's how you can watch it". NOLA.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  21. ^ Sklar, Sam (September 17, 2024). "How to watch New Orleans Pelicans games, Zion Williamson for free in Mississippi". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network launches with Pelicans games as the main attraction". Fox8Live. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Clark, Christian (October 3, 2024). "Pelicans making changes to broadcast team as part of Gulf Coast Sports TV rollout". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  24. ^ Kobley, Lauren (February 15, 2025). "ASU hockey looks to continue run to NCAA Tournament in game against Minnesota Duluth". AZ Family. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  25. ^ a b c d "Gray Media Announces Local Media Partnerships with Major League Pickleball". Barrett Media. April 16, 2025. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
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