Analysis: Could Cleveland Cavs, Cleveland Guardians follow in Phoenix Suns path?

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) celebrates after slam dunking the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half in game five of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center in Phoenix on April 25, 2023. The Suns' ownership announced the team and its sister team in the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury, would leave Bally Sports Arizona and broadcast most of their games over-the-air.

For those of a certain age, it would be nothing new, but in the cord-cutting reality of today’s sports broadcasting business over-the-air could be the way forward.

The Phoenix Suns of the NBA and the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA certainly think so based on a deal to move their games to broadcast stations across Arizona.

Back in the “olden days” – before cable television had better than 88% nationwide household penetration – this was the way.

If you had an antenna and you were a Cleveland Cavaliers fan or Cleveland Indians fan, WUAB (Channel 43) and other stations were usually the places to go to watch games. Those stations that held rights didn’t have the full schedule usually, but they provided some access. Sports didn’t occupy the minds and time of individuals the way they do now.

However, the fundamental difference, comes in the fact that games could be picked up via an antenna. Yes, it’s an old-fashioned concept, but what those teams have done bears watching across the country as the Bally Sports saga plays out in federal bankruptcy court.

Given the accelerated pace of cord-cutting, it could offer a way forward. Here’s little perspective courtesy of a recent Samba TV/Harris poll: fewer than half of adults now have a cable or satellite package.

While the audience for pay television was shrinking, at the over-the-air level, it was expanding courtesy of the digital TV. In the Northeast Ohio area, the network affiliates also broadcast subchannels that provide syndicated programming (mostly reruns) that look extremely familiar (24 hours of assorted “CSI” shows folks?). Those channels are even making their way to live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV and cable systems. With an antenna, they’re all free.

And it’s conceivable that the powers that be who run those two basketball teams were keenly aware that fewer eyes were seeing their product. The move will apparently triple their audience access and it also shows a basic respect for their fans.

But the concerned parties are forward thinking also. There will be a streaming option for those without antenna access. Ultimately, fans are a long way from seeing a solution with respect to the Bally Sports mess, but this could be a huge step in correcting mistakes made when games were moved off broadcast television.

Diamond Sports Group, Bally Sports’ owner knows it. They’re suing to stop the deal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Phoenix Suns charts path for MLB, NBA teams with television rights