Arizona sports fans may be ditching cable faster than ever, turning to streaming services as traditional regional sports networks collapse and teams forge new digital partnerships.
Arizona ranks among the top states for sports streaming adoption, with over 80 million American households expected to cut the cord by 2026. The Grand Canyon State’s shift toward streaming accelerated dramatically after a major regional sports channel shut down completely in October 2023, leaving the country’s 11th-largest media market without a for the first time in decades.
Teams Lead the Streaming Charge
Arizona’s professional sports teams didn’t wait for the regional network collapse to find new solutions. The local basketball franchises began the exodus earlier in 2023, partnering with a local broadcaster to launch their own direct-to-consumer platform. The new arrangement boosted viewership for women’s basketball compared to the previous year, while men’s basketball viewership also saw an increase.
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The local baseball team followed suit when its previous media partner stopped paying rights fees in 2023, forcing the league to step in and make games available directly to fans through its own online platform. The state’s hockey franchise became the final team to leave, signing with another national broadcaster shortly before the regional sports network’s closure.
National Trends Drive Local Changes
The Arizona market reflects broader national trends transforming how Americans watch sports. Recent research shows 56 million U.S. internet households are now “cord cutters,” while 12% are “cord nevers” who never subscribed to traditional pay TV. Streaming now accounts for over 40% of total TV viewing nationwide, with sports fans increasingly willing to subscribe and unsubscribe regularly to find the best deals.
More than half of cord cutters now pay for three or fewer streaming services as costs rise, with many live TV platforms starting around $80 monthly. This price convergence with cable has made streaming decisions more complex, but Arizona fans still benefit from greater flexibility and no long-term contracts.
Streaming Options Multiply for Arizona Fans
Arizona sports fans now have multiple ways to watch their teams without traditional cable:
- Free Over-the-Air Broadcasting: Local stations carry dozens of basketball games free with statewide distribution, allowing fans to watch with just a digital antenna.
- Direct-to-Consumer Streaming: Teams increasingly offer their own streaming platforms, giving direct access without cable subscriptions.
- Live TV Streaming Services: Several online TV providers carry the major sports networks that broadcast Arizona football and other teams.
- League-Specific Services: National leagues continue to provide team broadcasts directly through their own apps and services.
- Third-Party Providers: Platforms like also give fans a flexible way to follow sports without the high cost of traditional cable.
Challenges and Opportunities
The collapse of traditional regional sports networks may have created short-term viewing difficulties but opened new opportunities. Previously, league streaming subscriptions were restricted by blackout rules due to exclusivity agreements, but Arizona’s situation allowed experiments with more flexible in-market streaming.
Arizona’s large and growing population, combined with four major professional sports teams, may make it an attractive testing ground for new streaming models. The state’s sports betting handle grew more than 16% year-over-year to $864 million in early 2025, possibly demonstrating strong fan engagement that streaming providers want to capture.
The Future of Sports Viewing
Industry experts expect fans to have access to more sports content than ever in 2025, with subscription video-on-demand platforms expanding their sports programming in recent quarters. Arizona fans are positioned to benefit from this expansion as teams and leagues build more direct relationships with viewers.
The streaming revolution in Arizona sports reflects a national transformation accelerated by regional sports network failures. While the transition created temporary confusion, Arizona teams and fans are emerging with more viewing options, greater flexibility, and often lower costs than traditional cable packages offered.
For Arizona sports fans considering the switch, the message is clear: streaming services now provide comprehensive coverage of local teams, often with better value and convenience than traditional cable subscriptions ever delivered.
