Suns on FoxAz this year!!!!

[Skkorpion]

Satellite baby!! I get to see home games!!

SUNS ANNOUNCE TV AND RADIO BROADCAST PLANS FOR 2003-04

Team adds new broadcast partner and creates separate radio and television broadcasts


PHOENIX - In an effort to provide fans who enjoy Phoenix Suns games on both television and radio with the highest quality broadcasts possible, the team announced today a plan that will pave the way for the implementation of new technologies, more in-depth coverage and an addition to its staff of announcers.

On radio, the Suns return to their flagship station NewsRadio 620 KTAR for the 34th season. Returning for a 16th season, UPN 45 will again televise Suns road games. The Suns will also welcome Fox Sports Net Arizona, which will televise home games as the Suns cable television partner for the first time this season.


The Suns announced that they will produce separate radio and television broadcasts of road games, which have been simulcast for 34 of the team's 35-year history. Last season, the Suns were one of only five NBA teams simulcasting games.


Several announcer assignments were also announced.

· Al McCoy, the "Voice of the Suns" and Senior Vice President of Broadcasting, will celebrate his 32nd season with the franchise in 2003-04, calling play-by-play action on NewsRadio 620 KTAR and the Suns radio network. McCoy's tenure with the Suns is the longest with one team among current NBA broadcasters.

· One of the sports field's most respected and versatile announcers for nearly 30 years, Gary Bender will begin his 11th season as the Suns play-by-play broadcaster for Suns home games, this season moving to Fox Sports Net Arizona.

· A 10-year broadcast veteran of UPN 45's Suns Gametime and Halftime Shows, Tom Leander will move from the studio to the broadcast booth as the Suns new play-by-play broadcaster for all Suns games televised on UPN 45.


The Suns will announce plans for their Spanish language broadcasts as well as complete broadcast teams later this summer.


"The Suns have long been recognized for broadcast excellence, thanks in large part to the professionalism and dedication that Al McCoy has brought to the game during the past three decades," said Suns president Rick Welts. "Separating radio from television broadcasts will enable us to improve the overall experience for our viewing and listening audiences because we can create broadcasts tailored to each medium."


"These changes are in line with our on-going efforts toward innovation and superior quality programming," said McCoy. "We have always strived to improve the way we broadcast our games and these steps are the latest examples of that commitment."


"Fox Sports Net Arizona does an outstanding job with local sports programming so I am excited to be part of this new era in Suns broadcasting with them," said Bender. "The shift to Fox Sports Net coupled with the success the Suns enjoyed last season gives Suns fans much to look forward to."


The 2003-04 season will mark another first for the franchise as Leander applies his 18 years of broadcasting experience, which includes six seasons of play-by-play back-up duties for Suns games on Cox 9, toward his new role as play-by-play broadcaster for all Suns road games televised on UPN 45.


"I am thrilled with this opportunity, which was made possible by the support, endorsement and class of Al McCoy," said Leander. "I'm honored to follow the one and only "Voice of the Suns" and a play-by-play giant in Gary Bender in the Suns broadcasting batting order."


Complete biographies for McCoy, Bender and Leander are attached.



-SUNS.COM-



Biographies




Al McCoy

· Senior Vice President, Broadcasting

Phoenix Suns

· Play-by-Play Broadcaster

Suns Basketball on NewRadio 620 KTAR

When Al McCoy first hit the air on September 27, 1972, Phoenix Suns fans knew they had something special. From "Shazam" to "zing go the strings" to "heartbreak hotel," McCoy has cultivated an unparalleled style during his 31 seasons with the Suns, the longest streak with one team among current NBA broadcasters.

McCoy's broadcasting career began in 1951 at KJFJ Radio in Webster City, IA. In 1958, he arrived in Arizona to do play-by-play for the Triple-A Phoenix Giants baseball club. Since that time he has also covered Phoenix Roadrunners hockey, Arizona State University football and basketball and filled in as a back-up for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He has been honored with the Silver Circle Award from the Arizona chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Museum of Broadcasting.

A native of Williams, IA, McCoy earned his degree in drama-speech from Drake University and performed graduate work at the University of Iowa. In 1994, McCoy received Drake's Alumni Achievement Award.

He and wife Georgia, a Valley artist, have three sons: Mike, and twins Jay and Jerry. A culinary critic, he is the club's expert on gourmet restaurants around the league. McCoy is an accomplished jazz pianist as well.




Gary Bender

· Play-by-Play Broadcaster

Suns Basketball on Fox Sports Net Arizona

Gary Bender will begin his 11th season handling play-by-play duties for Suns home game telecasts. A native of Ulysses, Kansas, Bender spent three seasons with Turner Sports on weekly NBA coverage and Sunday Night NFL telecasts. He has done play-by-play on ABC and CBS Sports for the NBA, Major League Baseball and college football and basketball. Other highlights include working the Masters Golf Tournament, Pan American Games, World University Games and 1988 Winter Olympics.

After graduating from Wichita State in 1962, he earned a master's in television/film from Kansas and covered Jayhawk sports from 1967-69. Bender spent the next six seasons as voice of the Green Bay Packers while covering University of Wisconsin sports. He also served for two years as the radio play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bears and handled play-by-play duties for the St. Louis Rams for four seasons. In 1973-74, he was voice of the Milwaukee Brewers on WTMJ-TV followed by a two-year stint (1977-78) as sports director at KMOX-TV in St. Louis and KMOX Radio from 1979 to 1980.

Bender and wife Linda have two sons: Trey and Brett. In 1994, he released his book, Call of the Game: What Really Happens in the Broadcast Booth.



Tom Leander

· Play-by-Play Broadcaster

Suns Basketball on UPN 45

Once a ballboy for the Phoenix Suns (1976-78), Tom Leander has been a fixture on the local sports broadcasting scene for the past 10 years, wearing many hats along the way. Since 1993, Leander has served as studio host/producer of the Suns Gametime and Suns Halftime Shows for UPN 45. During the past three seasons he held the same responsibilities for the Suns Pre-game, Halftime and Post-game Shows on Cox 9. He also hosted the franchise's weekly magazine show, Suns Jam Session, on UPN 45 for one season (2002-03).

In addition to his studio work, Leander has amassed an abundance of television play-by-play experience that includes eight seasons with the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers, five seasons with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, two seasons with the Continental Indoor Soccer League's Arizona Sandsharks and six seasons of back-up duties for Suns games on Cox 9.

Leander began his broadcasting career at his alma mater, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he did three seasons of radio play-by-play for the school's Men's Basketball team. Leander's broadcast experience also includes stints as a sportscaster for KMST-TV in Monterery, CA (1986-88) and KOLD-TV in Tucson (1988-91) as well as KTSP-TV and KNXV-TV of Phoenix (vacation relief 1991-94).

A graduate of Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Leander and his wife Sandy have three children: Lauren, Keaton and Bryson.

 

[schutd]

Doesn't DirecTV black out Fox Sports Net broadcasts, if they are part of the pay per view night's line up?

I got the Fos SPorts pack in Denver, casue I fugured Id get to see some SUns games and Coyotes game and even PAc 10 action, but they were ALWAYS blacked out. I called and asked why and they told that if the show was featured on DirecTV's pay per view package that night, they blacked the game out on the fox sports package. Course, I cancelled my FOX package after that, so maybe things have changed.

 

[elindholm]

I don't mean this to be negative at all, but...

I wonder whether McCoy has one of the all-time longest streaks, in all of the major sports, of broadcasting for one team without being on board for a championship. Harry Caray would beat him, I assume, but might McCoy be in second place?

I mean, talk about dedication!

 

[Chaz]

Well people not with Cox cable can get the home games now.

But you can't escape Gary Bender!



I think it is to bad McCoy will not being doing TV and radio.


I can always listen to the radio and watch TV.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by SirChaz


But you can't escape Gary Bender!

Saw his daughter-in-law doing th sports report on channel five this past weekend.

 

[Skkorpion]

Originally posted by schutd
Doesn't DirecTV black out Fox Sports Net broadcasts, if they are part of the pay per view night's line up?

I got the Fos SPorts pack in Denver, casue I fugured Id get to see some SUns games and Coyotes game and even PAc 10 action, but they were ALWAYS blacked out. I called and asked why and they told that if the show was featured on DirecTV's pay per view package that night, they blacked the game out on the fox sports package. Course, I cancelled my FOX package after that, so maybe things have changed.

Games on Fox cable in AZ will not be blacked out to AZ area codes, as I understand, but I'll check on it and get back to you. Out-of-state might still be blacked out.

 

[arthurracoon]

So people w/ cable can't watch the home games?

 

[Skkorpion]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
So people w/ cable can't watch the home games?

People with cable will still get the home games. The only difference is that locals without cable access (about 50% of the entire Phoenix market) will now get the games on satellite - if they buy the local channel package, at about $5.95 per month, because foxAz is part of the local package.

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by Skkorpion
People with cable will still get the home games.

chanel 9?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
chanel 9?

They are going to be on Fox Sports Net AZ now, not Cox 9....

This is awesome, I'm so pumped.

Mike

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
chanel 9?

No, Channel 9 is the Cox Channel. All of the home games will now be on Fox sports instead of Cox Channel 9. This is good. People with cable will still be able to get the home games, and now the people with satellite TV will also be a load to enjoy them.

"· One of the sports field's most respected and versatile announcers for nearly 30 years, Gary Bender will begin his 11th season as the Suns play-by-play broadcaster for Suns home games, this season moving to Fox Sports Net Arizona."

Damn, Dam, and damn again! I'll be turning on the radio for the home games. I just cannot take him any longer.

Joe Mama

 

[NDSunsfan]

As a DirecTV guy, I only had the Suns feed for about 40% of their games, the rest of the time it was the other team's feed. So of the 35 games or so of Suns games, 32 of which were Al McCoy, and a couple of Bender. McCoy rocked, Bender was awful. My take was Bender was one of those homer announcers that make me dislike the team just because of the announcer.

All I think of when I hear Gary Bender's voice is, "Wittenburg from long wayyyyyyyssssssssss..............." right before Lorenzo Charles dunks............

Now, no more Al for DirecTV. Bummer.

Brad

 

[Chaplin]

The good thing is I don't need to spend 170 bucks on League Pass. I can just catch virtually all our games on Fox Sports--whether it's the other team's guys or ours.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Originally posted by Joe Mama

Damn, Dam, and damn again! I'll be turning on the radio for the home games. I just cannot take him any longer.

Joe Mama

I sat next to him at a Cardinals draft once, and talked to him for awhile...I can't say that I hate him

Mike

 

[elindholm]

I can't say that I hate him

Why not ... legal agreement?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Originally posted by elindholm
I can't say that I hate him

Why not ... legal agreement?

Nah, just mean once you get to know someone, it's hard hate them...plus, I always thought he did well.

Of course, maybe I haven't seen enough of him.

Mike

 

[sly fly]

Not having Big Al on TV anymore really bites. When will I ever get to hear him? You can't simulcast if you have satellite (because of the slight delay).

I've grown up listening to McCoy. I'm not sure what their thinking was behind this move. If it ain't broke, why fix it???

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by sly fly
Not having Big Al on TV anymore really bites. When will I ever get to hear him? You can't simulcast if you have satellite (because of the slight delay).

I've grown up listening to McCoy. I'm not sure what their thinking was behind this move. If it ain't broke, why fix it???

My guess is that they want the tv broadcasters to be able to bring up replays and such. Or say "if you watch this player".....you now away from the ball action. It always sounded a little weird on radio when they did that. Never bothered me, but I can see some people getting annoyed with it.

They probably gave mccoy the choice of radio or tv, since he couldnt do both anymore

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by Skkorpion
because foxAz is part of the local package.

Is it? I just got directv a couple months ago and never could find the channel. I have the basic package with locals. When I called customer support, the lady looked it up and said it was part of the sports pack which was an additional 13 bucks a month. I was all set to buy it soon, but if I dont have to that would be great.

Andy

 

[green machine]

This is great news for me being down in Tucson. In the dorms we don't get "Cox 9" or "UPN 45", so I never got to watch games unless they were on ESPN. At least this year I'll get to watch the home games, because we do get FoxSportsNet.

adam

 

[schutd]

Originally posted by Chaplin
The good thing is I don't need to spend 170 bucks on League Pass. I can just catch virtually all our games on Fox Sports--whether it's the other team's guys or ours.

But youre out of market, right? Check on that Chap. Thats what I was talking about above. Out of market FOX region broadcasts are blacked out when that game is part of League Pass. At least it was when I tried to FOX Sports package...

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by schutd
But youre out of market, right? Check on that Chap. Thats what I was talking about above. Out of market FOX region broadcasts are blacked out when that game is part of League Pass. At least it was when I tried to FOX Sports package...

But EVERY game is part of League Pass, Dave. It's just local. I live in LA, so unless they're playing the Lakers or Clippers, it's on Fox Sports AZ (and if they are playing the LA teams, its on locally).