Coyotes announce 2014-2015 TV schedule
Arizona Coyotes fans- are you ready for the season?
Luckily, the season is even easier to follow for the 2014-2015 season. Fans will be able to see 74 of the teams’ 82 games on television this season, the team announced on Tuesday. Fox Sports Arizona will return as the exclusive TV home of the Coyotes, and will broadcast 73 games between Fox Sports Arizona and Fox Sports Arizona Plus. The Coyotes will also step onto the national stage for their lone national TV game against Chicago on Feb. 9, scheduled to be broadcast on NBCSN.
Aug. 13, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Fox Sports Arizona reporter Jody Jackson (right) looks on as Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Gerardo Parra (left) dumps a bucket of bubble gum on first baseman Paul Goldschmidt after hitting a walk off home run in the 11th inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Press Release also confirmed the return of Matt McConnell and Tyson Nash as the team’s television broadcast team.
McConnell and Nash won’t be alone, though. Additionally set to return to the Coyotes’ broadcast team is Todd Walsh, who has been absent from Fox Sports Arizona’s coverage of the Arizona Diamondbacks due to a recent concussion. Walsh’s battle with his Concussion symptoms was recently chronicled by the Arizona Republic’s Paola Boivin. Get well soon Walshy.
The Coyotes will look to continue their television success as the Coyotes saw a rise in TV ratings last year, according to the press release;
“Last season, according to a Sports Business Journal report, Coyotes TV ratings saw an 85 percent increase from 2011-12 (the last complete, 82-game NHL season) to 2013-14.”
The actual numbers, according to Sports Business Daily, have the Coyotes avergaing a 0.74 rating in AZ, a “middle of the pack” ranking among US teams. The highest rated US team was the Penguins, who averaged a 7.57 rating, but the most watched was the Blackhawks, who averaged 153,000 viewers.
Feb 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) makes the save on Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) during the second period at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
The first Fox Sports Arizona telecast will be of the home opener against Winnipeg, which will occur on Oct. 9. Coyotes fans can get an early look at the team, though, when the they head to Calgary on Sept 24 during the preseason. That game can be seen on NHL Network.
The full television schedule can be downloaded here