YurView Arizona

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What is today YurView Arizona was established on October 1, 1981{{cite book |title=Television & Cable Factbook |date=1995 |publisher=Warren Publishing |location=Washington, DC |page=H-130 |edition=Volume 63 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1995-TV-Factbook/TV-Factbook-1995-Services.pdf |access-date=23 June 2021}} as the Arizona Sports Programming Network (ASPN) by American Cable (a division of the Times Mirror Company), one of Cox's predecessors in Phoenix, after it signed a 13-year rights agreement with the Phoenix Suns.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53909125/|access-date=June 21, 2020|date=August 8, 1981|first=Norm|last=Frauenheim|work=The Arizona Republic|title=Suns, American Cable TV sign 13-year contract|page=G1}} The channel also aired Phoenix Inferno soccer and Arizona State Sun Devils athletic events.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53909207/|access-date=June 21, 2020|date=November 27, 1981|page=G8|title=The Best Sports in Arizona on Your TV Set!}} The next year, it added a slate of high school football games on tape delay;{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53909281/|access-date=June 19, 2020|date=July 21, 1982|page=SW5|title=Cable network to show school football|first=Jay|last=Thorne}} in 1983, it then aired the first live high school football telecast in Arizona since 1964.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53909400/|access-date=June 19, 2020|date=October 28, 1983|title=Truly aerial game to start top teams|first=Bob|last=Young|work=Arizona Republic|page=F8}}

ASPN converted from a premium service to basic cable in 1986. The network also added baseball games from the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53909820/|access-date=June 21, 2020|date=April 20, 1986|title=ASPN Is Now On Basic Service!|work=Arizona Republic|page=TV 5}} By 1993, however, it was not available on all Valley cable systems, prompting smaller providers with 33,000 subscribers to sue Dimension Cable—American's successor—to seek access to its 34 Suns games.{{cite news|work=Arizona Republic|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53910086/ A13]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53910135/|first=Pamela|last=Manson|title=Cable firms sue over Dimension 'monopoly'|date=December 10, 1993|access-date=June 21, 2020}} In 1994, Cox acquired Times Mirror's cable operation, including Dimension Cable and ASPN.{{cite news |title=Cox acquires Times Mirror cable |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/06/Cox-acquires-Times-Mirror-cable/9331770875200/ |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=UPI |date=June 6, 1994}}

In 1996, Liberty Media acquired the rights to the relocating Phoenix Coyotes NHL team and the 1998 expansion Arizona Diamondbacks baseball franchise for $90 million, launching Fox Sports Arizona with the rights. However, Fox Sports and Cox—which had bought Dimension—were at loggerheads in a carriage dispute that threatened to leave cable viewers on the largest system in town unable to see the Coyotes.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53910216/|access-date=June 21, 2020|date=August 22, 1996|first=Tim|last=Tyers|title=Cable fight could leave fans in dark|work=The Arizona Republic|page=D2}} Fox Sports Arizona and ASPN, which was renamed Cox Sports at the same time the new regional sports network launched, shared a channel; this meant that satellite viewers who only received Fox Sports Arizona programming did not get Suns games even though they were on one channel on cable.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53910437/|access-date=June 21, 2020|date=December 12, 1996|work=Arizona Republic|title=FOXAZ to replay 7 ASU wins|first=Tim|last=Tyers|page=D2}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53910569/|access-date=June 21, 2020|date=October 31, 1996|title=Ratings game shoves ASU off regional telecast|work=Arizona Republic|first=Tim|last=Tyers|page=D2}}

Cox Sports rebranded as "Cox 9" on November 1, 1998, becoming a full-time channel on channel 9.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53910836/|access-date=June 21, 2020|work=Arizona Republic|title=Public Notice|page=A20|date=October 1, 1998}} Retaining the Suns and high school football, Cox 9 became a general-interest channel airing previews of channels only available on Cox's digital service and community programming. The Suns moved to Fox Sports in 2003.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53911285/|access-date=June 21, 2020|title=Suns end simulcast; Leander to call road games|first=Jim|last=Gintonio|work=The Arizona Republic|date=July 17, 2003|page=C4}} A further lineup shuffle in 2004 moved Cox 9 to channel 7 as "Cox 7".

In March 2017, Cox Communications rebranded its local origination channels under the YurView banner, as part of a nationwide effort by Cox to bring all of their community access channels under a unified brand.{{cite press release|title=Cox Launches National Programming on New YurView Network|url=http://newsroom.cox.com/Yurview|publisher=Cox Communications|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=July 10, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Cox Rebrands Local Channels as Yurview Network|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/networks/cox-rebrands-local-channels-yurview-network/411443|periodical=Multichannel News|publisher=NewBay Media|date=March 10, 2017|access-date=July 10, 2017}} In Phoenix, YurView moved to channel 4, allowing KAZT (channel 7 in Prescott) to use cable channel 7 for the first time.

Production and post-production of most of YurView's original programming is produced at Cox Creative Studios.

In 2012, YurView became the official broadcast partner of the Arizona Rattlers. In 2013 the partnership was renewed through the 2015 Arena Football League season.{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/022113aac.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301125920/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/022113aac.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 1, 2013 |title=Rattlers Ink Deal with Cox7 Arizona |publisher=www.arenafootball.com/ |date=February 21, 2013 |access-date=May 18, 2014}} Rattlers games can be seen by Cox cable television subscribers in Central and Southern Arizona. Games are also available online on Cox7.com. The broadcast team includes Dale Hellestrae, Kevin Ray, Chris Harris and Lindsey Smith.{{cite web |url=http://www.cox7.com/arizona-rattlers-arena-football-league/bios |title=Cox7 Arizona Rattlers Bios |publisher=www.cox7.com/arizona-rattlers-arena-football-league |date=April 24, 2012 |access-date=May 18, 2014}}

In October 2013, Cox Communications and Grand Canyon University (GCU) reached an agreement to form a comprehensive partnership that made Cox7 the exclusive carrier of GCU's inaugural Division I men's basketball season.{{cite web |url=http://gculopes.com/news/2013/10/28/MBB_1028132443.aspx?path=mbball |title=Cox7, Grand Canyon University Sign Comprehensive Partnership |publisher=gculopes.com/ |date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=May 18, 2014}} The broadcast team for the men's basketball games included Barry Buete, Rex Chapman and Matt Rosen.{{cite web |url=http://www.gculopes.com/news/2013/11/8/MBB_1108133132.aspx |title=Majerle Leads GCU into Division I Opener |publisher=gculopes.com/ |date=November 8, 2013 |access-date=May 18, 2014}}

In addition to men's basketball, YurView coverage of GCU sports showcased many of the other Lopes programs. Additional coverage began with a women's volleyball match against Idaho on Nov. 21, women's basketball vs. Chicago State on Jan. 30, and the baseball home opener against Hofstra on Feb. 21.

Prior to the 2014-15 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball season, an extension of the contract was reached. YurView's coverage of GCU games now extended through the end of the 2015–2016 season, the Lopes' third in Division I.{{cite web |url=http://gculopes.com/documents/2014/11/29//Notes_CM_Final.pdf?id=4867 |title=Grand Canyon-Central Michigan Game Notes |publisher=gculopes.com/ |date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 30, 2014}}

GCU games moved to KUTP "Fox 10 Xtra" for the 2019–20 season, expanding their distribution beyond cable viewers.{{cite news|url=https://gculopes.com/news/2019/9/12/mens-basketball-fox-10-xtra-to-broadcast-home-games.aspx|access-date=June 19, 2020|date=September 12, 2019|title=FOX 10 Xtra to broadcast games|work=Grand Canyon University}}

After Diamond Sports Group, as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, terminated its contract to show Arizona Diamondbacks games on Bally Sports Arizona (the former Fox Sports Arizona), Major League Baseball took control of the team's telecasts and reached its own deals with cable and satellite providers. On Cox's systems in Phoenix and Tucson, Diamondbacks games are carried on YurView.{{cite news |title=How to watch, stream Arizona Diamondbacks on TV |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3528483/how-to-watch-stream-arizona-diamondbacks-tv/ |access-date=July 20, 2023 |work=Arizona Sports |date=July 18, 2023 |language=en}}

An Arizona-produced program {{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2014/01/29/arizona-scitech-festival-expanding.html?page=all |title=Arizona SciTech Festival expanding with more statewide events |author= Hayley Ringle |publisher=American City Business Journals |date=January 29, 2014 |access-date=May 25, 2014}} hosted by Geoff Notkin,{{cite web |url=http://www.cox7.com/stem-journals/bios |title=STEM Journals bios |publisher=Cox7 |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/techflash/2014/04/stem-journals-brings-geoff-notkin-back-for-third.html |title=‘STEM Journals’ brings Geoff Notkin back for third season |publisher=Phoenix Business Journal |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://cs.astronomy.com/asy/b/daves-universe/archive/2013/12/12/catch-geoff-notkin-on-the-stem-journals.aspx |title=Catch Geoff Notkin on The STEM Journals! |author= David Eicher |publisher= cs.astronomy.com |date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=May 25, 2014}} who was previously a co-host of Science Channel's Meteorite Men, and focuses on STEM-related material targeted towards middle and high school students.{{cite web |url=http://www.ciconline.org/resource/stem-journals |title=STEM Journals on Cox 7 Arizona

|publisher=Cable in the Classroom (CIC) |access-date=May 25, 2014}} STEM Journals highlights recent developments in science, technology, engineering, and math and exploring STEM-related careers. Episodes showcase professionals in STEM fields {{cite web |url=https://asunews.asu.edu/20131119-neuer-stem-journals |title=ASU oceanographer featured on STEM Journals television show |publisher=ASU News |date=November 19, 2013 |access-date=May 25, 2014}} and how their professions improve our communities.

The longest running program currently on YurView, Step Outside is hosted by Arizona landscape architect Pete Curé.{{cite web |url=http://www.cox7.com/step-outside/bios |title=Step Outside bios |publisher=Cox7 |date=April 24, 2012 |access-date=May 21, 2014}} The show provides viewers with gardening inspiration through tours of beautiful yards, gardens and landscape projects. Pete Curé also shares his wealth of botanical knowledge in providing tips for plant care and maintenance.

Su Vida hosted by Vanessa Ramirez and JR Cardenas,{{cite web |url=http://www.cox7.com/su-vida/bios |title=Su Vida bios |publisher=Cox7 |date=April 24, 2012 |access-date=May 21, 2014}} celebrates Southwest Hispanic culture, lifestyle, family and food. Su Vida focuses on the Hispanic community of Arizona with culturally impactful stories and information.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.yurview.com/arizona/ YurView Arizona official website]
• [http://www.coxcreativestudios.com/ Cox Creative Studios]

{{COX}}

Category:Cable television in the United States

Category:Cox Communications

Category:Television stations in Phoenix, Arizona

Category:Television stations in Tucson, Arizona

Category:Sierra Vista, Arizona

Category:Television stations in Arizona

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1981