YurView Arizona
YurView Arizona is a Cox Communications local cable channel serving communities in central and southern Arizona.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
YurView Arizona is a locally distributed cable television channel operated by Cox Communications in Arizona. The service is the successor to the Arizona Sports Programming Network, a regional sports-oriented channel established on October 1, 1981, by American Cable, then a Times Mirror Company division and a predecessor to Cox's Arizona cable operations. Its earliest programming emphasized major local and regional sports, including Phoenix Suns basketball, Phoenix Inferno soccer, Arizona State University athletics, and Arizona high-school football. The channel began as a premium service and converted to basic cable in 1986. That change broadened its potential audience and supported the addition of baseball coverage involving the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Distribution was not uniform across all Phoenix-area cable systems, however, and the channel became involved in a carriage dispute during the early 1990s when smaller cable operators sought access to Suns games. Cox's 1994 acquisition of Times Mirror's cable operation brought the channel into the Cox system and helped establish its later identity. The service's role changed significantly in the late 1990s as regional sports television became more competitive. Following the launch of Fox Sports Arizona and the movement of major professional sports rights to that network, Arizona Sports Programming Network was renamed Cox Sports. On November 1, 1998, it became Cox 9 and moved toward a broader local-origination format. The channel retained selected sports, particularly Phoenix Suns and high-school football coverage, while also carrying community programming, promotional previews of Cox digital services, and locally produced content. A 2004 channel-lineup change moved it to channel 7, producing the familiar Cox 7 identity. In March 2017, Cox Communications consolidated its local-origination services under the YurView brand. The Arizona channel consequently became YurView Arizona. In the Phoenix market it moved from cable channel 7 to channel 4, while it continued to be carried on channel 7 in southern Arizona systems. Its studio facilities are located in northwest Phoenix, and much of its original production and post-production is handled by Cox Creative Studios. YurView Arizona combines local sports, community affairs, lifestyle programming, cultural features, and educational content. Its sports portfolio has included Arizona Rattlers arena football, Grand Canyon University athletics, and, following Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy-related termination of its Arizona Diamondbacks agreement, Diamondbacks telecasts distributed through arrangements involving Major League Baseball and Cox systems. The channel has also produced programs such as STEM Journals, Step Outside, and Su Vida. As a Cox-controlled local service, its reach is tied primarily to Cox cable subscribers rather than nationwide broadcast or satellite distribution.
History
YurView Arizona originated as the Arizona Sports Programming Network, or ASPN, on October 1, 1981. American Cable, a Times Mirror Company division operating in the Phoenix market, created the service after securing a 13-year agreement with the Phoenix Suns. Its initial identity was therefore closely connected to Arizona sports. In addition to Suns basketball, the channel showed Phoenix Inferno soccer and Arizona State Sun Devils athletic events. In 1982 it added delayed broadcasts of high-school football, followed in 1983 by what was described as Arizona's first live high-school football telecast since 1964. ASPN initially operated as a premium channel. In 1986 it became part of the basic cable lineup, allowing a broader subscriber base to receive its programming. The channel expanded its sports schedule with games involving the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Its availability across the Phoenix metropolitan area was not complete, and the distribution situation became contentious in the early 1990s. Smaller providers representing approximately 33,000 subscribers sued Dimension Cable, the successor to American Cable, seeking access to a package of Suns games. The dispute illustrated the importance of cable carriage in a fragmented local television market. Cox Communications acquired Times Mirror's cable operation in 1994, including Dimension Cable and ASPN. The new ownership period coincided with a major transformation in Arizona sports broadcasting. In 1996, Liberty Media acquired rights associated with the relocating Phoenix Coyotes and the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks and launched Fox Sports Arizona. Fox Sports Arizona and Cox were involved in a carriage dispute, while the two services also shared channel capacity for a period. ASPN was renamed Cox Sports as Fox Sports Arizona launched. Satellite viewers receiving Fox Sports Arizona did not necessarily receive the Suns programming carried by the Cox service, even though the two services occupied a shared cable channel arrangement. The channel adopted the Cox 9 name on November 1, 1998, becoming a full-time service on channel 9. Its role shifted from a primarily sports-focused network toward a general-interest local-origination channel. It continued to carry Suns games and high-school football for a time, but it also showed Cox digital-channel previews and community programming. The Suns moved to Fox Sports in 2003. A subsequent 2004 lineup change moved the service to channel 7, leading to the Cox 7 identity. Cox 7 developed additional local sports relationships during the 2010s. In 2012 it became an official broadcast partner of the Arizona Rattlers, with the arrangement later renewed through the 2015 Arena Football League season. In October 2013, Cox and Grand Canyon University announced a broad partnership that made Cox 7 the exclusive carrier of the university's first Division I men's basketball season. The arrangement expanded to other Grand Canyon teams and was extended through the 2015–16 season. Grand Canyon games later moved to KUTP's Fox 10 Xtra for the 2019–20 season. In March 2017, Cox Communications rebranded its local-origination channels nationwide as YurView. The Arizona channel became YurView Arizona. In Phoenix it moved to cable channel 4, allowing KAZT to use cable channel 7 in that market, while YurView Arizona continued on channel 7 in southern Arizona. The service's production and post-production work is largely associated with Cox Creative Studios at facilities in northwest Phoenix. Under the YurView identity, the channel continued to combine sports with community and lifestyle programming. Its original series include STEM Journals, an educational program for middle- and high-school audiences; Step Outside, a gardening and landscape series; and Su Vida, a program focused on Southwest Hispanic culture, family, food, and lifestyle. The channel also carried Arizona Diamondbacks games on Cox systems in Phoenix and Tucson after Diamond Sports Group terminated its agreement with the team during bankruptcy proceedings and Major League Baseball arranged replacement telecast distribution. YurView Arizona remains a regional, Cox-distributed service whose audience is principally composed of Cox cable subscribers in central and southern Arizona.
- 2017
Rebranded as YurView Arizona
[1]Cox unified its local-origination channels under YurView, and the Arizona service changed its name and Phoenix channel position.
- 2013
Grand Canyon University partnership announced
[1]Cox 7 became the exclusive carrier of Grand Canyon University's inaugural Division I men's basketball season.
- 2012
Arizona Rattlers partnership begins
[1]Cox 7 became an official broadcast partner of the Arizona Rattlers.
- 2004
Channel moves to position 7
[1]A Cox lineup change moved the service from channel 9 to channel 7, producing the Cox 7 brand.
- 1998
Cox 9 identity introduced
[1]The service was renamed Cox 9 and became a full-time local channel on November 1.
- 1994
Cox acquires the channel's cable operation
[1]Cox Communications acquired Times Mirror's cable operation, including Dimension Cable and ASPN.
- 1986
Conversion to basic cable
[1]ASPN changed from a premium service to basic cable and expanded its baseball coverage.
- 1981
Arizona Sports Programming Network established
[1]American Cable launched the channel on October 1 as a Phoenix-area sports service with Phoenix Suns rights and other Arizona sports programming.
Products and positioning
A Cox-owned local television service positioned around Arizona sports, community information, regional culture, lifestyle content, and locally produced original programming.
Cable television channel · 1981
YurView Arizona local cable channel
The core offering is a Cox-distributed local television service available to subscribers in central and southern Arizona. It carries locally produced sports, community, lifestyle, cultural, educational, and promotional programming. The service is carried on channel 4 in Cox's Phoenix-market systems and channel 7 on Cox systems in southern Arizona.
Sports television · 1981
Arizona sports broadcasts
Sports coverage has been central to the channel's history, beginning with Phoenix Suns basketball and later including Arizona State athletics, high-school football, arena football from the Arizona Rattlers, Grand Canyon University sports, and Arizona Diamondbacks games distributed through Cox systems.
Educational television
STEM Journals
STEM Journals is an Arizona-produced educational series aimed at middle- and high-school students. Hosted by Geoff Notkin, the program examines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics developments, introduces viewers to STEM careers, and profiles professionals whose work affects local communities.
Lifestyle television
Step Outside
Step Outside is a long-running gardening and landscape program hosted by Arizona landscape architect Pete Curé. Episodes tour gardens and landscape projects while offering practical guidance on plant care, maintenance, and design suited to the region.
Cultural and lifestyle television
Su Vida
Su Vida focuses on Southwest Hispanic culture, lifestyle, family, and food. The program presents stories and information relevant to Arizona's Hispanic community and is hosted by Vanessa Ramirez and JR Cardenas.
Brand decisions
2017
Migration to the YurView brandGeneration changeBackground
Cox sought a unified identity for its local-origination channels across the United States.
Action taken
Cox rebranded Cox 7 as YurView Arizona and moved it to channel 4 in Phoenix while retaining channel 7 in southern Arizona.
Aftermath
The channel continued operating as a Cox local service under a national family brand.
1998
Repositioning as Cox 9Generation changeBackground
The launch of Fox Sports Arizona changed the regional sports television environment and reduced the channel's role as a primary outlet for major professional sports.
Action taken
Cox renamed Cox Sports as Cox 9 and made it a full-time local-origination service with broader community programming.
Aftermath
The service retained selected sports while developing a more general-interest local identity.
1986
Move from premium to basic cableStrategyBackground
ASPN's initial premium-service model limited its distribution among cable households.
Action taken
The channel converted to basic cable and broadened its sports schedule.
Aftermath
The change increased the service's potential reach and supported additional regional sports programming.
Recent events
- 2019
Grand Canyon University games move to Fox 10 Xtra[1]
Other
Grand Canyon University athletics coverage moved to KUTP's Fox 10 Xtra for the 2019–20 season, increasing its distribution beyond Cox cable subscribers.
- 2017
Cox local channels rebrand under YurView[1]
Product generation
Cox Communications unified its local-origination channels under the YurView brand. The Arizona service moved to channel 4 in Phoenix and remained on channel 7 in southern Arizona.
- 2013
Cox and Grand Canyon University establish sports partnership[1]
Other
Cox 7 became the exclusive carrier of Grand Canyon University's inaugural Division I men's basketball season and expanded its coverage of other university teams.
- 2012
Cox 7 becomes an official Arizona Rattlers broadcast partner[1]
Other
The channel began carrying Arizona Rattlers games and subsequently renewed the partnership through the 2015 Arena Football League season.
- 2004
Cox 9 moves to channel 7 and becomes Cox 7[1]
Product generation
A Cox lineup reshuffle moved the service to channel 7, creating the Cox 7 identity associated with the brand.
- 1998
Channel becomes Cox Sports and later Cox 9[1]
Product generation
The service was renamed Cox Sports during the launch of Fox Sports Arizona and became Cox 9 as a full-time local channel on November 1.
- 1986
ASPN converts from premium to basic cable[1]
Other
The channel changed its distribution model, expanding its availability and adding further regional sports coverage.
- 1981
Arizona Sports Programming Network launches[1]
Other
American Cable established the Arizona Sports Programming Network as a Phoenix-area sports cable service.
Arizona Diamondbacks games arrive on YurView through new distribution arrangements[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
After Diamond Sports Group ended its Diamondbacks telecast agreement during bankruptcy proceedings, Major League Baseball arranged replacement distribution that included YurView on Cox systems in Phoenix and Tucson.
Sources1 sources
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