Sun Sports
Encyclopedia
Sun Sports is a Florida
sports broadcasting network, with its headquarters in Orlando
. Launched in 1988 as Sunshine Network, the station is now affiliated with virtually every cable company throughout the state of Florida and can be picked up by some satellite providers around the United States
.
Sunshine Network changed its name to Sun Sports in 2004 to reflect its sports-focused programming. Originally an affiliate of Prime Network
, it was acquired with the rest of Prime by Fox Sports Net
in 1995.
and Miami Heat
, the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning
, and MLB's Tampa Bay Rays
. In addition the channel offers baseball, basketball, football, and other sporting events from University of Florida
, Florida State University
, and the SEC. Longtime partnered with FSU & UF, Sun Sports produces all regular season football games for both schools and airs them statewide on a next-day delay basis. The network also has the rights to the FHSAA Football and Basketball Finals.
, since both teams routinely play at the same time). The two channels do not focus on one region of Florida (it was long rumored that Sun Sports would carry only the North/Central Florida teams, while Fox Sports Florida would carry Miami-area teams) so that the Lightning, Heat, Marlins, Magic, and Florida Panthers
are all cable-exclusive.
In 2010, the Miami Marlins moved all their games to Fox Sports Florida, while Tampa Bay had all their games on Sun Sports. Prior to 2009, some Rays games were available on over-the-air stations.
of channels, a small logo bug is shown on the top-right corner of the screen. During the non-team specific programming and nationally-televised sporting events, the logo is shown as SUNSPORTS, with the word SUN colored in yellow. During local sporting events, the logo changes to reflect the teams. During Orlando Magic
basketball games, the logo reads SUNMAGIC, with the word SUN colored in a medium blue. For Miami Heat
basketball games, the logo is shown as SUNHEAT, with SUN colored in red; the word HEAT also has a flame on the end of the T, which reflects the team's official logo. As for Tampa Bay Lightning
hockey games, the logo is SUNLIGHTNING, with the SUN also colored in medium blue. During Tampa Bay Rays
baseball games, the logo becomes SUNRAYS, with the SUN colored in Columbia blue
. And for Miami Marlins baseball games, the logo reads SUNMARLINS, with SUN also colored in Columbia blue. These localized logos also appear during each team's Live pre- and post-game shows. The same holds true when the respective games are broadcast on Fox Sports Florida.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
sports broadcasting network, with its headquarters in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Launched in 1988 as Sunshine Network, the station is now affiliated with virtually every cable company throughout the state of Florida and can be picked up by some satellite providers around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Sunshine Network changed its name to Sun Sports in 2004 to reflect its sports-focused programming. Originally an affiliate of Prime Network
Prime Network
The Prime Network was a group of regional sports networks owned by Liberty Media that served several regionalized areas that was in operation between 1983 and late-1997. While Liberty owned many of these stations, some were affiliates and owned by other companies...
, it was acquired with the rest of Prime by Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
in 1995.
Programming
Sun Sports airs professional, collegiate and high school sporting events. It offers split feeds for the state's regions. Along with sister network Fox Sports Florida it is the cable home to the NBA's Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
and Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
, the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
, and MLB's Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. In addition the channel offers baseball, basketball, football, and other sporting events from University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, and the SEC. Longtime partnered with FSU & UF, Sun Sports produces all regular season football games for both schools and airs them statewide on a next-day delay basis. The network also has the rights to the FHSAA Football and Basketball Finals.
Fox Sports Florida
Through Sun Sports, South Florida can view Miami Heat basketball, as Central and Northern Florida can view Orlando Magic basketball. Ultimately however, Sun Sports and Fox Sports Florida are sister channels, and games can air on either channel depending on who is playing at what time (particularly with the Marlins and RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, since both teams routinely play at the same time). The two channels do not focus on one region of Florida (it was long rumored that Sun Sports would carry only the North/Central Florida teams, while Fox Sports Florida would carry Miami-area teams) so that the Lightning, Heat, Marlins, Magic, and Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
are all cable-exclusive.
In 2010, the Miami Marlins moved all their games to Fox Sports Florida, while Tampa Bay had all their games on Sun Sports. Prior to 2009, some Rays games were available on over-the-air stations.
Branding
In a manner similar to the Fox Sports networkFox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
of channels, a small logo bug is shown on the top-right corner of the screen. During the non-team specific programming and nationally-televised sporting events, the logo is shown as SUNSPORTS, with the word SUN colored in yellow. During local sporting events, the logo changes to reflect the teams. During Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
basketball games, the logo reads SUNMAGIC, with the word SUN colored in a medium blue. For Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
basketball games, the logo is shown as SUNHEAT, with SUN colored in red; the word HEAT also has a flame on the end of the T, which reflects the team's official logo. As for Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
hockey games, the logo is SUNLIGHTNING, with the SUN also colored in medium blue. During Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
baseball games, the logo becomes SUNRAYS, with the SUN colored in Columbia blue
Columbia blue
Columbia blue, also known as Jordy blue, is a light blue tertiary color named after Columbia University. The typical Columbia blue is defined by Pantone Columbia Blue 3 .- Usage, symbolism, colloquial expressions :...
. And for Miami Marlins baseball games, the logo reads SUNMARLINS, with SUN also colored in Columbia blue. These localized logos also appear during each team's Live pre- and post-game shows. The same holds true when the respective games are broadcast on Fox Sports Florida.
Personalities
- Dewayne StaatsDewayne StaatsDewayne Staats is the play-by-play commentator for the Tampa Bay Rays' television broadcasts . He is teamed with color commentary announcer Brian Anderson. He has previously worked with analysts Joe Magrane and Kevin Kennedy.-Biography:Growing up near St. Louis, Missouri in Wood River, IL, Staats...
- Tampa Bay Rays Play-by-Play - Todd KalasTodd KalasTodd Harry Kalas is a television broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays. He is the son of the late longtime Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas.-Early life and career:...
- Tampa Bay Rays Pre-Game Host and In-Game Reporter - Brian AndersonBrian Anderson (pitcher)Brian James Anderson is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher, who played 13 season for five teams, as well as a sports broadcaster and coach. Currently, Anderson is the color commentator on the Rays TV crew on Sun Sports....
- Tampa Bay Rays Analyst - Steve Goldstein - Florida Panthers Play-by-Play
- Bill LindsayBill LindsayWilliam Hamilton Lindsay is an American retired ice hockey player. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and the Atlanta Thrashers. He was drafted 103rd overall by the Nordiques in the 1991 NHL...
- Florida Panthers Analyst - Eric ReidEric ReidEric Reid is the television play-by-play announcer for the Miami Heat and college football on Sun Sports.Reid has been with the Heat since the team's inaugural season. He was the Heat's color analyst for three seasons before taking over play-by-play duties in 1991, and has been their play-by-play...
- Miami Heat Play-by-Play - Tony FiorentinoTony FiorentinoTony Fiorentino is a television color commentator for the Miami Heat. Fiorentino has been involved with the Heat organization since it entered the NBA, joining the team in 1988 as an assistant coach under Ron Rothstein. He also served as an assistant coach for the Heat under Alvin Gentry and Pat...
- Miami Heat Analyst - Jason JacksonJason JacksonJason Jackson is an American sportscaster and writer. He worked for ESPN from 1995 until 2002, best known as the host of NBA 2Night. Jackson was fired from ESPN in May 2002 for violating company policy...
- Miami Heat Post-Game Host And In-Game Reporter - David SteeleDavid Steele (sports announcer)David Steele is an American television and radio sports broadcaster and serves the NBA's Orlando Magic basketball games on both Sun Sports and FS Florida as well as an analyst for a variety of sports aired on the regional sports networks.Steele previously was the radio play-by-play voice for all...
- Orlando Magic Play-by-Play - Matt GuokasMatt GuokasMatthew George "Matt" Guokas, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player and coach.-Playing career:...
- Orlando Magic Analyst - Rick PeckhamRick PeckhamRick Peckham is the current play-by-play broadcaster for the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. Previously, Peckham had served as the play-by-play announcer for the Hartford Whalers from 1984 through 1995. He has also broadcast NHL games on ESPN and SportsChannel America . Through 1977–84,...
- Tampa Bay Lightning Play-by-Play - Bobby TaylorBobby Taylor (ice hockey)Robert Ian Taylor , affectionately known as "Chief", is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the colour commentator on Tampa Bay Lightning television broadcasts. Previously, he held the same role for the Philadelphia Flyers...
- Tampa Bay Lightning Analyst - Paul Kennedy - Orlando Magic & Tampa Bay Lightning Host and In-Game Reporter