Quick Facts
| Capital | Phoenix |
| Approx. Population | 7.45 million |
| Time Zone | Mountain (Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time statewide, except the Navajo Nation) |
| Major Cities | Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Yuma |
Arizona's TV Markets
Arizona is served by just three Nielsen media markets, but they range enormously in size — one of the largest in the country down to one of the smallest.
| Phoenix–Prescott | Rank #12 nationally · ~2.2 million TV households |
| Tucson–Sierra Vista | Rank #65 · ~497,660 TV households |
| Yuma–El Centro | Rank ~163 · shared with California's Imperial Valley |
Local Network Affiliates by Market
| Phoenix | KPNX (NBC), KPHO (CBS), KNXV (ABC), KSAZ (FOX), KAZT (CW), KAET (PBS) |
| Tucson | KVOA (NBC), KGUN (ABC), KMSB (FOX), KOLD (CBS), KTTU (CW), KUAT (PBS) |
| Yuma | KYMA-DT — a single station carrying both NBC and CBS on separate subchannels |
Free Diamondbacks Games in 2026 — No Subscription Needed
Genuinely good news for Arizona sports fans this season: the Arizona Diamondbacks renewed their partnership with KPNX (Phoenix's NBC affiliate) to broadcast 11 games completely over-the-air during the 2026 season, including the season opener. KPNX's over-the-air signal reaches roughly 1.59 million TV households directly, with broadcasts extending into parts of New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada as well — meaning an antenna alone gets you real Diamondbacks baseball at zero ongoing cost. See our antenna & OTA guide for picking the right one.
When Your County Doesn't Match Your Nearest City
Because Arizona has only three DMAs covering a huge amount of land, some residents end up assigned to a market that isn't actually their closest city. Parts of Pinal County, for example, sit roughly 10 miles from Tucson but around 150 miles from Phoenix — and are still officially assigned to the Phoenix DMA under Nielsen's rules, which can affect which local stations are considered "local" for cable, satellite, and streaming carriage purposes.
Local Sports & Streaming Culture
Arizona is home to the Diamondbacks (MLB), Suns (NBA), and Cardinals (NFL), giving the state a genuinely full professional sports calendar. For understanding how regional blackout rules generally work beyond the free OTA Diamondbacks games above, see our RSN blackout guide.
Choosing a Streaming Device in Arizona
Device setup itself works the same everywhere — internet speed matters more than location. For smooth HD streaming, aim for at least 15–25 Mbps per active stream; for 4K, closer to 25–50 Mbps. Not sure which device fits your household? Our device comparison guide breaks down Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google TV.
Quick Questions Arizonans Ask
| Can I really watch Diamondbacks games for free? | Yes — 11 games in the 2026 season air over-the-air on KPNX, no subscription needed, receivable with a standard antenna in range of Phoenix. |
| Why am I in the Phoenix market if I live near Tucson? | Nielsen DMA assignments are based on historical viewing patterns by county, not straight-line distance — some border areas end up assigned to the "wrong" nearby market. |
| Does Arizona observe Daylight Saving Time? | No, with one exception — most of the state stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round, except the Navajo Nation, which does observe DST. |