Altitude Sports, Comcast end long-running dispute to televise Nuggets and Avalanche games

DENVER (AP) — Reigning MVPs Nikola Jokic and Nathan MacKinnon can be seen on television again by a majority of Colorado fans after Altitude Sports ended a long-running dispute with Comcast, the region’s largest cable provider.

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the owner of Altitude Sports, and Comcast announced Tuesday that Altitude has returned to Xfinity TV customers. Comcast hasn’t carried Altitude — local broadcasts of Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games — since its previous contract expired in 2019.

“The first thing we have to do at KSE is just look at our fans and say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and ‘We’re sorry,’" said Kevin Demoff, the president of team and media operations for KSE. ”Every day that went by for the past year was a game too many — too many shots, too many goals that were missed for our fans. We took that responsibility very personally.

“This was priority No. 1 for the Kroenke family, to make sure these teams got back on the air. And so from that perspective, it’s a great day. But it’s also a day that should’ve happened long ago.”

The live game broadcasts start Tuesday night with the Avalanche playing at Vancouver.

"We are thrilled to once again make Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games available on Comcast and Xfinity platforms in Colorado and the surrounding region,” KSE vice chairman Josh Kroenke said in a statement. “This is the best possible outcome for Nuggets Nation and Avs Faithful, who now have a straightforward way to see every game on one service.”

For years, a portion of young fans have been unable to watch the development of Jokic or MacKinnon on a nightly basis through Comcast. Instead, they’ve had to turn to alternate broadcasting avenues and streaming services as MacKinnon led the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 2022 and Jokic guided the Nuggets to their first NBA championship a year later.

Comcast stopped carrying Altitude due to a disagreement over fees the cable giant was charging to carry the network. The ensuing legal battle has kept the Nuggets and Avalanche out of many homes in the region for the last 5 1/2 seasons.

“It is an absolute gift to be able to watch some of the greatest athletes in sports history playing in your hometown every night,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who was wearing a Jokic jersey at the news conference. "Sometimes it's just 30 minutes when you’re washing dishes or 30 minutes when you’re doing homework with the kids. ... You might have missed some of the last five seasons, but there’s plenty of great play coming.

“Every one of those games you can catch is a new chance to train a new generation of young fans to realize what they have in their hometown.”

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic argues for a call in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

CHICAGO (AP) — Davis Martin tossed six innings of four-hit ball to lead the Chicago White Sox past Toronto 3-0 on Sunday for their first three-game sweep of the Blue Jays in 10 years.

Miguel Vargas had an RBI triple, and Lenyn Sosa and Austin Hays each drove in a run as the White Sox opened 3-0 at home for the first time since 2004. Luisangel Acuña got two hits for Chicago (4-5), which last swept the Blue Jays in April 2016 at Toronto.

Martin (2-0) struck out six and walked two in his second consecutive sharp start. Chris Murphy, Chicago's third reliever, worked around a walk in the ninth for his first save this season and the second of his career.

Ernie Clement had two of Toronto's six hits as the AL champion Blue Jays (4-5) dropped their fourth straight game and were shut out for the first time this season.

Eric Lauer (1-1) pitched the first two innings for Toronto, yielding two runs and three hits while walking three. Three relievers followed.

Tanner Murray made his major league debut at shortstop for the White Sox after getting called up from Triple-A. Murray ranged to his left to snare Addison Barger’s grounder up the middle with the bases loaded in the third, then threw out Barger at first to end the threat.

Toronto catcher Brandon Valenzuela singled in the first at-bat of his big league debut. He was called up Saturday from Triple-A Buffalo after Alejandro Kirk got injured.

The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first. Chase Meidroth scored when Vargas’ sinking liner skipped past center fielder Daulton Varsho for a triple.

Sosa’s run-scoring double in the third made it 2-0. Hays singled home run in the fourth.

Blue Jays: RHP Max Scherzer (1-0, 1.50 ERA) faces Dodgers LHP Justin Wrobleski (0-0, 6.75) on Monday in Toronto.

White Sox: RHP Erick Fedde (0-1, 5.40) starts Monday at home against Baltimore.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tanner Murray fields a grounder hit by Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Toronto Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas (20) celebrates at third base after hitting an RBI triple during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Chicago, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami (5) celebrates with teammate Colson Montgomery, center right, after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago White Sox starter Davis Martin delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Chicago, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)