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If you’re an Arizona Cardinals fan looking for the best coverage in the Valley, the answer has become pretty clear: PHNX Cardinals is where you go. What started as a bet on local, authentic sports media has grown into the premier destination for Cardinals fans, and the numbers behind that growth tell a story worth telling.
PHNX Cardinals grew its total audience from 1.858 million to 2.479 million year-over-year, a 33% increase that reflects a channel that has found its rhythm and keeps building on it. That momentum was reflected in their Super Bowl LIX coverage, where PHNX posted a staggering 168% year-over-year increase in viewership, the strongest growth of any city in the entire ALLCITY Network. For a market that has sometimes been overlooked in the national sports media conversation, that’s a statement.
None of it happens without the people running the show, Johnny Venerable and Bo Brack. Venerable has been the backbone of PHNX Cardinals since day one, one of the original voices who helped establish what the channel was going to be and who it was going to serve. Over the years, Venerable has become one of the most recognizable faces in Arizona Cardinals media, and his work building the show’s social presence has been a huge driver of the audience growth the channel is seeing today. He didn’t just show up for the ride, he helped build the road.
When PHNX Cardinals launched, Venerable was joined by former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Frank Sanders and longtime Channel 12 sports anchor Chierstin Susel, a trio that gave the channel instant credibility and a range of perspectives from day one. But it was Venerable’s instincts that quickly set PHNX apart from the competition. As early as the conclusion of the 2021 season, he was identifying gaps in Cardinals coverage that others were missing entirely. One of his earliest and most notable calls came when he noticed that Kyler Murray had quietly scrubbed all Arizona Cardinals content from his Instagram, a subtle but telling move that Venerable recognized as a signal the quarterback was pushing for a new deal. He was right, and Murray’s contract extension soon followed. It was exactly the kind of sharp, ahead-of-the-curve coverage that would become a hallmark of the channel.
In 2022, Bo Brack came aboard and the dynamic shifted in the best possible way. Where Venerable brought the foundation and the social savvy, Brack brought the access, from the sidelines on game days to the practice fields where storylines are born before they ever hit a box score. As co-captain, Brack has become the perfect complement to Venerable, giving PHNX Cardinals a one-two punch that fans in the Valley have clearly responded to. Together, they’ve created something that goes beyond a YouTube channel or a podcast, it’s a genuine hub for Cardinals fans who want to feel close to their team.
Venerable and Brack haven’t built this alone. A rotating cast of former players, current stars, and respected media voices have been part of the journey along the way. Former NFL offensive lineman and beloved NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger, ESPN’s Mina Kimes, and NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo have all made appearances, bringing national credibility to a channel that was already earning its stripes locally. On the player side, former Cardinals running back Damien Anderson and current receivers Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson have added the kind of locker room perspective that fans can’t get anywhere else.
But no one has been a more consistent presence than Brittan Golden. The former Cardinals wide receiver has been with the show long enough to become part of its identity, adding an unabashed player’s perspective and a level of honest accountability that resonates deeply with a fanbase that can tell the difference between genuine insight and generic talking points.
Additionally, the duo has found ways to grab in-depth interviews with the most high profile entities in the Cardinals organization, mainly former Head Coach Jonathan Gannon and former Quarterback Kyler Murray. Gannon became a staple of combine coverage for the show and provided long form interviews that gave more insight for Cardinal fans than the typical press conference or local 5 minute hits on other outlets. Murray provided a rare 30 minute sit down prior to last season, one of the few times any Arizona media outlet was able to get one-on-one access. These interviews gave Cardinals fans more than a glimpse, it provided next-level legitimacy for a show on the rise.
This past season also brought a significant addition in the form of Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, who joined the crew to break down Cardinals games in a way that only someone who has lived it can. Warner’s insight was particularly valuable when it came to evaluating quarterback play, giving audiences honest, informed takes on what was working, what wasn’t, and why.
Behind the scenes, the show has benefited from a production staff that has grown right alongside it. Shane Dieffenbach has been in the mix nearly from the beginning, evolving from producer to Head of Production and now Regional Production Manager, where he oversees production for both PHNX and DNVR. Damon Fairall stepped in as a natural successor and brought his own personality to the role, including the fan-favorite catchphrase “Hold The Line,” born from the Cardinals holding the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft to land Marvin Harrison Jr. Fairall has since expanded his footprint within ALLCITY, producing the Diamondbacks show alongside Derek Montilla and hosting the Arizona Wildcats show with Kevin Thomas.
Today, Noah Wulbrecht holds down the producer role for the Cardinals beat, bringing sharp graphic work to the broadcast and serving as the perfect counterbalance when Venerable and Brack inevitably go off the rails. And they always do, which, if you ask the fans, is half the fun.
The growth from 1.858 million to 2.479 million in total audience isn’t just a metric. It’s a reflection of a fanbase that has found a home and keeps coming back. And if the Super Bowl numbers are any indication, PHNX Cardinals is nowhere near done growing.
