Observed Signal · Aug 12, 2026 · Partnership · Source: Cord Cutters News · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
TV (linear) Market: Charlotte Hornets Move Local Games to Free TV
The Charlotte Hornets announced that Cox Media Group’s WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will become the team’s local broadcast home for the 2026–27 NBA season, airing every regular-season game not nationally televised free over the air in the Charlotte area. The agreement expands a prior experiment that put a small number of Hornets games on free TV in 2025 and a 12-game simulcast in 2025–26. The team says a direct-to-consumer streaming solution will be announced later as the NBA explores a centralized local streaming hub for local rights. The move is part of a broader league trend away from the traditional RSN model toward free broadcast and alternative streaming arrangements.
Represents a notable local-rights shift away from RSNs toward free over-the-air distribution and potential DTC streaming, with implications for local ad inventory, audience reach, and the evolving media rights landscape.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Cox Media Group’s WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will be the Charlotte Hornets’ local broadcast home for the 2026–27 season.
- Stations will air every Hornets regular-season game that is not nationally televised free over the air in the Charlotte market.
- The 2026–27 deal expands prior free-TV experiments: a five-game free-TV package announced in January 2025 and a 12-game simulcast during the 2025–26 season.
- The Hornets plan to announce a direct-to-consumer streaming platform later; the NBA is working toward a centralized local streaming hub for 2027–28.
- The move follows broader industry changes as regional sports network (RSN) economics deteriorated and some teams pursue free TV and new streaming options.
Connected Companies & Entities
6 Entities mappedDAZN
Sports streaming platform monetised by subscriptions, advertising and adjacencies.
“A July report from Sports Business Journal... said DAZN was negotiating local streaming deals with several NBA teams. Charlotte was among th...”
Main Street Sports Group
Defunct operator of US regional sports networks and streaming.
“The collapse of the FanDuel Sports Network business has accelerated the problem. In May, Cord Cutters News reported that Main Street Sports ...”
NBA
Professional basketball league and sports media platform.
Cox Media Group
US local broadcaster and advertising sales operator.
“The Hornets announced today that Cox Media Group’s WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will become the team’s new local broadcast home for the 2026-27 s...”
YouTube
Video platform monetising audiences through ads, subscriptions and creator tools.
“YouTube has emerged as one of the leading candidates to handle the service, although nothing has been finalized....”
Gray Media
US local broadcaster and cross-channel advertising media owner.
“The Phoenix Suns are one of the biggest examples. The team has doubled down on its free-TV strategy, extending its partnership with Gray Med...”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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