Observed Signal · Aug 12, 2026 · Partnership · Source: Cord Cutters News · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
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.
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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 mapped“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...”
“The collapse of the FanDuel Sports Network business has accelerated the problem. In May, Cord Cutters News reported that Main Street Sports ...”
“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...”
“A July report from Sports Business Journal... said DAZN was negotiating local streaming deals with several NBA teams. Charlotte was among th...”
“YouTube has emerged as one of the leading candidates to handle the service, although nothing has been finalized.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Orlando Magic Local TV Rights Move to Cox Media Group
The Orlando Magic announced Cox Media Group will become the team’s local television partner beginning in the 2026–27 season, moving many locally televised regular-season games to free over-the-air broadcast. In the Orlando market games will air on WRDQ‑TV 27 with select games on WFTV Channel 9; in Jacksonville games will air on Action Sports Jax TV (WJAX‑TV 47.2) with some broadcasts on CBS47 and FOX30. The deal covers local regular-season games, pregame/postgame shows, replays and other team programming; nationally televised games remain with the NBA’s national partners. The article frames this as part of a broader industry shift away from regional sports networks toward free local broadcast and potential centralized local streaming solutions in future seasons.
Cavaliers to Air 15 Free Games on Local TV
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that 15 regular-season games for the 2026-27 season will be available free over-the-air, simulcast on Gray Media stations and streamed on DAZN. This move extends the NBA's broader trend of moving local games to broadcast television following the decline of regional sports networks. Fans in the Cleveland market can watch on WOIO, WUAB, and Rock Entertainment Sports Network, with other markets also carrying the games. The free games will have pregame and postgame coverage. The team's full local streaming package is available via DAZN subscriptions, with plans ranging from $19.99 monthly to $139.99 for a season pass. The Cavaliers join other teams like the Hornets, Magic, and Suns in offering free over-the-air viewing options.
NHL Centralizes Local Broadcasts; NBA Returns to Free TV
This article analyzes how professional sports leagues are restructuring their local media strategies in the wake of declining regional sports networks (RSNs). The NHL is centralizing production for teams like the Blue Jackets, Blues, Wild, and Hurricanes, following MLB's model, while allowing team-specific distribution flexibility. The NBA is temporarily returning to over-the-air television, with the Bucks and Hawks partnering with local broadcasters. The piece argues a hybrid model, balancing central production with local market flexibility, is the most effective approach in the post-cable era.
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