NBA Teams Free to Seek New Local TV Contracts for 2026-27
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The NBA has authorized 13 franchises currently tied to Main Street Sports Group to negotiate new in-market media rights deals for the 2026-27 season, according to Sports Business Journal’s Tom Friend.
The clubs affected are the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks.
Main Street — formerly Diamond Sports Group — operates FanDuel Sports Network, which produces local telecasts for those teams. The company is expected to shut down after the NBA regular season ends on April 12.
“We are preparing to wind down our operations upon season’s end unless we reach a strategic transaction,” a Main Street spokesperson said in a statement. The network plans to finish airing games through the conclusion of the current campaign.
With Main Street’s exit looming, the 13 clubs will begin the offseason without confirmed local broadcast partners. Possible alternatives include over-the-air stations, streaming platforms or hybrid arrangements. The league has advised teams to seek short-term contracts, ideally with opt-out clauses, while it develops a centralized streaming service for local games that is not expected before the 2027-28 season.
Streaming company DAZN has been aggressive in pursuing the rights, while Amazon, YouTube TV and ESPN’s forthcoming app are also considered potential bidders. Several teams are evaluating streaming-only solutions.
Although the clubs will not receive rights payments from Main Street in 2026, they may recover up to 60 percent of the lost revenue once dissolution agreements are completed.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said Indiana is casting a wide net. “We’re throwing a very wide net,” Raines told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “Looking at every possible option to reach as many of our fans as we can next season.”
Source: Hoops Wire
