Hearst Television stations in Tampa-St. Petersburg and Orlando-Daytona will carry Tampa Bay Rays games during the 2026 season via an agreement between the team and Hearst Television.The agreement brings 10 games – beginning with the Rays’ home opener in St. Petersburg on April 6 — to WMOR-TV, an independent station in Tampa; and WESH-TV and WKCF-TV/CW18, the NBC and CW affiliates in Orlando.The agreement also delivers games to WPBF-TV, the ABC affiliate in West Palm Beach; and WBBH-TV and WZVN-TV, the NBC and ABC affiliates, respectively, serving the Fort Myers-Naples TV market. Hearst Television owns WESH, WKCF, WPBF, WMOR and WBBH, and it manages WZVN on behalf of Montclair Communications, Inc.The arrangement marks the second consecutive major regional sports deal for Hearst stations in Florida. WESH, WKCF and WMOR secured 10 Orlando Magic games for simulcast during the 2025-26 regular season through a simulcast partnership including FanDuel Sports Network Florida. This new agreement marks the first time the Fort Myers/Naples market will be included in a Hearst Television regional sports package in the state.“Providing Tampa Bay Rays games on free, over-the-air television gives fans a new way to connect with their team,” said John Soapes, President and General Manager of WESH 2, CW18, and WMOR. “This is certainly great news for those in the Tampa Bay area, but over the years many across the Gulf Coast and Central Florida have embraced the Rays as their own. The connection to this team runs deep across the region, and this expanded access makes it easier for fans everywhere to be a part of it.”The games to be televised are:Monday, April 6, 4 p.m. vs. Chicago Cubs on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, April 24, 7 p.m. vs. Minnesota on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, May 8, 7 p.m. at Boston on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCSunday, May 24, 1:30 p.m. at New York Yankees on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, June 5, 7 p.m. at Miami on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, June 19, 7 p.m. vs. Washington on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, July 17, 7 p.m. at Boston on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCThursday, July 23, 3 p.m. at Toronto on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCSunday, August 9, 4 p.m. at Seattle on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCWednesday, August 12, 3 p.m. at the Athletics on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABC(All times Eastern)About WESH 2 and WKCFWESH 2 is a digital multi-media company providing news, weather, sports, community service and entertainment on multiple platforms serving Central Florida. WESH 2 produces 66.5 hours of local news per week in Central Florida, including 22 hours on sister station WKCF. WESH 2 has been honored with numerous prestigious broadcast journalism awards including: a DuPont, Peabody, Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism and the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award and Regional Emmy Award for Overall Excellence. WESH 2 is owned by Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst, a leading media company. Hearst Television owns and/or manages 35 television stations and two radio stations. Follow WESH 2 on Facebook (wesh2news) and X (@WESH). WESH 2’s website is wesh.com.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Hearst Television stations in Tampa-St. Petersburg and Orlando-Daytona will carry Tampa Bay Rays games during the 2026 season via an agreement between the team and Hearst Television.

The agreement brings 10 games – beginning with the Rays’ home opener in St. Petersburg on April 6 — to WMOR-TV, an independent station in Tampa; and WESH-TV and WKCF-TV/CW18, the NBC and CW affiliates in Orlando.

The agreement also delivers games to WPBF-TV, the ABC affiliate in West Palm Beach; and WBBH-TV and WZVN-TV, the NBC and ABC affiliates, respectively, serving the Fort Myers-Naples TV market. Hearst Television owns WESH, WKCF, WPBF, WMOR and WBBH, and it manages WZVN on behalf of Montclair Communications, Inc.

The arrangement marks the second consecutive major regional sports deal for Hearst stations in Florida. WESH, WKCF and WMOR secured 10 Orlando Magic games for simulcast during the 2025-26 regular season through a simulcast partnership including FanDuel Sports Network Florida. This new agreement marks the first time the Fort Myers/Naples market will be included in a Hearst Television regional sports package in the state.

“Providing Tampa Bay Rays games on free, over-the-air television gives fans a new way to connect with their team,” said John Soapes, President and General Manager of WESH 2, CW18, and WMOR. “This is certainly great news for those in the Tampa Bay area, but over the years many across the Gulf Coast and Central Florida have embraced the Rays as their own. The connection to this team runs deep across the region, and this expanded access makes it easier for fans everywhere to be a part of it.”

The games to be televised are:

Monday, April 6, 4 p.m. vs. Chicago Cubs on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, April 24, 7 p.m. vs. Minnesota on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, May 8, 7 p.m. at Boston on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCSunday, May 24, 1:30 p.m. at New York Yankees on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, June 5, 7 p.m. at Miami on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, June 19, 7 p.m. vs. Washington on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCFriday, July 17, 7 p.m. at Boston on WESH 2, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCThursday, July 23, 3 p.m. at Toronto on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCSunday, August 9, 4 p.m. at Seattle on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABCWednesday, August 12, 3 p.m. at the Athletics on CW18, WMOR, WPBF and Gulf Coast NBC and ABC

(All times Eastern)

About WESH 2 and WKCF

WESH 2 is a digital multi-media company providing news, weather, sports, community service and entertainment on multiple platforms serving Central Florida. WESH 2 produces 66.5 hours of local news per week in Central Florida, including 22 hours on sister station WKCF. WESH 2 has been honored with numerous prestigious broadcast journalism awards including: a DuPont, Peabody, Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism and the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award and Regional Emmy Award for Overall Excellence. WESH 2 is owned by Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst, a leading media company. Hearst Television owns and/or manages 35 television stations and two radio stations. Follow WESH 2 on Facebook (wesh2news) and X (@WESH). WESH 2’s website is wesh.com.