DETROIT — Grab your old TV antenna Magic fans, the NBA will be back available over-the-air in Orlando and Tampa this season.
The Magic, WESH 2, CW18, WMOR-TV and FanDuel Sports Network Florida announced a partnership Wednesday to simulcast 10 Magic games on a Hearst over-the-air station in Central Florida and in Tampa.
Six of the games will air on WESH 2, while four will be telecast on CW18. All 10 will also be available on WMOR-TV in Tampa.
Games simulcast on WESH 2, CW18 and WMOR-TV will mirror the broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Florida, featuring hometown announcers — play-by-play voice David Steele, color commentator Jeff Turner, reporters Dante Marchitelli and Kendra Douglas — who will call the action throughout the season.
“This agreement to bring Orlando Magic games to over-the-air television is a way to put our exciting, up-and-coming team in front of even more of our fans,” Magic president of business operations Charlie Freeman said in a statement. “We want to thank our partners at WESH 2, CW18, WMOR-TV, Hearst Television and FanDuel Sports Network for this great opportunity.”
The games to be simulcast on over-the-air television are:
Sunday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m., at Houston, CW18
Sunday, Dec. 7, Noon, at New York, CW18
Saturday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m., vs. Denver, WESH 2
Friday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m., at Chicago, WESH 2
Saturday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., vs. Cleveland, WESH 2
Sunday, Feb. 1, 4 p.m., at San Antonio, CW18
Saturday, Mar. 14, 8 p.m., at Miami, WESH 2
Friday, Apr. 3, 8:30 p.m., at Dallas, WESH 2
Sunday, Apr. 5, 7 p.m., at New Orleans, CW18
Friday, Apr. 10, 8 p.m., at Chicago, WESH 2
WESH 2, CW18 and WMOR-TV are 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.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality local sports programming and creating new opportunities for fans to connect with the team they love,” president and general Manager of WESH 2 and CW18 John Soapes said.
The simulcast games will still be available for fans to watch on FanDuel Sports Network Florida, the FanDuel Sports Network app and FanDuelSportsNetwork.com, the team said.
“Partnering with the Magic and Hearst is an excellent opportunity to put our telecasts in front of more viewers, so they can see this exciting Magic team and our top-notch productions,” executive vice president of team partnerships for FanDuel Sports Network Florida/Sun Damon Phillips said.
FanDuel Sports Network Florida is scheduled to produce and broadcast at least 71 Magic games during the 2025-26 regular season.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com