MIAMI — For the first time in decades, the Miami Heat’s entire regular-season local television package will be available on over-the-air television, without additional cost for cable or subscription packages.
The team announced Monday that after years on cable packages that often were available on higher pricing tiers, all Heat games not nationally televised in 2026-27 will be available on WPLG Local 10 in the Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe markets.
The move comes after FanDuel Sports Network Florida ceased local-rights operations at the conclusion of this past season.
The Heat remain in the process of finding a partner for broadcasts in Palm Beach County, as well as other markets within the team’s local-rights region.
The agreement with WPLG Local 10 is for one season, with the NBA potentially to take control of local-television agreements thereafter.
The switch will not result in a change of the broadcast talent, including play-by-play voice Eric Reid, commentator John Crotty and hosts Jason Jackson and Amy Audibert.
Unlike the Miami Marlins, who moved to a streaming approach and cable-tier package with coverage this season in the wake of Major League Baseball’s local packages ending with FanDuel, the Heat opted for an approach similar to when the Florida Panthers exited FanDuel last season for an over-the-air approach with Scripps Sports.
As the Heat now do, the Panthers’ have an over-the-air partner in Broward and Miami-Dade, on WSFL-TV Channel 39, but also feature locally produced games in West Palm Beach in WHDT-TV Channel 9.
For now, the Heat’s reach into Palm Beach will be to the degree the Local 10 signal reaches the southern portions of the county, with efforts being made for additional channel partners elsewhere in South Florida.
The deal is expected to continue to evolve in the Miami-Dade market, with WPLG not carried by Dish, DirecTV streaming, Hulu, Fubo or YouTube TV. The channel currently is in place on Xfinity, DirecTV satellite and Breezeline, among other South Florida providers.
According to a report in the Sports Business Journal, “the NBA is urging teams to sign one-year deals or packages with at least a one-year exit clause, in the event the league does not launch a national streaming platform until the 2027-28 season.”
Local 10 last season simulcast 12 Heat games, as well as a broadcast of the “2026 Heat Gala Live from the Red Carpet.” Plans for such additional programming are in place for this season, as well.
“We’re very excited to be on Local 10 this upcoming season,” Michael McCullough, the Heat’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said in a statement. “Last season was a great experience not only for the Heat and Local 10, but the fans as well. The increased viewership proved the strength of this partnership and the benefit of having the local reach of WPLG was unmistakable.
“We’re looking forward to taking this to the next level this upcoming season and giving Heat Nation a truly special viewing experience.”
In addition to the over-the-air coverage available for such an in-home antenna, Heat games will also be available on Local 10’s new free streaming platform, LOCAL 10 Plus Platinum, which is available for smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
“We are thrilled to carry a complete season of Miami Heat basketball for what should be a very exciting 2026-27 season,” said Bert Medina, WPLG President & CEO. “No matter where our viewers want to watch the Miami Heat on cable, satellite, over-the-air antenna or our free streaming app, our mission is to make sure they have easy direct access to every game on our air.”
Excluded from the Local 10 package will be any Heat broadcasts deemed by the NBA as solely national broadcasts on ABC, NBC, Prime, ESPN or Peacock.
All postseason games are nationally broadcast only, as are select NBA Cup games.
The Heat’s broadcast schedule will be released after the release of the 2026-27 NBA schedule, which is expected in early August.
The Heat are coming off a 43-39, 10th-place season in the Eastern Conference, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years after losing in the play-in round opener.
The next major event for the team will be the June 23 first round of the NBA draft, which will be televised on ABC and ESPN. WPLG Local 10 no longer carries ABC programming.