The Orlando Magic have found a new television home, partnering with COX Media in Orlando to air games completely free on over-the-air television on WRDQ TV 27, with select games airing on WFTV Channel 9, Orlando's ABC affiliate.
For the first time, every Magic game will be available for free on over-the-air television. Fans can access the channels through their cable providers or through an antenna or digital antenna.
All non-nationally televised games will air on WRDQ TV 27 with a full pre- and post-game show and a broadcast helmed by Dante Marchitelli, Jeff Turner and Kendra Douglas. WFTV will also provide other original content throughout the season as part of the multiyear deal.
"We are excited to partner with the Cox Media Group to serve as our over-the-air partner for live games, replays, pregame and postgame coverage, and original programming," Magic President of Business Operations Charlie Freeman said in a press release. "WRDQ TV 27 and WFTV Channel 9 will provide Magic fans great access, strong consistency and a direct connection to the team all season long."
The team will announce networks throughout its regional footprint to air its games. But it should follow a similar over-the-air model where fans will not need cable or any extra fee to watch locally broadcast games.
Jacksonville's Action News has already announced it will air games on its newly created Jacksonville Action Sports channel.
The team will also be announcing a direct-to-consumer streaming option in the near future. This has been a long-rumored deal to stream games on DAZN.
The Magic are producing these games, and so they should still have the feel of the Magic's previous broadcasts.
The big takeaway is that these games are available for free and should have about as much of a maximum reach for Magic fans. They just have to find their local channel.
"We are excited for this partnership, which will make Magic basketball even more accessible to fans throughout Central Florida," said WFTV/WRDQ VP/GM Darren Moore in a press release. "Combining the brands of Central Florida's news leader and the Orlando Magic together will foster a commitment to delivering high-quality local sports programming and creating new avenues for fans to connect with the team."
All the Magic's non-nationally televised games will air on WRDQ TV 27. It appears that the team will not have a local broadcast for any national TV games. The Magic's full 2026-27 schedule will be released Thursday afternoon.
The Magic's television journey
The Orlando Magic have not been on a broadcast network in a very long time.
The team started its existence splitting games between the regional sports network, Sunshine Network, and the Orlando Magic Television Network, which aired on WKCF-18 in Orlando and other channels throughout the state.
The Magic kept that split arrangement for several years, moving to WRBW-65 at some point in the late 1990s.
For much of the last two decades, the Magic have been available exclusively on cable.
That started with the arrival of the FOX Sports regional sports network in Florida. They overtook Sunshine Network, which became Sun Sports, and started a FOX Sports Network Florida channel. Eventually, FOX Sports Florida became the exclusive local broadcaster for Magic games, but was only available through a cable subscription.
FOX Sports Florida became Bally Sports Florida after the network was purchased by Main Street Sports following Disney's purchase of FOX (they were not allowed to buy the regional sports networks because of antitrust concerns with ESPN controlling the regional sports networks).
Bally Sports Florida would become FanDuel Sports Network.
But problems arrived quickly for Main Street Sports. The group filed for bankruptcy a few years ago, sending the regional sports network business into turmoil for several years. They ultimately decided to shutter their regional sports network at the end of this season.
Other FanDuel Sports Network teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Lightning found new homes for their games this season with the Lightning following a similar over-the-air model (and finding an Orlando home on WRBW-Channel 65).
Main Street's shuttering left the Magic and nearly a dozen other teams searching for a new television home this offseason.
Many have followed this path and sought out an over-the-air partner to make games more available. A few others have also created their own direct-to-consumer streaming homes for their games.
Free for all
The biggest change in this new TV deal -- and many of the local TV deals around the league -- is that the games will be available for free.
That is the big empahsis and a huge victory for fans.
You will not need a cable provider to watch any of the local broadcasts for Orlando Magic games this season. They are all available on WRDQ Channel 27.
The Magic seem to be hoping to follow suit with other cities within their regional footprint too. Those will be announced at a later date. But they too should be on over-the-air networks.
If you do not have cable, all you would need is an antenna or digital antenna to access the stations. No other set up would be required.
Additionally WFTV-Channel 9 and WRDQ TV 10 are streaming on YouTube TV, so even those who have cut the cord on cable and are streaming only can access that through their local channels. However you receive your local channels, should get you access to the Magic's games.
For those outside of Central or North Florida, a direct-to-consumer streaming option will be announced at a later date.
It is indeed a new day for the Magic and a bit of a new frontier. Most fans are excited for this change and welcoming the move to one of the bigger networks in the region.
Everyone is simply excited to get this season going.
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