Detroit Pistons Secure Free Over-the-Air TV Deal with Scripps Sports for 2026‑27 Season

For the past two decades, Pistons games have aired mainly on regional sports networks requiring a cable or satellite subscription. In Detroit, over‑the‑air stations reach roughly 4.3 million households, offering a no‑cost alternative that can expand viewership. The shift reflects a broader trend among NBA franchises seeking to lower barriers for fans while leveraging broadcast partners’ local news operations. In the 2023‑24 season, the Pistons averaged approximately 15,000 attendees per home game, while regional sports network ratings hovered around a 0.8 share in the Detroit DMA. By moving to free over‑the‑air, the franchise aims to capture a larger share of the 1.2 million TV households that regularly tune into local news broadcasts.

The agreement names WMYD TV20 Detroit, owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, as the Pistons’ official local broadcast home. TV20 will produce and air every pre‑season and regular season game at no charge to viewers who receive the signal via antenna or through participating cable and satellite providers. The deal restores the Pistons to a primarily local broadcast television home, a status last held in 2005 before the team moved to paid‑channel arrangements.

Fans in Detroit and across Michigan will gain direct access to Pistons basketball without needing a paid TV package, potentially increasing game‑day ratings and local advertising revenue. Scripps plans to integrate the broadcasts with its ABC affiliate WXYZ, adding news‑driven pregame and postgame shows, a weekly half‑hour Pistons program, and original digital content. The partnership also envisions a statewide network of Scripps stations and a future direct‑to‑consumer streaming app, though details remain pending. Watch for the rollout of the new broadcast schedule in mid‑2026 and any announcements regarding the streaming platform later this year.