FanDuel Sports Network (Main Street Sports Group) is no longer broadcasting NBA games, leaving several teams looking for alternative options for local television rights. One of those clubs — the Heat — announced Monday that it has a new local TV home, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
According to Chiang, WPLG Local 10 will air all the team’s non-nationally televised games for free, over the air. Miami joins Phoenix and Detroit as teams with over-the-air local broadcasts.
WPLG actually started its relationship with the Heat this past season, per Chiang, when Local 10 aired 12 simulcast games from FanDuel Sports Network. South Florida residents who don’t have access to WPLG can view the Heat’s games on the the TV station’s new streaming platform (Local 10 Plus Platinum), which is also free.
“The great thing about the relationship with WPLG is that what the fans will notice really won’t be that much of a change,” Heat executive vice president and chief marketing officer Michael McCullough said. “Our broadcast behind-the-scenes people are still the same. Our on-air talent is still the same. What we have now is a new relationship that allows more people to see our network quality broadcast and to hear that familiar call of Eric Reid and John Crotty for all games that are not being exclusively televised by a national broadcaster. So whatever the Heat fan has enjoyed for a number of years with our previous broadcast partner, they will get that and more with the relationship with WPLG.”
While the Heat are excited to expand their partnership with WPLG, McCullough confirmed the deal currently only covers the upcoming season, Chiang notes. The full broadcast schedule will be unveiled sometime after the NBA’s schedule is released in August.