Orlando Magic, Gray and Hearst expand deals for free over-the-air game broadcasts

The Orlando Magic has announced two rights deals with Florida stations to bring Orlando Magic games to viewers in Tampa, Gainesville, Panama City and Tallahassee during the 2026–27 NBA season.

The deals, which are separate from each other, involve both Gray Media and Hearst. 

Gray Media have reached a partnership that will bring approximately 70 regular-season Magic games to viewers in Gainesville (WTGB), Panama City (WJHG) and Tallahassee (WCTV), while Hearst’s WMOR in Tampa will also carry a similar lineup of games.

All Magic games not carried exclusively by a national network will be available free over-the-air to viewers who receive these stations.

Select games will additionally air on Gray-owned ABC, NBC, CBS and MyNetworkTV affiliates in the three markets. A complete station lineup and broadcast schedule will be announced later.

For Hearst, the new arrangement represents an expansion of a rights deal the station and team had last year. 

“We are excited to partner with Gray Media to bring Magic basketball to Gainesville, Panama City and Tallahassee,” said Charlie Freeman, president of business operations for the Magic, in a statement. “Adding Gray to our line-up will provide Magic fans a direct connection to the team all season long.” Freeman issued similar sentiments in a separate statement announcing the Hearst deal.

Gray COO Sandy Breland said the agreement builds on the company’s growing portfolio of local NBA broadcast partnerships and gives fans in the three Florida markets access to nearly the entire Magic season without a pay-TV subscription.

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Dante Marchitelli will serve as the Magic’s full-time play-by-play announcer, joined by former Magic forward Jeff Turner as analyst. Kendra Douglas returns for her fourth season as the team’s reporter.

The Magic also said they will announce a direct-to-consumer streaming partner in the near future.