The Hornets and Magic are both moving to Cox Media Group for their local TV setups in 2026/27, as NBA teams continue sorting out regional broadcast plans after the collapse of Main Street Sport Group, which owns FanDuel Sports Network.
Charlotte’s agreement is a one-year deal that will make Hornets games available over the air in the Charlotte market, with broadcasts set to air free on WSOC-TV Channel 9 and TV64, according to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. The team is still working through some of the finer points of the arrangement, including the return of longtime commentators Eric Collins and Dell Curry. Boone also noted that it remains unclear which channels will carry non-nationally televised games outside of Charlotte.
The Hornets are also planning a direct-to-consumer streaming option, though those plans have not been finalized.
Orlando made a similar move, announcing that Cox Media Group will be its over-the-air partner for all regular season games except the ones picked up nationally. The Magic said their games will mostly air on WRDQ TV 27, with some contests on WFTV Channel 9.
Like Charlotte, Orlando is still putting the final pieces together for how games will be shown outside its home market. The team also has a direct-to-consumer option in place, but will reveal those plans later.
Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal reported that the Hornets are expected to receive about $7-8MM per year in rights fees from Cox, while the Magic’s deal is likely to bring in around $8MM annually. Friend also reported that both teams are expected to work with DAZN on their streaming plans, with those rights fees projected at roughly $1-2MM per year.
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Sweeney takes over after the Magic moved on from Jamal Mosley in May, and the opening night assignment brings immediate attention to how this new era will look. Orlando will tip off on Oct. 21 against the Atlanta Hawks, a home opener that comes with the usual early-season curiosity and the added layer of a first-time NBA head coach making his debut in front of the fan base. [Read more 🡒]