Magic fans in Orlando are getting a major change for the 2026-27 season: every non-nationally televised game will be available to watch for free.
WFTV Channel 9 and TV27 have been announced as the local TV broadcast partners for the Orlando Magic, with access also included on YouTube TV. The partnership will give fans pregame and postgame coverage along with additional special content, according to Alex Walker.
The Magic confirmed the deal with Cox Media on Wednesday, August 12th. In the team’s announcement, it said every non-nationally televised regular season game will be free on WRDQ TV 27, with select games also airing on WFTV Channel 9. Cox Media Group, which includes WRDQ TV 27 and WFTV Channel 9, will serve as the team’s new over-the-air broadcast partner.
The new broadcast setup arrives as fans are still taking in the news that longtime Magic broadcaster David Steele is retiring. For a fan base looking for some good news, this one lands at the right time.
The broadcast crew will be led by Dante Marchitelli, who is taking over as the new Voice of the Magic. He’ll be joined by returning sideline reporter Kendra Douglas and color commentator Jeff Turner.
There will still be a hurdle for national broadcasts, with games on ABC, ESPN, Prime, and Peacock requiring cable or the appropriate streaming service. But for the bulk of the schedule, Magic games will now be much easier to find.
That matters for fans who want a dependable way to follow the team without paying rising ticket prices or chasing down a subscription. It also opens the door for more people in Orlando to watch regularly, especially longtime fans who still rely on cable.
And beyond convenience, the move gives the Magic a chance to reach more people in the city. Free access can help create new fans, bring families and friends together around the games, and make the team feel even more connected to the community.
For Orlando, it’s a straightforward win: easier access to Magic basketball for today’s fans, and a bigger audience for the next wave coming up behind them.
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There is still some work to do before the full picture is complete. The Magic are finalizing additional station arrangements for games that fall outside the primary Orlando lineup, and they are also lining up a direct-to-consumer streaming option that could involve DAZN, which would give fans another way to follow the team beyond the local broadcast window. [Read more 🡒]