DETROIT PISTONS ANNOUNCE NEW LOCAL TELEVISION MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH SCRIPPS SPORTS

May 14, 2026 - 01:50

The Detroit Pistons announced a new local television media rights agreement with Scripps Sports, bringing the team's games back to free, over-the-air television across Michigan beginning with the 2026-27 NBA season. The multi-year deal marks a significant shift away from cable-exclusive broadcasts, making Pistons games accessible to a much wider audience without a subscription.

Under the agreement, games will air on a Scripps-owned station in Detroit, likely WMYD (Channel 20) or similar, with additional coverage planned for other markets across the state. The move follows a growing trend among NBA teams to return to broadcast television as cord-cutting continues to shrink cable subscriber numbers. The Pistons had previously been on Bally Sports Detroit, a regional sports network that requires a cable or streaming package.

Team officials said the partnership aims to reconnect with fans who have struggled to watch games in recent years due to rising cable costs and blackout restrictions. Scripps Sports, a division of the E.W. Scripps Company, has been aggressively acquiring local sports rights for over-the-air stations in several markets, including the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights and several WNBA teams.

The Pistons' current contract with Bally Sports Detroit runs through the 2025-26 season. The new Scripps deal will begin in the fall of 2026, ensuring a seamless transition. Specific broadcast details, including pregame and postgame shows, are expected to be announced closer to the start of the new agreement.