In exciting news for fans in Buzz City, the Charlotte Hornets announced a new partnership to make a bigger chunk of their 2025–26 season available on free, over-the-air television and on the FanDuel Sports Networks. The Hornets, FDSN, and Gray Media affiliates are bringing games to viewers across the Carolinas. The move keeps the team squarely in the “more-accessible” column as NBA fans push back against rising streaming complexity and cost.
Beginning on Tuesday, November 4, the Hornets will simulcast a slate of 12 games with FanDuel Sports Networks and local broadcast partners, including WSOC-TV/TV-64. The partnership builds on last season’s return of some Hornets games to free local TV, which was the first time in 17 years. The entry point means viewers won’t have to pay for extra RSN subscriptions or juggle yet another streaming add-on, as they can watch the Charlotte Hornets for free with an antenna.
Check out the full OTA schedule HERE.
“We’re excited to make select Hornets games available on local over-the-air television for the second consecutive season to our fans in Charlotte and markets across the Carolinas through our partnership with FanDuel Sports Network, WSOC, TV 64 and Gray Media,” said Hornets President of Business Operations Shelly Cayette-Weston. “Expanding the reach of our broadcasts is part of our organizational commitment of enhancing the fan experience and connecting with Hornets fans throughout the Carolinas.”
Where to Watch the Charlotte Hornets on Free TV
As an ABC affiliate, you can find WSOC-TV on DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV for tonight’s game. The stations usually air on YouTube TV, but are currently blacked out due to the Disney-YouTube dispute.
Across the Carolinas, fans can watch the Charlotte Hornets for free via Gray Media/Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network on the following stations:
- Charlotte market: WSOC-TV (Channel 9) and TV 64
- Columbia: WIS 10.4, WPAM 18.1
- Charleston: WCSC 5.3
- Greenville–New Bern: WITN 7.2
- Greenville–Spartanburg–Asheville–Anderson: WHNS 21.2
- Myrtle Beach: WMBF 32.3
- Raleigh: WRAL 5.2 (distributed by Capitol Broadcasting)
- Wilmington: WECT 6.3
“This partnership between WSOC and the Charlotte Hornets continues to entertain and serve our communities around the Carolinas” said Cox Media Group Charlotte VP/GM Cedric Thomas. “This is part of our commitment to provide the best news, entertainment and sports programming.”
NBA Increasing Accessibility for Viewers
If you’re tired of chasing games across paywalls and multiple apps, free local broadcasts are a relief. The move comes amid an industry-wide reckoning. Before the season tipped off, NBA commissioner Adan Silver, calling the league a “highlight league,” underscored the tension between marquee national windows and how local games reach fans.
With the flashpoint of streaming deals multiplying and costs climbing for viewers, the league is reportedly exploring a national streaming platform for local rights as soon as the 2027–28 season. That would transform and repackage how local broadcasts are sold and distributed because the old RSN model is widely considered broken.
On the RSN front, FanDuel Sports Network has been aggressive about pushing local team coverage onto accessible platforms. Recently, the RSN giant has introduced free streaming windows in other markets and distribution deals with Pluto TV, Prime Video channels, and Samsung TV Plus. The Hornets partnership is another example of a sports-media operator combining linear, over-the-air, and streaming distribution to get local games in front of more fans.
“Partnering with the Hornets, Cox Media Group and Gray Media is a great opportunity for us to put our telecasts in front of more viewers and expose them to the high quality of our productions and our broadcasters,” said Damon Phillips, Executive Vice President, Team Partnerships and FanDuel Sports Network. “We are available on multiple platforms and having fans sample our telecasts will show them what they can see on FanDuel Sports Network for our remaining 73 games this season.”
With the Hornets expanding their free-TV footprint is a practical, fan-first move in a messy transitional era for sports media. It won’t solve every headache that fans are facing with fragmentation. But for Carolina viewers who want to watch their team without another subscription, purchase an antenna, and tune in at the schedule below.
2025-26 Charlotte Hornets Free TV OTA Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Stations |
| Nov. 4 | at New Orleans | 8 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
| Dec. 5 | at Toronto | 7:30 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & TV 64 |
| Dec. 18 | vs Atlanta | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
| Dec. 26 | at Orlando | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
| Dec. 29 | vs Milwaukee | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & TV 64 |
| Jan. 8 | vs Indiana | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & TV 64 |
| Jan. 29 | at Dallas | 8:30 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
| Feb. 24 | at Chicago | 8 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
| March 6 | vs Miami | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
| March 28 | vs Philadelphia | 6 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
| April 7 | at Boston | 7:30 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network & WSOC |
