Earlier this year the NBA and Bally Sports reached a new TV deal that let NBA teams that air on Bally Sports to air 10 games for free on over-the-air TV, also known as OTA TV. Now the Atlanta Hawks have announced that it reached a deal with Gray TV to air 10 games on the Peachtree TV channel.
Update: Gray TV has also announced a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. This deal will see 8 Pelicans games air on Gray TV stations starting January 12, 2024. The games will air on Fox 8 and Bounce. Also the games will simulcast on Louisiana’s Gray TV stations in Baton Rouge (WAFB), Shreveport (KSLA), Lake Charles (KPLC), Monroe (KNOE) and Alexandria (KALB). Mississippi’s Gray TV stations in Biloxi (WLOX), Jackson (WLBT), Hattiesburg (WDAM) and Meridian (WTOK) also will carry the games, as will WALA, the Gray station in Mobile, Ala.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to give Hawks fans a new, free way to watch our games this season,” Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena Executive Vice President/Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Saltzman said. “We are thankful to Peachtree TV and Gray TV for making this a reality and look forward to returning the Hawks to our historic local partner for our Friday games.”
With this deal the Hawks’s home game against Indiana on Friday, January 12th, 2024 will be the first to air on Peachtree TV After that Gray TV will broadcast a Hawks game every Friday night for the remainder of the 2023-24 NBA season with the exception of the team’s March 8th game at Memphis. To make up for that game, Peachtree TV will broadcast the match up versus New Orleans on March 10th. This deal will bring Atlanta Hawks games back to free OTA TV for the first time since 1994.
“We are thrilled to bring the Hawks back to broadcast on Peachtree TV this season,” WANF/WPCH Vice President and General Manager Erik Schrader said. “Sports on broadcast television make the games available to everyone. Not only do longtime fans get their favorite team for free, but it’s the best opportunity to grow new fans!”
Gray will simulcast these games on its television stations in Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, and Savannah in Georgia and in Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, and Montgomery in Alabama.
Peachtree TV will utilize the Bally Sports Southeast production team and the on-air crew of Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun and courtside reporter Tabitha Turner for this 10-game package of games. On-air talent from Peachtree TV and WANF (Atlanta News First), including Sports Director Baillie Burmaster, will also be featured on telecasts.
Peachtree TV will use the Bally Sports Southeast production team and the on-air crew of Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun and courtside reporter Tabitha Turner for this 10-game package of games. On-air talent from Peachtree TV and WANF (Atlanta News First), including Sports Director Baillie Burmaster, will also be featured on telecasts.