The Orlando Magic's plans for the upcoming NBA season's television coverage remain unsettled, with no official announcement yet from the franchise.
A shifting landscape for NBA broadcasting
During the previous season the team aired simulcasts of FanDuel Sports Network games on local stations WESH‑2 and CW‑18, a move that hinted at a strategy to retain over‑the‑air exposure while seeking new distribution partners.
Other franchises have already locked in deals: the Minnesota Timberwolves have a five‑year agreement that streams most games on DAZN while preserving a handful of over‑the‑air broadcasts, and the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks are shifting their streaming rights to DAZN, still appearing on YES Network and MSG respectively.
The Magic are expected to adopt a hybrid approach, likely continuing local broadcasts on WESH‑2 and CW‑18 and supplementing them with a streaming partner, though the exact arrangement is still under negotiation.
Personnel changes add another layer of uncertainty. Veteran broadcaster David Steele has retired, and Dante Marchitelli, who recently took on a new play‑by‑play role, will shape the presentation of the team's telecasts.
The league itself is exploring a centralized streaming hub for the 2028 season, a development that could influence how local rights are packaged and sold, potentially bundling them with platforms such as Amazon.
Beyond Orlando, Florida's sports landscape reflects similar shifts. The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a local television home on Scripps Sports, while MLB clubs like the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins have centralized broadcasts on MLB.TV and dedicated regional channels.
These moves illustrate a broader industry transition toward digital distribution, even as teams maintain a foothold on traditional broadcast outlets to reach wider audiences.