Detroit Pistons Offer 5 Games on Local Broadcast Channels in April - See the Schedule
The games will mark the first time in 15 years that the Pistons have played on broadcast channels instead of cable.
Following the lead of several other NBA teams this season, the Detroit Pistons will play a small slate of games on local broadcast channels in April. The Pistons normally play on Bally Sports Detroit, but that arrangement may not be a viable long-term answer for the team anymore, and playing a small selection of games on over-the-air (OTA) channels will help the Pistons determine what to do with their broadcast rights in the future.
- The Pistons will play five games on an OTA channel starting on Monday, April 1.
- The games will be played on Scripps’ TV-20 Detroit (WYMD).
- Bally Sports Detroit will broadcast the games simultaneously, and they’ll also be available to stream on Bally Sports+.
The Pistons will play five of their nine remaining games on TV-20 Detroit (WYMD), which is owned by Scripps. The arrangement is possible thanks to the November deal between the NBA and Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports Detroit and all other Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks (RSNs). That agreement stipulates that all 15 NBA teams who play on a Bally Sports network can play a small package of games on local channels this season.
The OTA Pistons broadcasts start on Monday, April 1 when the team takes on the Memphis Grizzlies. Fans outside the broadcast footprint of WYMD but still in the state of Michigan will be able to watch the game on Bally Sports Detroit, or stream it on Bally Sports+.
“This is a great opportunity to give more fans a way to watch our games as we end the 2023-24 campaign and build momentum towards the offseason and beyond,” Pistons EVP and chief operating officer Richard Haddad said. “We thank Scripps Sports and TV-20 for bringing selected April broadcasts to an over-the-air-audience and Bally Sports Detroit for its continued partnership and award-winning production.”
“Our goal is always to help teams and leagues grow their fan bases by providing greater access to games through our broadcast channels,” Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor said in a statement. “Credit to the Pistons for partnering with us to make these games available free and over the air on TV-20 Detroit.”
Check out the schedule of Pistons games set to appear on TV-20 Detroit below.
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Monday, April 1 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies |
| Tuesday, April 9 | at Philadelphia 76ers |
| Wednesday, April 10 | vs. Chicago Bulls |
| Friday, April 12 | at Dallas Mavericks |
| Sunday, April 14 | at San Antonio Spurs |
Do NBA Teams and Regional Sports Networks Have a Future Together?
It’s hard to say where the relationship between Bally Sports and its NBA partner teams will go from here. Diamond Sports Group has been in bankruptcy proceedings for the past year, but recently submitted its official reorganization plan and could emerge from bankruptcy soon. The deal between the NBA and Diamond from November included a provision that sent all local broadcast rights back to their respective teams following this season, but the reorg plan submitted to the judge presiding over its case includes a provision nullifying the early termination of broadcast contracts.
That means that teams like the Pistons could still have a contractual obligation to Bally Sports channels beyond this season, if the two sides cannot reach a new accommodation. There are likely several teams who would prefer a permanent switch to local OTA channels going forward; the Milwaukee Bucks were the latest team before the Pistons to take advantage of the provision allowing them to play on broadcast channels this year, but the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have all done likewise.
The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz have already departed regional sports networks in favor of OTA channels, and both teams are pleased with that decision thus far. The Jazz have more than tripled their reach, and the Suns have seen their ratings nearly double since making the switchover.
The end of the 2023-24 season could see several NBA teams try and move their games from RSNs to OTA channels. Whether they’ll be allowed to do so is another question, as the league’s long-term contracts with Diamond Sports Groups could be locked in if the company makes it out of bankruptcy.
Bally Sports+
Bally Sports+ is a direct-to-consumer streaming service that offers live games for those who want access to your local Bally Sports RSN without subscribing to a cable or satellite package.