Cleveland Cavaliers Games Return to Free Over-the-Air Television on Gray Media Stations

Gray Media (GTN) will air 15 Cleveland Cavaliers regular season games free, over-the-air during the 2026-27 NBA season in partnership with the Cavaliers and DAZN.

Rhea-AI Summary

Gray Media (GTN) will air 15 Cleveland Cavaliers regular season games free, over-the-air during the 2026-27 NBA season in partnership with the Cavaliers and DAZN.

The package is a simulcast of games that sit in front of the Cavaliers on DAZN paid subscription offering and will run on Cleveland stations WOIO (CBS 19), WUAB (MyNet 43) and statewide on Rock Entertainment Sports Network. Additional Gray stations in markets including Cincinnati, Lima and Parkersburg will also carry the games, while Gray will seek more third-party broadcasters in other parts of the territory. The schedule, running from October 26, 2026 through April 4, 2027, includes pregame and postgame coverage and, per Rock Entertainment Group, triples the number of games available free over-the-air.

Market Context

A comparable Orlando Magic broadcast partnership had a 4.22% 24-hour price reaction; that directly r...

Analysis

A comparable Orlando Magic broadcast partnership had a 4.22% 24-hour price reaction; that directly relevant precedent involved Gray's free over-the-air sports distribution and preceded today's 15-game Cavaliers package.

Key Figures

Broadcast package: 15 games Free games expansion: 3x

Broadcast package

15 games

2026-27 NBA regular season; free over-the-air simulcasts

Free games expansion

3x

Number of games available free over the air on Gray stations and Rock Entertainment Sports Network

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: Sep 02

1 event

1. Sep 02

   Broadcast partnership

   24h Move

   +4.2%

   Full-season free over-the-air Orlando Magic broadcasts across three Florida markets.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

simulcast, over-the-air

2 terms

simulcast technical

"The 15-game package is a simulcast of the games available for free"

A simulcast is a live event or announcement transmitted at the same time across multiple channels—such as webcast, radio, TV, or social platforms—so all viewers hear the same information simultaneously. For investors it matters because simultaneous distribution reduces the chance that some people get material news earlier than others, improving fairness and allowing everyone to react based on the same real-time information, much like multiple rooms watching the same live feed.

over-the-air technical

"broadcast 15 regular season Cavaliers games completely free, over-the-air"

Over-the-air means sending data, software or updates wirelessly to devices without needing a physical connection or in-person visit, like receiving a new app or firmware update through your phone or car’s cellular connection. Investors care because it lets companies fix bugs, add features, or patch security remotely, reducing recall costs and boosting user experience and recurring revenue, while also introducing regulatory and cybersecurity risks that can affect value.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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15-Game Regular Season Package Simulcasts on WOIO, WUAB and Rock Entertainment Sports Network Alongside Cavaliers on DAZN Subscription Platform

ATLANTA, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Media and the Cleveland Cavaliers today announced a historic partnership with DAZN to broadcast 15 regular season Cavaliers games completely free, over-the-air during the 2026-27 NBA season.   The 15-game package is a simulcast of the games available for free in front of the Cavaliers on DAZN paid subscription paywall offering.

The games will air locally in Cleveland on Gray Media’s stations, WOIO (CBS 19) and WUAB (MyNet 43), and statewide on Rock Entertainment Sports Network, giving fans unprecedented access to one of the NBA’s premier teams.   Rock Entertainment Sports Network is a collaboration between Gray Media and Rock Entertainment Group, which owns the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Sirens, Cleveland Monsters, and Cleveland Charge.
        
In addition, Gray stations in other markets, including Cincinnati, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Parkersburg, West Virginia will also air the 15-game package.   Gray will seek additional third-party broadcasters to air the games in other parts of the territory where Gray does not own or operate television stations.

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Cavaliers and DAZN to bring world-class basketball straight to our viewers' living rooms completely free of charge,” said Chris Conroy, General Manager of WOIO/WUAB.   “Local sports belong on local television, and this historic agreement delivers for Cavs fans.”

WUAB’s deep sports pedigree includes a long history of broadcasting Cavaliers games and a nostalgic legacy of carrying Cleveland Indians baseball.   Adding live Cleveland Cavaliers basketball to a powerhouse lineup that has featured the Cleveland Browns, Columbus Blue Jackets hockey, college football, NCAA March Madness, and legendary events like The Masters, WOIO and WUAB continue to serve as the undisputed home of free, live Cleveland sports.

“In partnership with Gray and DAZN, we've built the most enhanced and accessible broadcast ecosystem we've had in years,” said Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group, Cleveland Cavaliers and Rocket Arena. “Our fans are at the core of every decision we make, and this season we're proud to triple the number of games available for free, over-the-air on Gray's local stations and Rock Entertainment Sports Network.”
“This partnership represents a forward-thinking approach to serving local sports fans,” added Matt Moran, Senior Operating Officer for Gray Media. “Combined with our deep in-season coverage on Rock Entertainment Sports Network, we are proud to expand our collaboration with the Cavaliers and DAZN to deliver premium, live sports content directly to the best fans in the country.”

The current schedule is provided below and is subject to change.   Check local listings for details.   The broadcast schedule will include pregame and postgame coverage.

• Mon. October 26, 2026 - Minnesota at Cleveland 7:00 PM (WUAB)
• Thur. October 29, 2026 - Cleveland at Atlanta 7:00 PM (WUAB)
• Mon. November 2, 2026 - Oklahoma City at Cleveland 7:00 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Sat. November 14, 2026 - Dallas at Cleveland 7:30 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Sat. December 12, 2026 - Golden State at Cleveland 8:00 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Fri. December 18, 2026 - Cleveland at Detroit 7:30 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Wed. December 23, 2026 - Cleveland at Washington 7:00 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Sat. January 2, 2027 - Cleveland at Charlotte 1:00 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Sat. January 23, 2027 - Cleveland at Dallas 8:00 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Fri. January 29, 2027 - Cleveland at Toronto 7:00 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Sat. February 6, 2027 - Orlando at Cleveland 7:30 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Sun. February 14, 2027 - Phoenix at Cleveland 1:00 PM (WOIO-CBS)
• Tue. March 9, 2027 - Cleveland at Detroit 8:00 PM (WOIO-CBS or WUAB)
• Sun. March 14, 2027 - Cleveland at Sacramento 6:00 PM (WOIO-CBS or WUAB)
• Sun. April 4, 2027 - Charlotte at Cleveland 3:00 PM (WOIO-CBS or WUAB)
  
  

About Gray Media:

Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets.   We serve 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households.   The portfolio includes 78 markets with the top-rated television station and 101 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station in average all-day ratings across the 116 of such markets that were measured by Nielsen in 2025.   We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 46 markets and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services.   Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About Cleveland Cavaliers:

The Cleveland Cavaliers, founded in 1970, are a professional basketball team in the NBA's Eastern Conference that plays at Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.   The Cavaliers won the NBA Championship in 2016 and took the Eastern Conference crown in 2007, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.   The Cavaliers were awarded the 2025 NBA Team of the Year and also the recipient of the league’s Inclusion Leadership Award.   The Cavaliers are a part of Rock Entertainment Group, the umbrella entity for the sports and entertainment properties under Cavaliers Chairman Dan Gilbert’s ROCK Family of Companies.   Nic Barlage serves as the CEO of the Cavaliers, Rocket Arena, and Rock Entertainment Group.   The team is led by President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman and Head Coach Kenny Atkinson.

Gray Contact:

Sandy Breland, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, 404-266-8333

Cleveland Cavaliers Contact:

Zachary Abaie, Vice President, Corporate Communications, zabaie@cavs.com, 216-559-0199

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FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

On which stations will the free Cleveland Cavaliers games be available?

The 15-game package will air in Cleveland on WOIO (CBS 19) and WUAB (MyNet 43), and statewide on Rock Entertainment Sports Network. Gray stations in other markets, including Cincinnati, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Parkersburg, West Virginia will also broadcast the games.

How many Cavaliers games will be free over-the-air and how does this compare with prior seasons?

The partnership provides a 15-game regular season package that is free over-the-air. Rock Entertainment Group’s CEO said this season will triple the number of games available for free on Gray’s local stations and Rock Entertainment Sports Network compared with prior seasons.

What additional coverage surrounds the free game broadcasts?

The broadcast schedule for the 15-game package will include pregame and postgame coverage, in addition to live game action.

When does the free over-the-air Cavaliers broadcast package run?

The listed schedule runs from Monday, October 26, 2026, when Minnesota plays at Cleveland, through Sunday, April 4, 2027, when Charlotte visits Cleveland. The company notes that the schedule is subject to change and advises viewers to check local listings for details.