The Detroit Pistons are making a power move to bring their games back to local viewers—free of charge. The franchise has officially signed a deal with Scripps Sports to broadcast games on WMYD TV20 Detroit, a local over-the-air affiliate. This move comes after the Pistons were one of 13 NBA teams previously under contract with Main Street Sports Group, the owner of the now-defunct FanDuel Sports Networks.
With this new partnership, Scripps will use its network of affiliates across Michigan to ensure full coverage throughout the Detroit market. For Pistons fans, that means no more cable subscriptions or blackout headaches—just pure, over-the-air basketball.
The Pistons are making history as the first NBA team to strike a full-time local broadcast deal with Scripps. But they're not alone in this growing trend. Scripps already has similar arrangements with five NHL teams: the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and Nashville Predators. It's a clear signal that the sports world is shifting toward accessibility.
And there's more good news on the horizon. The Pistons and Scripps have announced plans to launch a direct-to-consumer streaming service, with details to come later. This follows the path of other teams that have moved their games from traditional regional sports networks to over-the-air affiliates, making it easier than ever for fans to catch every dunk and buzzer-beater.
“Over-the-air broadcasting has proven to be one of the most powerful ways to connect sports teams with their fans,” said Brian Lawlor, President of Scripps Sports, in the official announcement. “As we are seeing right now, the fandom around the Pistons is high and every fan deserves to have access to Detroit Pistons games. Scripps Sports is proud to partner with the Pistons to deliver their games to more fans than ever before – because the best team in the East deserves the best broadcast platform in the NBA.”
While the broadcast team hasn't been finalized yet, fans will be watching closely. Longtime play-by-play announcer George Blaha just wrapped up his 46th season with the team, alongside analyst Greg Kesler, who has over two decades of Pistons commentary experience. TV20 Detroit will produce the games and likely decide the on-air talent, plus handle pregame and postgame studio content and a weekly half-hour series dedicated to the Pistons.
For Pistons fans, this is a slam dunk for accessibility and community connection. Get ready to tune in—no cable required.