The Detroit Pistons are heading back to free TV, striking a deal to make TV20 Detroit (WMYD), a Scripps-owned station, their primary local home starting with the 2026–27 NBA season. The move restores over-the-air access to Pistons games across metro Detroit and much of Michigan, opening the door for fans who do not pay for a regional sports network to tune in again. Team and station executives are touting the shift as a fan-first play that fits neatly with the team’s recent on-court surge.
What the deal includes
Under the agreement, WMYD (TV20) will produce and carry all locally available preseason and regular-season Pistons games, with broadcasts accessible both over the air and through participating cable and satellite providers, according to Sports Business Journal. The partnership is set to include full game-day coverage, from pregame through postgame, plus a weekly half-hour Pistons show and additional team-focused programming across Scripps’ local and digital platforms. The financial terms of the deal have not been made public by the Pistons or the station.
Leaders say the move is for fans
Pistons owner Tom Gores called the shift "this move is for our fans" and pointed to their support during the team’s recent playoff run, while Vice Chairman Arn Tellem described the new partnership as "an exciting moment" that broadens access to Detroit basketball, according to WXYZ. Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, said that "over-the-air broadcasting has proven to be one of the most powerful ways to connect sports teams with their fans," and TV20 general manager Mike Murri said the station was "honored" to serve as the Pistons’ new television home. Those comments came as part of the joint announcement released Wednesday.
Why it matters locally and industry-wide
This is the first time since 2005 that Pistons telecasts will primarily land on a local free-TV outlet, a development that industry observers have tied to the collapse of Main Street Sports Group and a broader reshuffling of regional sports rights, according to Sports Business Journal. The agreement also follows a smaller test run in Detroit earlier this season, when the Pistons and TV20 aired five free regular-season games in March and April, a stretch that drew larger local audiences, as reported by Sports Illustrated. The move fits into a larger trend of teams and broadcasters experimenting with free, over-the-air distribution to boost reach and reconnect with casual viewers who have drifted away from pay TV.
What fans should expect next season
Scripps has said it will use its stations across Michigan to build out wider distribution for Pistons coverage, and the team and Scripps plan to work together on a direct-to-consumer streaming app, with more details to follow, according to WXYZ. The company’s national push into FAST streaming, including the March launch of the Scripps Sports Network, gives it more platforms to showcase live Pistons games and original team content, per a press release from Scripps. Fans can expect the weekly half-hour show and other original features to show up across both traditional TV broadcasts and Scripps’ streaming outlets once the new arrangement kicks in.
Exact broadcast schedules, channel positions, and any potential streaming pricing have not yet been announced, and the Pistons and Scripps say those details will be shared in the coming months. For now, fans who rely on antennas and on-demand streaming can count on more ways to follow a team that has pushed its way into the Eastern Conference spotlight.
