Sinclair Inc. has secured a deal to broadcast most Miami Heat local games on free over-the-air television in the West Palm Beach market for the 2026-27 NBA season. The announcement comes as the Heat prepare for their next preseason fixture against the Orlando Magic on October 16, following a high-scoring 144-128 preseason win over the Brooklyn Nets on October 14. This partnership significantly expands the team's broadcast footprint across South Florida.
Under the new agreement, station WTCN (Channel 43) will carry approximately 70 regular-season games and one preseason contest. This station, using the on-air identifier My15 WTCN, joins WPLG (Channel 10) in providing free broadcast coverage. WPLG continues to serve the Heat's primary home market in Miami, with additional cable and satellite distribution in Broward County. The deal was finalized this week, with games set to air immediately.
Michael McCullough, the Heat's Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, welcomed the expansion. "The Miami Heat are happy to partner with My15 WTCN to bring all available local game broadcasts to our fans in West Palm Beach and along the Treasure Coast," McCullough said. He praised the WTCN leadership team for their quick work to get the games on air.
This move directly addresses fan accessibility across a wider geographic region. Combined, WTCN and WPLG will provide local television coverage across a substantial portion of South Florida. This includes Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River counties. For fans in West Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast who previously faced blackouts or required expensive cable packages, this is a major win.
It means more households can watch the team's progress throughout what promises to be an exciting season. Those results include a 124-125 loss to Minnesota on October 10, a 128-118 win over New Orleans on October 8, and a dominant 129-105 victory in Toronto on October 3.
The immediate focus is on finalizing the preseason schedule and transitioning to the regular season. The team's next test is a road game against the Orlando Magic on October 16. After that, fans can follow the entire regular season journey through the new broadcast partners. This expanded coverage ensures supporters won't miss a moment of the action, from opening night to what the franchise hopes will be a deep playoff run.
With a dynamic roster and now greater TV accessibility, the Heat are positioned to build a strong connection with their growing fanbase across the entire state of Florida. The organization views this partnership as a key part of serving its community and growing the game locally.
