---
title: "Hornets Secure One-Year Over-the-Air Deal with Cox Media Group"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/hornets-sign-local-broadcast-deal-with-cox-media-fw6cr
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Business
published: 2026-08-13T04:45:25.056Z
modified: 2026-08-13T06:45:06.090Z
language: en-IN
---

# Hornets Secure One-Year Over-the-Air Deal with Cox Media Group

The Charlotte Hornets have finalized a one-year, over-the-air local broadcast agreement with Cox Media Group. This deal prioritizes fan accessibility by offering free linear television broadcasts for non-national games.

## Key takeaways

- The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a one-year local broadcast deal with Cox Media Group.
- The agreement provides free over-the-air television broadcasts for non-national games.
- Cox Media Group is expected to pay an annual rights fee between $7 million and $8 million.
- The partnership aims to increase fan accessibility and viewership for Hornets games.

The Charlotte Hornets have entered into a one-year over-the-air local broadcast agreement with Cox Media Group, the team announced Wednesday. This arrangement is designed to be fan-friendly, complementing an anticipated upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming partnership.

Cox Media Group will broadcast Hornets games not designated for national television on either WSOC Channel 9 or TV64. The specific channel will depend on scheduling conflicts with WSOC's ABC commitments. Cox is expected to provide a rights fee in the annual range of $7 million to $8 million for this deal. The team views this over-the-air strategy as a means to expand game accessibility and viewership.

In addition to game broadcasts, WSOC will air a 30-minute schedule release show as early as Thursday. The network will also produce pregame and postgame shows, along with other related programming throughout the season. The Hornets and Cox will collaborate on local advertising sales, while national ad inventory will be managed by Playfly. Last season, WSOC simulcast five Hornets games.

This one-year agreement allows the Hornets flexibility to potentially join the NBA's expected centralized broadcast structure starting in the 2027-28 season. The team also plans to utilize the league's production resources for its free linear broadcasts.

The Hornets are now the fifth team formerly associated with Main Street Sports Group to adopt an over-the-air broadcast strategy. This move follows similar decisions by the Heat, Pistons, Bucks, and Hawks.

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/hornets-sign-local-broadcast-deal-with-cox-media-fw6cr
Reported from: Multiple Sources