The Dallas Mavericks and TEGNA (NYSE: TGNA) announced a new rights agreement that will make 10 Mavericks games available on local television station WFAA during the 2023-24 NBA season.
“We are excited to partner with channel 8 to bring 10 games over the air to mavs fans.” Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban tells me on the new partnership with WFAA.
The new distribution agreement will make the 10 games available to more than three million households and more than seven million people across North Texas. The games will air live in North Texas on WFAA through its free over-the-air broadcasts and through WFAA’s broadcast distribution with cable, satellite, and streaming services. Reaching a local Dallas-Fort Worth audience, top five market in the country, for free can close the gap with their fans locally who don’t have access to games on television or in person.
“Providing access to games has always been our top priority,” Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall stated. “We are thrilled to work with WFAA to bring more fun and excitement to our MFFLs across North Texas.”
Broadcasting Dallas Mavericks games on a local television station will simulate a direct connection to the community of Dallas-Fort Worth, increasing the accessibility of games. It will allow fans who don’t have cable or may not be able to attend games in person to follow the team.
This partnership gives a glimpse of the possibilities in the future, as soon as next season.
“If the court approves everything, we are done with Bally after this season” Mark Cuban told me in November on his stance with the Bally Sports and Dallas Mavericks partnership.
It is clear the team is looking for long-term options partners for their broadcast, WFAA could serve as a 10-game trial to assess the production quality, viewership and partnership. This potential long-term partnership elevates the Mavs Fan For Life (MFFL) experience. It captures a bigger viewership on local television without the requirement of a cable package or Bally Sports SW streaming subscription.
If this 10-game deal can transition to be a long-term home for a certain amount of games in the Mavs schedule, it presents an opportunity for the Mavs to gain new viewers locally and expand the fan base in a new era that is under new ownership. Matt Ishbia became the Phoenix Suns owner in December 2022 and did the same thing by transitioning their broadcast to local television, providing their fans more access to their games. It would present new opportunities for local sponsorships and provide crossover talent as the sports team of Joe Trahan, Mike Leslie, and Jonah Javad can make special appearances, who the community watches during the news.
Mark Followill, Derek Harper, Devin Harris and Jeff “Skin” Wade and Lesley McCaslin will be on the call for the newly scheduled WFAA games, with pre and postgame coverage from Dana Larson and Brian Dameris.
The total games listed below will air on WFAA (including three national televised games on ABC):
The NBA and Diamond Sports Group, owner of Bally Sports SW, reached an agreement to allow teams to join with local broadcasters for a limited number of over-the-air games during the remainder of the regular season.