The Mavericks and TEGNA Inc. have a multi-year agreement to broadcast the team’s games, free to viewers who have the cable, satellite and streaming providers that will carry them. Dallas will also play on national television 30 times.
But how can fans who don’t have one of these providers watch games this season, starting with Saturday’s in Phoenix against the Suns?
Here are your options based on what type of television service you have at home:
If your TV provider is ...
AT&T U-verse TV; Charter Spectrum; DIRECTV; DISH; Frontier Fiber Keller; Fubo; GEUS; Grande Communications, OneSource Communications or Optimum, congratulations.
These providers carry KFAA (Channel 29), which will broadcast at least 70 games that are not scheduled to exclusively air nationally. Of those 70, at least 15 will simulcast on WFAA (Channel 8).
Channel 29 was formerly known as KMPX, a Spanish-language station that broadcast Estrella TV before KFAA took over the 29.1 signal. The Estrella TV content has moved to Channel 29.2.
If you have another TV provider or streaming service ...
... such as YouTubeTV, you’re out of luck when it comes to Channel 29.
You have two options: You can purchase a digital antenna, which typically costs between $25 and $55, and connect it to your TV.
Or you can subscribe to the streaming service the Mavericks announced Oct. 21. It will initially be powered through the NBA’s Next Gen platform, inside the NBA app, before a Mavs-specific app, called MavsTV, launches later this season.
How do I know if I can get MavsTV?
You can enter your ZIP code on the subscription website to find out if you’re within the Mavericks’ local broadcast market.
If you’re outside of the MavsTV area, you can sign up for NBA League Pass, which blacks out games for subscribers who are in a team’s market.
How much does the streaming app cost?
A MavsTV subscription costs $124.99 for a season-long pass. A monthly subscription costs $14.99. For a limited time, and while supplies last, fans who subscribe to a season-long pass have the option of receiving two tickets to a thus-far-unspecified game or a $75 Mavs merchandise gift card. The subscription service is free for fans who are part of Club Maverick — in other words, season ticket holders.
What if I want to record the game?
You can’t record using MavsTV, but game replays will be available 60 minutes after the end of the postgame show. And if you start the app during a live game, you can rewind to the beginning of the broadcast.
If you have KFAA, you can see replays of each game immediately following postgame coverage and again at 9 a.m. the next day, according to WFAA.
If you have an antenna, you need to have a device that allows you to record, known as an OTA DVR (over-the-air digital video recorder).
Can more than one person watch MavsTV on different devices at the same time?
No. Each subscription to MavsTV allows only one individual to access the account at a given time.
What devices can access Mavs TV?
- Mobile and tablets: iPhone and iPad (OS 15+); Android and Android Tablet (OS 7.0+); Chromecast (Gen 3+)
- Connected devices: Roku OS 11+, 5th Generation+; Apple TV (OS 15+); Android TV; Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick Gen 3+, Fire OS 7+
- Gaming consoles: PlayStation 4 and 5 and Xbox One, Series X and Series S
- Other devices listed here
If I don’t have an antenna or MavsTV, how many games can I see?
The Mavericks have 30 nationally televised games on TNT, ESPN NBA TV and ABC, and at least 15 of the 70 games on Channel 29 will simulcast on WFAA (Channel 8).
So far, seven of the simulcast games have been announced: Oct. 31, Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 19, Jan. 23, Jan. 27 and Jan. 29.
What other stations across Texas will carry Mavericks games?
The Mavericks say approximately 14 million fans across Texas, and in parts of Louisiana and Oklahoma, will have free access to watch games. That is approximately four times as many potential viewers than Bally Sports Southwest had.
On Sept. 6, TEGNA and the Mavericks announced that in addition to Channels 29 and 8 in Dallas-Fort Worth, TEGNA stations in Abilene (KXVA), Midland-Odessa (KWES), San Angelo (KIDY), Tyler (KYTX) and Waco (KCEN and KAGS) would broadcast Mavericks games.
These additional stations were announced Oct. 17: Amarillo’s KFDA 10.2 (Independent-Gray); El Paso’s KDBC 4.2 (MyNetworkTV-Sinclair); Harlingen-Brownsville’s KGBT 4.1 (MyNetworkTV-Nexstar); Laredo’s KXNU 10.2 (Gray Sports-Gray); Lubbock’s KMYL 14.1 (MyNetworkTV-Gray); Sherman’s KXII 12.2 (MyNetwork TV-Gray); Shreveport’s and Texarkana, Texas’ KSHV 45.1 (MyNetworkTV-Nexstar); and Wichita Falls and Lawton, Oklahoma’s KJBO 3.2 (MyNetworkTV-Nexstar).
Who are the broadcasters?
The TV broadcast team has a combined 80-plus years of Mavericks’ broadcast experience and 40 Emmys: Mark Followill, Derek Harper, Devin Harris, Dana Larson, Lesley McCaslin and Jeff Wade. The Mavericks say there also will be a rotation of guest analysts and team legends throughout the season.
What else will be on Channel 29?
KFAA will air regular broadcasts of the Locked On Mavericks podcast, part of the TEGNA-owned Locked On Podcast Network, according to WFAA.
It will also air shows from TEGNA’s Quest Network, such as Storage Hunters, Hardcore Pawn and South Beach Tow.
Why was this new broadcast deal necessary?
On Aug. 23, the NBA announced that 13 teams had finalized contracts with Bally’s parent company, Diamond Sports Group, but that the Mavericks and New Orleans had decided not to renew with Bally.
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
