The Orlando Magic, WESH 2, CW18, WMOR-TV and FanDuel Sports Network Florida have announced a partnership to simulcast 10 Magic games during the 2025-26 season on a Hearst over-the-air station in Central Florida and in Tampa.
Six of the games will air on WESH 2, while four will be telecast on CW18. All 10 will also be available on WMOR-TV in Tampa.
Games simulcast on WESH 2, CW18 and WMOR-TV will mirror the broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Florida, featuring hometown announcers – David Steele, Jeff Turner, Dante Marchitelli and Kendra Douglas – who will call the action throughout the season.
“This agreement to bring Orlando Magic games to over-the-air television is a way to put our exciting, up-and-coming team in front of even more of our fans,” said Orlando Magic President of Business Operations Charlie Freeman. “We want to thank our partners at WESH 2, CW18, WMOR-TV, Hearst Television and FanDuel Sports Network for this great opportunity.”
The games to be simulcast on over-the-air television are:
Sunday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m., at Houston, CW18
Sunday, Dec. 7, Noon, at New York, CW18
Saturday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m., vs. Denver, WESH 2
Friday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m., at Chicago, WESH 2
Saturday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., vs. Cleveland, WESH 2
Sunday, Feb. 1, 4 p.m., at San Antonio, CW18
Saturday, Mar. 14, 8 p.m., at Miami, WESH 2
Friday, Apr. 3, 8:30 p.m., at Dallas, WESH 2
Sunday, Apr. 5, 7 p.m., at New Orleans, CW18
Friday, Apr. 10, 8 p.m., at Chicago, WESH 2
(All times Eastern; All games on WMOR-TV Tampa)
WESH 2 is a digital multi-media company providing news, weather, sports, community service and entertainment on multiple platforms serving Central Florida. WESH 2 produces 65.5 hours of local news per week in Central Florida, including 22 hours on sister station CW18.
WESH 2, CW18 and WMOR-TV are owned by Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst, a leading media company. Hearst Television owns and/or manages 35 television stations and two radio stations.
“We’re excited to join forces with the Orlando Magic and FanDuel Sports Network to make Magic basketball even more accessible to fans throughout Central Florida,” said President and General Manager of WESH 2 and CW18 John Soapes. “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality local sports programming and creating new opportunities for fans to connect with the team they love.”
This is an enormously huge big deal and us local fans need to get our friends and families to tune into these games. Whether you’re paying for cable, or you paid $20 for an antenna to watch local channels for free over the air, this is one step closer to cutting away from the FanDuel Sports Network level of paid packages just to watch Magic games.
That and there won’t be a 2-minute delay behind live action.
