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The Detroit Pistons announced that their laboratory of young talent will be more visible to local audiences at the close of the regular season: for the third straight year the club is partnering with Scripps Sports and FanDuel Sports Network Detroit to make five games available free and over-the-air on TV-20 Detroit (WMYD). This arrangement covers the club’s remaining 2026 regular-season games and is designed to broaden reach across the Detroit market by offering television access without a paywall.
Beyond simple availability, the broadcasts will use the established production and commentary resources of FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. That means local viewers tuning into TV-20 Detroit will receive the same on-air presentation that FanDuel Sports provides, delivered by familiar voices and field reporters. The initiative builds on earlier seasons of the same collaboration, which the Pistons and their media partners highlight as a way to connect more deeply with fans while keeping coverage consistent and professional.
The partnership and production setup
The agreement is structured so that TV-20 Detroit (WMYD) can distribute the five games locally using the FanDuel Sports Network Detroit production team. Under the terms of the arrangement, TV-20 will carry the simulcast produced by FanDuel Sports, ensuring viewers receive the network’s graphics, replays, and commentary team. Team executives emphasized the move as a fan-first decision—leveraging broadcast resources to increase accessibility while maintaining the production quality that viewers expect from regional sports coverage.
Who will be on the air
Viewers can expect the on-air roster that FanDuel Sports Network Detroit normally deploys: veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha and analyst Greg Kelser, with courtside reporting provided by either Johnny Kane or Natalie Kerwin. The presence of these commentators preserves continuity between the network and TV-20 broadcasts, and the Pistons noted that the collaboration gives fans access to a familiar production style. Executives from both the team and the station have publicly thanked one another for continuing the relationship into a third season.
Schedule of the five free TV-20 broadcasts
The five games that will be televised free on TV-20 Detroit and FanDuel Sports Network Detroit are spread across late March and early April. These matchups give local viewers a chance to see marquee opponents and meaningful late-season contests involving the Pistons’ core. The dates, opponents, and start times are listed exactly as announced so fans can plan to tune in.
- Monday, March 23 vs. LA Lakers — 7:00 PM (TV-20 / FanDuel Sports Detroit)
- Tuesday, March 31 vs. Toronto — 8:00 PM (TV-20 / FanDuel Sports Detroit Extra)
- Saturday, April 4 at Philadelphia — 7:00 PM (TV-20 / FanDuel Sports Detroit)
- Friday, April 10 at Charlotte — 7:00 PM (TV-20 / FanDuel Sports Detroit)
- Sunday, April 12 at Indiana — 6:00 PM (TV-20 / FanDuel Sports Detroit)
Broadcast notes
The five telecasts will be simulcast on both the local TV station and the regional sports network feed, with TV-20 adopting the FanDuel Sports production for each game. Executives from the Pistons and the station have both said this model helps reach the broadest possible audience, particularly households that rely on free over-the-air signals rather than cable or subscription services.
Why this matters to the community and fans
From the Pistons’ standpoint, the broadcasts are more than distribution: they are a way to showcase a roster that includes emerging stars while giving families and casual viewers easier access. Richard Haddad, the team’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, framed the initiative as a method to help fans “watch and connect with our young team,” acknowledging that increased visibility can accelerate engagement. Local TV executives, including Mike Murri, WXYZ-TV and WMYD-TV general manager, emphasized a similar goal: expanding reach so as many people as possible can experience Pistons basketball.
Context on the court
The team behind the broadcasts is one fans have watched grow under coach J.B. Bickerstaff, led by star guard Cade Cunningham and center Jalen Duren. The late-season free windows are timely: they allow casual viewers to catch pivotal performances and give long-time supporters additional opportunities to follow the team without subscription barriers. Social reaction to the announcement has skewed positive, with many fans welcoming the chance to watch high-profile matchups such as the March 23 meeting with the LA Lakers and the April 12 season finale at Indiana.
Overall, the continuation of the Scripps Sports and FanDuel Sports Network Detroit partnership represents a strategic, community-focused approach to sports broadcasting. By combining the simulcast model with local over-the-air availability, the Pistons and their partners aim to balance production quality and accessibility, delivering a consistent viewing experience for a wide base of Michigan basketball fans during the final stretch of the 2026 regular-season.