Watching the Hawks locally is changing for the 2026–27 season. The team’s expanded agreement with Gray Media brings its non-nationally televised regular-season games to free over-the-air broadcasts in Georgia.
The partnership was announced July 16, with Atlanta News First becoming the team’s official broadcast partner. As the new season approaches, the practical question is how to find the games without confusing a free local broadcast with a subscription streaming package.
What the agreement covers
The announcement covers all non-nationally televised regular-season games, plus three preseason games and selected national games. In the Atlanta market, games will be available through WANF and Peachtree Sports Network.
The national-game distinction matters. This is not an announcement that every NBA game, every playoff game or every Hawks appearance on a national outlet becomes free through the same local channel. Check the broadcast assignment for the particular matchup instead of assuming the season-wide announcement overrides every other television arrangement.
The channel depends on where you live
The rollout extends beyond Atlanta. WALB’s announcement identifies participating Gray stations in Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah, along with the Atlanta outlets.
For example, WRDW’s Augusta-area guide identifies Peachtree Sports Network on over-the-air channel 26.2. That does not make 26.2 the correct channel in Atlanta or another Georgia television market. Use your local station’s instructions rather than copying a friend’s channel number from elsewhere.
For a watch party, settle this before inviting everyone over. Confirm that the television actually receives the named station and that the program guide lists the expected game. Finding a channel with a familiar logo is not the same as verifying a particular broadcast.
Free broadcast does not mean every viewing method is free
The free option is the station’s over-the-air signal. The partnership announcement also mentions carriage through pay-TV providers, but those providers can still charge for their packages. Nor does a local broadcast announcement automatically promise an unrestricted stream in every mobile app.
Before changing a subscription, compare the actual sports and other channels your household watches. Check the provider’s current local lineup, the games you care about and any remaining contract terms. A new way to watch one team can improve your options without necessarily replacing every service you use.
Test antenna reception before opening night
For viewers using an antenna, public broadcaster PBS Western Reserve’s reception guide explains the importance of antenna placement and running the television’s channel scan. It links the FCC’s reception maps and manufacturer-specific instructions.
Use the instructions for your own television, and test the setup with ordinary programming before depending on it for a game. Do not purchase equipment solely because somebody in another neighborhood says it works for them. The goal is reliable reception at your address, not the largest number printed on a package.
A return to a familiar local-TV model
The Hawks previously aired on the stations now known as WPCH and WANF, and their recent partnership with Gray began with smaller packages. Atlanta News First says the 2025–26 season included 13 games on its outlets before this broader agreement.
Keep the broadcaster’s Hawks hub and the team website handy for game-by-game details. The useful takeaway is expanded free local access—not a guarantee that every game appears everywhere. This guide revisits the July announcement with information checked September 17, 2026.
