New Orleans Pelicans announce new media rights deal with Gray Media

The New Orleans Pelicans have announced a brand-new media rights deal with Gray Media to broadcast all non-nationally televised Pelicans games locally via free over-the-air television, beginning with the 2024-25 season. The distribution agreement with Gray Media will make Pelicans games available to 4.1 million households (nearly 7 million viewers) throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, quadrupling the number of households that will have access to watch Pelicans games.

The partnership with Gray Media will now offer Pelicans fans unparalleled access to watch live games and comprehensive team content on free, over-the-air local television. Fans within the team’s local broadcast territory will be able to watch all non-exclusive nationally televised Pelicans games on an over-the-air Gray Media local channel or on the soon-to-be launched Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, and Shreveport, Louisiana; Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson, and Meridian Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama.

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New Orleans Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson said, “This partnership with Gray Media represents our commitment to our fans, community, and partners across Louisiana and the Gulf South. Our focus has been to make Pelicans games accessible to as many fans as possible, and this deal means that Pelicans games will now be available to millions of more fans with this free, over-the-air broadcast product.”

Beginning with the Pelicans’ season-opener against the Chicago Bulls at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday, October 23rd, WVUE will air at least eight regular season games and all available postseason games in the New Orleans market, with the remaining games being available on the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network.

Photo byWVUE Fox 8

Pat LaPlatney, President and Co-CEO of Grey Media said, “Gray Media is incredibly fortunate to broaden a long-time partnership with Gayle Benson, Dennis Lauscha and the entire Pelicans and Saints organization. We are beyond excited to bring the New Orleans Pelicans games to our viewers across Louisiana, Mississippi and southern Alabama!”

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Pelicans games free to fans in New Orleans and all across the Gulf Coast,” said Mikel Schaefer, WVUE Vice President and General Manager. “Fans are ready to enjoy this exciting team on a nightly basis and the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network will deliver that more than ever.”

The team and Gray Media will soon announce the complete broadcast schedule for the 2024-25 Pelicans season along with further programming and channel details regarding the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network.