Miami Heat ink linear-streaming OTA deal, Huntington launches NIL platform
The Miami Heat secured a dual linear-streaming and over-the-air broadcast deal with WPLG Local 10, highlighting evolving local sports rights. Separately, Huntington Bank announced Huntington Activation, a new platform to manage Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals for educational institutions.
Key Takeaways
- The Miami Heat's deal with WPLG Local 10 creates a dual linear-streaming and OTA package for the 2026-27 NBA season.
- This agreement makes the Heat the seventh NBA team to adopt an OTA broadcast model, joining teams like the Suns, Jazz, and Pistons.
- WPLG Local 10 will launch a free DTC app, Local 10 Plus Platinum, powered by Zype by Backlight, to stream Heat games.
- Huntington Bank's "Huntington Activation" platform will facilitate NIL deal management for educational institutions, addressing operational complexities.
- Onrise and Learfield have partnered to expand mental health services for student-athletes nationwide.
Why It Matters
The Miami Heat's move to a dual linear-streaming and over-the-air broadcast model highlights a growing trend among NBA teams seeking wider distribution beyond traditional RSNs. This strategy aims to increase reach and engagement by making games accessible without a paywall, potentially influencing advertising and sponsorship revenues. The concurrent introduction of Huntington's NIL management platform underscores the increasing financial and operational complexities in collegiate sports. Watch for how other NBA teams, particularly those previously with defunct RSNs, structure their local media rights deals in the coming months.
Additional Context
The Miami Heat's new agreement with WPLG Local 10 represents a significant shift in local sports broadcasting, moving away from a traditional Regional Sports Network (RSN) model. According to Sports Business Journal (June 2026), the Heat are the seventh NBA team to secure an over-the-air (OTA) broadcast deal, following others like the Suns, Jazz, Trail Blazers, Mavericks, Pelicans, and Pistons. This deal, which includes an undisclosed rights fee reported to be above the typical $10 million for OTA agreements, also incorporates a free direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming app, Local 10 Plus Platinum, built by Zype by Backlight (Sports Video Group, June 2026). This hybrid approach builds on a smaller 12-game simulcast during the previous season, which significantly boosted viewership for WPLG. Many of these teams, including the Heat, were previously under contract with the now-defunct FanDuel Sports Networks (formerly Bally Sports), which faced financial difficulties and ceased operations for some teams by late 2025 (Awful Announcing, June 2026; Miami Herald, February 2026). The NBA is exploring a centralized streaming solution, potentially launching for the 2027-28 season, which adds a layer of complexity to these short-term local deals. Heat EVP Michael McCullough noted to SBJ (June 2026) that the one-year deal with an option for 2027-28 provides flexibility given the NBA's impending aggregated hub. The decision to partner with WPLG, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, despite other local options, emphasizes the value placed on local reach and established ad infrastructure. Other NBA teams like the Bucks, Cavaliers, Clippers, Hawks, Pacers, Spurs, and Thunder are reportedly still exploring similar local broadcast or direct-to-distributor templates following Fubo's withdrawal from bidding for team rights packages (SBJ, June 2026).
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