You're stuck in traffic on I-465. The sun is setting, the taillights are glowing red, and Tyrese Haliburton is probably about to drop a double-double. You need the game. But honestly, finding a reliable way to listen to Pacers games in 2026 feels way more complicated than it used to be. Remember when you just turned a dial and it worked? Now we’ve got apps, subscriptions, and geo-fencing that makes you want to chuck your phone out the window.
If you’re in Indiana, you’ve got options. If you’re a displaced Hoosier living in Florida or California, it gets weirder. Let’s break down exactly how to catch the blue and gold on the airwaves without spending an hour troubleshooting.
The Old Reliable: 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan
For most people living within a stone’s throw of Indianapolis, the flagship station is still the king. 93.5 FM and 107.5 FM (WFNI) carry the torch. Mark Boyle has been the "Voice of the Pacers" since basically the dawn of time—okay, since 1988—and the man is a legend for a reason. He doesn't just call the play; he paints the picture.
The signal is strong. It covers the metro area well. But there’s a catch that trips people up every single year: the "Digital Blackout."
If you try to stream the station through a generic radio app like TuneIn or iHeartRadio on your phone while the game is live, you might hear a loop of sports talk or dead air instead of the tip-off. This happens because of NBA broadcasting rights. Local radio stations often only have the rights to broadcast over the actual airwaves (terrestrial radio), not the digital stream. To get around this, you have to use the official Pacers App or the NBA App. These apps use your phone's GPS to verify you’re in the right region. If you’re inside the Pacers’ territory, the stream unlocks.
✨ Don't miss: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
What if You’re Out of Market?
This is where it gets annoying. You grew up in Muncie but now you’re in Denver. You want to listen to Pacers games, but the local Indy stations are out of reach.
You basically have two real choices here.
First, there’s NBA League Pass (Audio). It’s actually surprisingly cheap. While the video version of League Pass costs a chunk of change and is notorious for blacking out your local team, the audio-only subscription is usually just a few dollars for the whole season. It’s the most "legit" way to do it. You get the home broadcast (Boyle) or the away broadcast if you’re feeling masochistic and want to hear the other team’s announcers.
Second, check SiriusXM. If you have a car subscription, the NBA channels (usually starting around 840 on the app or specific play-by-play channels) carry every single game. The upside? No geo-fencing. The downside? It’s another monthly bill.
🔗 Read more: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
The "Secret" Secondary Network
People forget that the Pacers Radio Network is actually huge. It’s not just one station in Indy. There are over 20 affiliates across the state.
- Fort Wayne: WOWO 1190 AM / 107.5 FM
- South Bend: WSBT 960 AM
- Evansville: WREF 97.7 FM
If you're driving through rural Indiana and 107.5 starts to fuzz out, don't give up. Scan the AM dial. AM signals bounce better off the atmosphere at night, meaning you can sometimes catch a game from 100 miles away if the weather is right. It’s old school, sure. It sounds a little crackly. But there’s something nostalgic about hearing the squeak of sneakers through a bit of static while driving past cornfields.
Dealing With Modern Tech Hurdles
Smart speakers are the new frontier of frustration. You say, "Hey, play 107.5 The Fan," and it plays a podcast from three weeks ago.
To actually listen to Pacers games on an Alexa or Google Home, you usually have to enable the specific "Skill" for the radio station or the NBA. Even then, it’s hit or miss because of those digital rights we talked about. Honestly? The most foolproof way is to open the Pacers App on your phone and Bluetooth it to the speaker. It’s one extra step, but it saves you from yelling at a plastic cylinder for ten minutes while the Pacers are giving up an 8-0 run.
💡 You might also like: What Really Happened With Nick Chubb: The Injury, The Recovery, and The Houston Twist
Also, watch out for the delay. Digital streams are usually 30 to 60 seconds behind the actual live action. If you’re following along on Twitter (or X, whatever) while listening, you’re going to see "HALI BURIES IT!!" before you even hear the ball hit the rim. Turn off your notifications if you want the radio call to be a surprise.
Why Radio is Actually Better Than TV
I’ll say it: listening to the game is often a better experience than watching the Bally Sports broadcast (or whoever owns the rights this week).
The TV deals have been a mess lately. Apps crashing, regional sports networks going bankrupt, and high price tags make it a chore. Radio is free. It’s mobile. Mark Boyle’s descriptions are so vivid that you don't even miss the visuals. He’ll tell you exactly how many feet Haliburton is from the arc. He’ll tell you if Rick Carlisle looks annoyed (he usually does).
Plus, you can do things. You can wash dishes. You can work on your car. You can take the dog for a walk. Basketball is a game of flow, and the radio captures that rhythm perfectly.
Actionable Steps to Get Connected
If the game is starting in five minutes and you’re scrambling, follow this checklist:
- Check your location: If you are in Indiana, download the official Pacers App. It’s the most direct path to the free local stream.
- Toggle your Wi-Fi: Sometimes the app gets confused about where you are if you’re on a VPN or a weird Wi-Fi network. Switch to cellular data for a second to let the GPS "lock in" your Indiana status.
- Find the AM backup: If you're in a dead zone, flip to 1070 AM. It’s the old-school home of Indy sports and often has a wider reach than the FM signals when the sun goes down.
- International Fans: If you're outside the US, NBA League Pass is your only legal bet. Luckily, the international version of League Pass usually has fewer blackout restrictions than the North American one.
- Sync the Audio: If you’re watching the game on a muted TV at a bar and want to hear Boyle, use an app called TunedIn or similar that allows you to pause the radio stream. You can "buffer" the audio to match the TV delay perfectly.
The Indiana Pacers have one of the most dedicated radio fanbases in the league for a reason. The transition from the Slick Leonard era to the modern day has kept that "small-town fieldhouse" feel alive, even in a digital world. Just get your app set up before tip-off so you aren't fumbling with settings while the game is on the line.