If you’re sitting on your couch in Metro Detroit wondering why the game isn't where it used to be, you aren't alone. The local sports TV landscape has shifted more times than a puck during a goal-mouth scramble. Honestly, keeping up with where to watch the Winged Wheel in 2026 is almost as intense as a divisional game against the Blackhawks.
Basically, the answer to what channel are the Detroit Red Wings on depends entirely on whether you’re sitting in Michigan or watching from across the country.
The biggest change recently was the rebranding of Bally Sports into FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. If you're looking for Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond, that's your primary home. But that's just the start of the story. Between national exclusives on TNT and the weird world of streaming "blackouts," catching all 82 games requires a little bit of a roadmap.
FanDuel Sports Network: The Home of the Wings
For the vast majority of the 2025-26 season, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (formerly Bally Sports) is the place to be. They carry almost every game that isn't snatched up by a national network like ABC or ESPN.
If you have traditional cable—think Xfinity, Spectrum, or Cox—you’ll find it in your local sports tier. But the "cord-cutting" crowd has it a bit tougher. If you've ditched the dish, your options for FanDuel Sports Network are basically narrowed down to Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV famously dropped these regional sports networks a while back, and as of early 2026, they haven't brought them back.
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If you don't want a full cable-style package, you can go direct-to-consumer. The FanDuel Sports Network app offers a standalone subscription. You pay a monthly fee, and you get the Wings and the Pistons right on your phone or smart TV. It's pricey, but it's the most direct way to bypass the "I don't have cable" headache.
National TV: When the Wings Go Big Time
Sometimes, the local broadcast gets bumped. This happens when the NHL wants the Red Wings on the national stage. For the 2025-26 season, you'll need to keep an eye on these specific channels:
- TNT / Max: TNT usually takes the Wednesday night slots. In 2026, these games are also simulcast on the Max streaming service (formerly HBO Max) through their B/R Sports Add-on.
- ESPN / ABC: Big Saturday afternoon games often land on ABC. Regular weeknight national games hit ESPN.
- Hulu / ESPN+ Exclusives: A handful of times a year, the game isn't on "TV" at all. It’s an exclusive stream on Hulu or ESPN+. You can't find these on FanDuel Sports Network, even if you live in Detroit.
- NHL Network: These are the rarest. NHL Network occasionally picks up a game, but they often use the local feed from one of the two teams.
The Out-of-Market Struggle: ESPN+ is King
If you live in Florida, California, or anywhere outside the "Detroit Home Market" (which covers Michigan and slivers of Ohio and Indiana), your life is actually much simpler.
You need ESPN+.
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Under the "NHL Power Play" banner, ESPN+ streams almost every single out-of-market game. If the Wings are playing a local FanDuel Sports Network game and you live in Denver, you just open the ESPN app and hit play. The only catch? If the Wings are playing the team in your city, or if the game is on national TV (TNT/ABC), the ESPN+ stream will be blacked out.
Upcoming 2026 TV Schedule Highlights
To give you an idea of where to look over the next few weeks, here is a breakdown of some key matchups and where they are scheduled to land:
On Sunday, January 18, the Wings take on the Ottawa Senators at 5:00 pm. This is a local broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, but out-of-market fans can find it on NHL Power Play on ESPN+.
Later in the month, things get a bit more "national." The game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, January 21, is a TNT and Max exclusive. You won't find Ken and Mickey on the local channel for that one; you'll be getting the national crew.
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The following night, January 22 against the Minnesota Wild, shifts to ESPN. It's a late 9:30 pm start, so brew some coffee.
Common Confusion: What About "Bally Sports"?
People still ask for Bally Sports Detroit constantly. To be clear: it doesn't exist anymore. The name change to FanDuel Sports Network happened in late 2024, but the channel position on your cable box stayed exactly the same. If you had it before, you have it now—it just looks a little different during the commercial breaks.
Radio: The Old Reliable
If you’re stuck in the car or just prefer the legendary call of Ken Kal and Paul Woods, 97.1 The Ticket remains the flagship station in Detroit. For fans across the state, the Red Wings Radio Network is massive, with affiliates in Alpena (WHAK), Grand Rapids (WTKG), and even up in the UP.
Actionable Steps to Never Miss a Puck Drop
Watching hockey shouldn't require a master's degree in telecommunications, but here we are. To make sure you're ready for the playoff push, follow these steps:
- Check your Zip Code: Go to the "Get My Home Teams" website. It will tell you exactly which providers in your specific neighborhood carry FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
- Download the App: Even if you have cable, download the FanDuel Sports Network app. You can usually log in with your cable credentials to watch games on your tablet or phone if someone else is hogging the big TV.
- Audit your Streaming: If you're a cord-cutter, remember that Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM are currently the only "Live TV" streamers with the local Wings channel. If you have YouTube TV, you'll only see the national games on TNT and ESPN.
- Sync your Calendar: Use the official Red Wings mobile app to sync the schedule to your phone. It usually updates the "TV" column in real-time if a game gets moved for national coverage.
The Red Wings are in the middle of a massive centennial celebration and a legitimate hunt for a postseason spot. Missing a game because of a channel change is the last thing any fan needs. Stick to FanDuel Sports Network for the bulk of it, keep a login for Max or TNT handy for those Wednesday nights, and keep the radio tuned to 97.1 when you're on the move.