You're sitting on the couch, wings are getting cold, and you're frantically cycling through 500 channels or three different apps just trying to find the tip-off. We've all been there. It’s annoying. Nowadays, figuring out what channel game come on feels like a part-time job because of how fragmented everything is between cable and streaming.
Tonight—Thursday, January 15, 2026—is a massive night for sports, but the "channel" isn't always a number on a remote anymore. Sometimes it’s an app, and sometimes it's a specific regional network you didn't even know you had.
🔗 Read more: Where is Lamine Yamal Parents From? The Truth Behind the 304 Celebration
The Big Matchups: NBA and NHL National TV
If you’re looking for the heavy hitters, tonight’s NBA slate is dominated by a huge Eastern Conference clash. The Cleveland Cavaliers face off against the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00 PM ET. This one is straightforward: it’s on ESPN. If you prefer the Spanish broadcast, head over to ESPN Deportes.
Later in the evening, the spotlight shifts West. The New York Knicks take on the Sacramento Kings at 10:00 PM ET. This is also an ESPN national broadcast.
On the ice, the NHL is leaning heavily into the "Triple Threat" of TNT, truTV, and Max (formerly HBO Max).
- Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres: 7:30 PM ET on TNT/truTV.
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Los Angeles Kings: 10:00 PM ET on TNT/truTV.
Basically, if you have a standard cable package or a Max subscription, you're set for the puck drop.
College Hoops: Where to Find the Top 25
College basketball is where things get truly messy. Since conferences have their own dedicated networks, you really have to know who is the home team to find the right feed.
Tonight, we have some massive Top 25 implications. Iowa is visiting #5 Purdue at 6:30 PM ET. That game is airing on Big Ten Network (BTN). If you’re a West Coast fan, Arizona State is playing #1 Arizona in a heated rivalry game at 10:30 PM ET, and you'll find that one on FS1.
Here is a quick rundown of other notable college games:
- Kentucky at LSU: 7:00 PM ET on SEC Network.
- #10 Vanderbilt at Texas: 9:00 PM ET on ESPN2.
- #13 Illinois at Northwestern: 8:30 PM ET on BTN.
- #6 Duke at California: 11:00 PM ET on ACC Network.
Honestly, if you don't have the "Sports Extra" pack on your streaming service, you're probably going to miss half of these. Most of the mid-major games, like VCU vs. Rhode Island, are tucked away on CBS Sports Network or ESPN+.
The Streaming Shift: Why You Can't Find the Game
A lot of people get frustrated because they check the local listings and see nothing but infomercials. That's because of the "Peacock/Amazon/Apple" effect. Tonight, for example, the Utah vs. #15 Texas Tech game at 9:00 PM ET is exclusive to Peacock. You won't find it on a traditional channel at all.
This is the new reality of sports. The NFL started it with Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, and now every league is selling off "exclusive windows" to streaming platforms. If you're asking what channel game come on for a specific matchup and it's not on the big four (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX), there’s a 40% chance it’s only available via an app.
Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) and the FanDuel Rebrand
If you're trying to watch your local team—say, the Indiana Pacers or the Detroit Red Wings—you’ve probably noticed the names changed recently. Most of the old Bally Sports channels are now FanDuel Sports Network.
- Raptors at Pacers: FanDuel Sports Network Indiana.
- Hurricanes at Red Wings: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
If you’ve cut the cord, these are notoriously hard to get. Currently, Fubo and DirecTV Stream are the only major providers that consistently carry these local networks. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV still haven't reached deals with many of these RSNs, which is a total headache for local fans.
Actionable Steps to Never Miss a Game
Instead of scrolling through a clunky TV guide, here is how you actually find your game in 2026:
- Use a Dedicated "Live Now" App: Apps like LiveSportsOnTV or the Action Network app are updated by the minute. They will tell you if a game is on "ESPN Unlimited" vs. "ESPN+," which are actually two different things now.
- Check the "Sports" Tab on Your Smart TV: If you have a Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV, the "Sports" section usually aggregates every live game across all your installed apps (Hulu, ESPN, Paramount+, etc.) into one screen.
- The Google Search Shortcut: Literally type the two teams into Google. The "Scorebox" that pops up at the top usually lists the broadcaster right under the start time.
- Verify the Time Zone: It sounds silly, but half the "What channel is it on?" complaints are just people looking an hour too early because they didn't realize the game was in Pacific Time.
Stop relying on the old-school paper guide or the "Last" button on your remote. The rights are changing too fast. Tonight, stick to ESPN for the NBA and TNT for the NHL, but keep your Peacock and BTN logins ready if you're a college basketball fan.
The game is out there; you just have to know which digital "aisle" it's sitting in.