Honestly, trying to figure out what channel is the Dallas Mavericks on used to be a total headache. You’d sit down with your remote, flip to the old Bally Sports Southwest spot, and find... nothing. Just a blank screen or some random poker tournament. It was frustrating. But things have changed big time for the 2025-26 season.
The Mavericks basically blew up the old model. They walked away from the regional sports network (RSN) drama and decided to give the games back to the fans. Well, most of them anyway. If you’re living in North Texas, you’re actually in a better spot now than you were three years ago. You just need to know where to point your antenna.
The Big Switch: KFAA and WFAA are the New Home
If you want the short answer, the Mavs are mostly on KFAA Channel 29.
Last year, the team ditched the cable-only requirement. They partnered with TEGNA, which means at least 65 regular-season games are now broadcast over-the-air. You don't need a $100 cable bill to see Luka Dončić throw a no-look pass anymore. You just need a $20 digital antenna.
For the bigger matchups, WFAA Channel 8 (the local ABC affiliate) often simulcasts the games. It’s a bit of a hybrid system. KFAA is the workhorse where you'll find the Tuesday night games against the Jazz or those late-night West Coast swings. But when it's a "big" game, it usually jumps over to WFAA.
Where to find the local broadcast:
- Dallas-Fort Worth: KFAA (Channel 29) or WFAA (Channel 8)
- Waco: KCEN (Channel 6)
- Tyler: KYTX (Channel 19)
- Midland-Odessa: KWES (Channel 9)
- Abilene: KXVA (Channel 15)
It's kind of a "back to the future" move. It reminds me of how sports used to be before everything moved to expensive cable packages. If you're in the DFW area, just rescan your TV channels. Seriously, do it tonight. You might be surprised at how crisp that 1080p signal looks coming straight through the air.
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What About National TV?
Of course, the Mavs are good. Really good. That means the big networks want a piece of the action. When they aren't on KFAA, they’re usually on the national stage.
For 2026, the NBA’s new media rights deal is in full swing. This is where it gets a little more "subscription-heavy." You’ve got the classic ESPN and ABC games, which usually happen on Wednesdays and weekends. But now, NBC is back in the mix. They have a "Sunday Night Basketball" package that feels a lot like the NFL's setup.
And then there's the streaming stuff. Amazon Prime Video is a major player now. They have exclusive Thursday and Friday night games. If the Mavs are playing a high-profile Western Conference rival on a Friday, don't go looking for it on your local channel—it’s probably on Prime.
The Cord-Cutter’s Guide: MavsTV
If you hate antennas and refuse to pay for cable, you’re looking for MavsTV.
This is the team’s own direct-to-consumer streaming service. It’s basically the "Netflix for Mavs games." For about $14.99 a month (or around $125 for the whole season), you can stream every locally broadcast game. No blackouts if you're in the local market. It works on Roku, Apple TV, and Fire Stick.
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The best part about MavsTV is "Mavs Fastbreak." If you missed the game because you were stuck in traffic on I-35 (we've all been there), they post a condensed 15-minute replay the next morning. It’s way better than just watching highlights on YouTube because you actually get the flow of the game.
The Out-of-Market Struggle
If you're a Mavs fan living in, say, Chicago or New York, things are different. You can't get KFAA. You can't even get MavsTV because of those annoying zip code restrictions.
In this case, NBA League Pass is your only real option. It carries every game that isn't being shown nationally on ESPN, ABC, or NBC. Just keep in mind that if the Mavs are playing your local team (like the Bulls if you're in Chicago), that game will be blacked out on League Pass and you'll have to watch it on the opponent's local channel. It's a weird quirk of NBA broadcasting that hasn't gone away yet.
Quick Reference: Where to Check Tonight
- Check the local listings for KFAA 29. This is your best bet 80% of the time.
- Look at the Amazon Prime Video app. Especially if it’s a Thursday or Friday.
- Check the NBC/Peacock schedule. They’ve taken over the Sunday night slot.
- ESPN/ABC. Still the home for the "Game of the Week" vibes.
Honestly, the easiest thing to do is download the official Mavs app. They usually put a "How to Watch" button right on the home screen about two hours before tip-off.
Why the Bally Sports thing matters
A lot of people are still asking why they can't find the games on their old cable box. Basically, the company that owned Bally Sports (Diamond Sports Group) went through a massive bankruptcy. The Mavs, led by the Adelson family and Mark Cuban, decided they didn't want to be tied to a sinking ship. They wanted "maximum distribution."
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By moving to free TV, they increased their reach from about 700,000 households to nearly 3 million. It was a gamble on advertising revenue over guaranteed cable fees. For us? It just means the games are easier to find if you know where to look.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to make sure you never miss a tip-off, do these three things right now:
- Buy a Digital Antenna: If you live in North Texas, this is a one-time $20 fix to get most games for free.
- Rescan your TV: Even if you have an antenna, channels shift. Run a "Channel Scan" in your TV settings to lock in KFAA 29 and WFAA 8.
- Check the Prime Video Schedule: Sync your Amazon account to your calendar. The NBA has shifted a lot of "appointment viewing" to Thursday nights on Prime.
The days of needing a massive cable package to be a "real" fan are mostly over. Whether you're watching Luka and Kyrie on a $15 antenna or streaming them on your phone via MavsTV, the access is better than it's ever been. Just make sure you're on the right input before the first whistle.