Look, being a Pacers fan in 2026 isn't as simple as just flipping to Channel 4 and hoping for the best. The days of "just turn on the TV" died a quiet death somewhere between the rise of a dozen different streaming apps and the massive NBA media rights shakeup that kicked in this season. If you're trying to figure out where to stream Pacers game tonight, you’ve probably realized it's a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. Between the new NBC/Peacock deal, the Amazon Prime takeover of Thursday nights, and the rebranding of the local networks to FanDuel Sports Network, your old remote is basically a paperweight now.
The good news? You actually have more options than ever. The bad news? You might need a spreadsheet to keep track of them. Honestly, the biggest shift this year is the death of the TNT era. No more Inside the NBA on Tuesday nights—it's all about NBC and Peacock now.
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The Local Loophole: Streaming in Indiana
If you live in Indy, Fort Wayne, or anywhere else that counts as "in-market," your life revolves around FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (formerly Bally Sports). It’s still the home for the vast majority of games—about 72 of them this season.
You've got three real ways to get this without a cable box. First, you can go direct-to-consumer. You just download the FanDuel Sports Network app and pay the monthly fee, which is usually around $19.99, or grab the "Season Pass" for about $108.99. It’s the "I just want my Pacers" button.
Then there's the Amazon Prime Video integration. This is actually pretty slick. You can subscribe to FanDuel Sports Network as a "Channel" inside Prime. It keeps everything in one app, which is a godsend if you hate switching inputs. If you’re a Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM subscriber, you’re also in the clear. Fubo’s Pro plan carries it, though they’ll hit you with a regional sports fee that makes the bill jump a bit.
- DIRECTV STREAM: Includes it in the Choice package ($94.99/mo).
- Fubo: Includes it in the Pro plan ($73.99/mo + RSN fees).
- FanDuel Sports App: The standalone "cord-cutter" special.
Where to stream Pacers game when they go National
This is where it gets weird. The NBA's new 11-year media deal changed the map. We’re in the first year of the NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime dominance.
Monday Nights are Peacock Nights. If the Pacers are playing a featured game on a Monday, it’s probably exclusive to Peacock. You won't find it on your local FanDuel channel. You won't find it on ESPN. Just Peacock.
Thursday and Friday belong to Amazon. Prime Video is now a heavy hitter for the NBA. They have the exclusive rights to the NBA Cup (the mid-season tournament) and a bunch of regular-season games. If you see a Pacers game scheduled for a Thursday, check your Prime app first.
The NBC Comeback. Remember "Roundball Rock"? It’s back. NBC and Peacock are splitting games on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. While ABC and ESPN still have their Wednesday and weekend slots, the "Big Games" are shifting toward the Peacock peacock.
What about YouTube TV and Hulu?
I get asked this constantly. "Can I watch the Pacers on YouTube TV?"
The answer is: Kinda.
You’ll get the ESPN, ABC, and NBC games. But—and this is a big "but"—they still don't carry FanDuel Sports Network Indiana. So, if you rely solely on YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, you’re going to miss about 85% of the season. You'd only see the national TV matchups. It's a bummer, but that's the current standoff between Google/Disney and the regional sports networks.
The Out-of-Market Struggle (NBA League Pass)
If you’re a Pacers fan living in, say, Seattle or Florida, NBA League Pass is your best friend. But it’s also your greatest enemy if you don't understand the blackout rules.
In 2026, League Pass has a new home on Amazon Prime. You can still buy it through the NBA app, but the integration with Prime is way smoother. It's roughly $16.99 a month. However, if the Pacers are playing a team in your local area, or if they’re on national TV (ESPN, NBC, etc.), League Pass will black you out. You'll just see a screen telling you to go find the local broadcaster.
Some people use a VPN to get around this. By masking your IP address to make it look like you're in a different country (or just a different state), you can sometimes "trick" League Pass into showing the game. It's a bit of a "grey area" cat-and-mouse game, and the NBA gets better at blocking VPNs every year. If you go this route, you usually need a high-end one like NordVPN or Surfshark, and sometimes you have to use a mobile browser instead of the app because the app checks your actual GPS coordinates.
Summary of the 2026 Viewing Map
- Most Games: FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (via App, Fubo, or DIRECTV STREAM).
- Monday Games: Peacock.
- Thursday Games: Amazon Prime.
- Wednesday Games: ESPN / ESPN Unlimited.
- The NBA Cup: Amazon Prime exclusive.
- Out of Market: NBA League Pass (via Prime or NBA App).
Real-World Scenario: Tonight’s Game
Let's say the Pacers are playing the Pelicans. If you're in Indy, you're looking at FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (FDSIN). Interestingly, some games are even popping up on local broadcast stations like WTHR-13 as part of new "over-the-air" experiments to reach more fans. It's always worth checking if a simple digital antenna can pick up a few Friday night games for free.
If you’re trying to save money, the "FanDuel Sports Network" standalone app is the most surgical way to do it. You don't need a $90-a-month cable replacement. You just pay the $20, watch Tyrese Haliburton do his thing, and cancel when the season is over.
One thing that's actually pretty cool this year: the new FanDuel Sports Network app has live betting odds integrated and "condensed" game re-airs. If you miss the tip-off because of work, you can usually catch a 15-minute version of the game immediately after it ends. It's a nice touch for those of us who can't sit through three hours of commercials and free throws.
Your Next Steps for Tip-off
- Check your zip code on the FanDuel Sports Network website to confirm you're in the Indiana coverage zone.
- Download the Peacock app now. Even if you don't use it today, a Pacers Monday night game will sneak up on you eventually.
- Audit your Amazon Prime account. If you already pay for Prime, you’ve already got the Thursday night games handled; you just need to find the "Sports" tab.
- Buy a cheap digital antenna. You'd be surprised how many local "simulcast" games are appearing on local Indiana stations this year to combat the "streaming fatigue."