If you’re still trying to find the Dallas Stars on a regional sports cable network, I’ve got some news for you. That era is dead. Like, buried-at-sea dead. Honestly, the way we watch the Stars changed more in the last year than it did in the previous twenty. It used to be you just paid your cable bill and hoped Bally Sports didn't go bankrupt before the third period.
Now? It’s basically a digital scavenger hunt, but one where the prizes are actually free if you live in the right zip code.
Where to Watch Stars Game: The Victory+ Era Explained
The big thing you need to know is Victory+. This is the Stars' own streaming app. They built it because the old RSN (Regional Sports Network) model basically collapsed under its own weight. If you live in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Arkansas, this is your new best friend.
It’s free. No, seriously. You don’t need a cable login. You don't need a credit card. You just download the app on your smart TV or phone, and you're in.
For the 2025-26 season, Victory+ is carrying 66 regular-season games. That’s the bulk of the schedule. But there's a catch—it’s geo-fenced. If the app detects you’re sitting in a hotel in Chicago or a coffee shop in New York, the live stream won’t work. You’ll just get "ancillary content," which is fancy talk for highlights and interviews.
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The Linear TV Safety Net
Some people still hate apps. I get it. Sometimes you just want to flip to a channel number and see Jason Robertson scoring a hat trick. For 2026, the Stars doubled down on local broadcast partnerships. They realized that not everyone has a stable 5G connection or a Roku stick.
- KDFW FOX 4: They’re airing 9 games this season.
- KDFI More 27: They’ve got 8 games.
Between those two, you’ve got 17 games available over-the-air with a simple digital antenna. It’s a bit of a throwback, but honestly, it’s a lifesaver when your Wi-Fi is acting up.
What About the National TV Games?
This is where it gets slightly annoying. While Victory+ covers the local stuff, the NHL still has big-money deals with the national giants. If a game is "exclusive" to TNT or ESPN, it will not be on Victory+.
For the 2025-26 stretch, the Stars have 16 national appearances. You’ve got to check the schedule because these are split across a bunch of different platforms. For example, on January 20th, 2026, the game against the Boston Bruins is a TNT exclusive. That means you need a cable sub, a Sling Orange package, or a Max subscription with the B/R Sports Add-on.
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Then you have the ESPN+/Hulu exclusives. These are games that aren’t on "real" TV at all—they only exist in the Disney streaming ecosystem. The Stars have six of these this year, including the January 27th matchup against the St. Louis Blues. If you don't have the Disney bundle, you’re staring at a black screen.
The "Out-of-Market" Problem
If you’re a Stars fan living in, say, Seattle, Victory+ is useless for live games. You fall into the "Out-of-Market" category.
Your go-to is NHL Power Play on ESPN+. This is basically the old Center Ice package but rebranded. For about $11.99 a month, you get almost every Stars game, unless they are playing the local team in your area. If the Stars are in Seattle playing the Kraken, ESPN+ will black you out, and you’ll have to watch on whatever channel the Kraken are on (likely Prime Video or a local Tenga station in that market).
Avoiding the "Blackout" Headache
Blackouts are the bane of every hockey fan's existence. It’s 2026 and we’re still dealing with rules written in 1994.
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Basically, the "Where to watch Stars game" answer depends entirely on your GPS coordinates. If you’re in Dallas, use Victory+. If you’re outside the four-state region, use ESPN+. If it’s a Wednesday night and the game is on TNT, both of those apps are useless and you need Max or cable.
It sounds complicated because it is. Most fans keep a screenshot of the official broadcast schedule on their phone. The team usually updates the "Game Day Guide" on the NHL app about four hours before puck drop, which is the most reliable way to check if today is a "free app day" or a "TNT day."
Practical Steps for Fans
If you want to make sure you never miss a puck drop, do these three things right now:
- Download the Victory+ app on every device you own. It’s on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android. Do it now so you aren't fumbling with a "forgot password" screen five minutes into the first period.
- Check the "National" list. Mark your calendar for the TNT and ABC games. In 2026, ABC has the exclusive for the April 4th game against Colorado. You can watch that for free with an antenna, no streaming required.
- Audit your subscriptions. If you're out-of-market, ESPN+ is mandatory. If you're in-market, Victory+ is all you really need for 80% of the season, and you can skip the expensive cable packages unless you really want those TNT Wednesday night games.
The reality of 2026 is that the Stars are actually more accessible than they’ve ever been. You just have to know which "play" button to hit.