Hockey fans are a different breed. You know the feeling of a cold rink, the smell of Zamboni exhaust, and that specific, visceral thud when a puck hits the boards. But lately, finding out exactly where to watch the Wild game has become a bit of a headache. Between regional sports networks (RSNs) changing names every five minutes and the league's obsession with exclusive national windows, it’s not as simple as just flipping to channel 9 and hoping for the best.
It's frustrating. You pay for cable, and the game is blacked out. You buy a streaming service, and it turns out they don't carry the right RSN. Honestly, it’s a mess. But if you're trying to see Kirill Kaprizov weave through a defense or watch the State of Hockey defend the Xcel Energy Center, you need a roadmap that actually works for the 2025-2026 season.
The Bally Sports North Situation (and the FanDuel Transition)
For most folks living in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Wisconsin, the primary answer to where to watch the Wild game is still technically the local RSN. However, things have shifted. Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of what we used to call Bally Sports North, went through a massive restructuring and a rebranding partnership with FanDuel.
If you are a traditionalist with a cable box or a satellite dish, you’re looking for FanDuel Sports Network North. This is the backbone of the Wild's broadcast schedule. Most regular-season games live here. If you have Comcast (Xfinity), Midco, or Spectrum, you likely have access, but check your specific tier because RSNs are often tucked away in "Sports" or "Preferred" packages that cost an extra $10 to $20 a month.
What about cord-cutters? This is where it gets tricky. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV famously dropped these regional networks years ago and haven't looked back. If you use those services, you are essentially locked out of local Wild broadcasts unless it's a national game. Your only real streaming options for the local feed are FuboTV or DirecTV Stream. They are the only ones willing to pay the carriage fees that the RSNs demand.
🔗 Read more: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
There is also the direct-to-consumer app. It's now the FanDuel Sports Network App (formerly Bally Sports+). You can pay about $20 a month to stream the games directly without a cable package. It's not cheap, but for a die-hard fan, it's often the most direct path to the ice.
National Broadcasts: When the Local Feed Goes Dark
Sometimes, the local broadcast doesn't exist. This happens when ESPN or TNT decides a matchup is big enough for the whole country. When you're searching for where to watch the Wild game on these nights, your RSN app will tell you the game is unavailable.
- ESPN and ABC: These are the big ones. If the Wild are playing the Blackhawks or the Stars on a Tuesday night, it might be an ESPN exclusive. You'll need a service that carries the "Mother Ship."
- TNT and truTV: Since the NHL's most recent TV deal, TNT has become a massive player. Their coverage is actually pretty great—the "Inside the NBA" style of banter has bled over into hockey. If the game is on TNT, it won't be on your local North feed.
- ESPN+ and Hulu Originals: Here is the "gotcha." Every season, the NHL schedules several "ESPN+ Exclusive" games. These are only on the internet. You can't find them on cable. You can't find them on the FanDuel app. You need an active ESPN+ subscription to see these specific matches.
The Blackout Nightmare: Why You Can't See the Game
We have to talk about blackouts because they are the number one reason fans lose their minds. If you live in the Twin Cities and try to watch a Wild game on ESPN+ or NHL Power Play, it will be blacked out. Every single time.
Why? Because the local RSN (FanDuel Sports Network North) owns the exclusive rights in that "territory." They want you to pay for their channel, not a league-wide pass.
💡 You might also like: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
If you live in Florida and want to watch the Wild? ESPN+ is your best friend. It’s perfect. You get almost every game for a low monthly price. But for the locals? You’re stuck with the RSN or a national broadcast. People often try to use VPNs to get around this, but be warned: streaming services have gotten much better at detecting them. It's a cat-and-mouse game that often ends with a "content not available in your region" error message right as the puck drops.
Watching the Wild Without Cable
If you've cut the cord, your options are limited but functional. I mentioned Fubo and DirecTV Stream, but let's break down the reality of those costs. Both will run you north of $75 or $80 a month once you add in the mandatory "RSN fee" that they tack on for sports fans. It’s basically cable via the internet.
A lot of younger fans are gravitating toward the standalone FanDuel Sports Network app. It’s purely for the local broadcast. If you pair that with a basic antenna for games on ABC and maybe a cheap Sling TV subscription for TNT, you’ve covered about 95% of the season.
One thing people forget is Hulu. Not the live TV version, just the basic streaming service. Because Disney owns both Hulu and ESPN, many of the ESPN+ exclusive games are simulcast on Hulu. It’s a nice little backdoor if you already pay for the Disney bundle.
📖 Related: Finding the Best Texas Longhorns iPhone Wallpaper Without the Low-Res Junk
The In-Person Experience and Bar Scenes
Look, sometimes the best place to find where to watch the Wild game isn't on your couch. It’s at a bar with twenty other people screaming at the refs. In St. Paul, the atmosphere at Tom's Watch Bar or The Liffey (if you're near the X) is unmatched.
Even if you aren't in St. Paul, most decent sports bars in the Midwest carry the necessary packages. But here’s a tip: always call ahead. With the shift to streaming-only games (like those on ESPN+), some older bars haven't updated their tech to handle games that aren't on a standard satellite receiver. There is nothing worse than ordering a pitcher and a plate of wings only to find out the bartender can't find the game on the "big screen."
The Radio Alternative
If you're stuck in the car or just can't deal with the streaming lag, there's always the radio. KFAN 100.3 FM is the flagship station for the Wild. Joe O'Donnell on the call is a treat. It’s free, it’s reliable, and there are zero blackout restrictions. Plus, there is something nostalgic about listening to hockey on the radio while the snow falls outside. You can also stream the radio call through the iHeartRadio app or the official Minnesota Wild app.
Essential Tech Checklist for Game Day
To make sure you aren't scrambling five minutes after puck drop, you need to have your gear ready.
- Check the schedule on Wild.com: It will tell you exactly which network has the game. Don't guess.
- Update your apps: If you're using the FanDuel Sports Network app or ESPN+, open them an hour early. They always seem to require a mandatory update or a re-login right when you're in a rush.
- Hardwire your internet: If you're streaming in 4K or high-bitrate HD, Wi-Fi can stutter. An Ethernet cable to your smart TV or Roku can prevent that annoying spinning circle during a power play.
- Sync your audio: If you're listening to the radio while watching the TV, the TV is usually 10-30 seconds behind. Some apps let you pause the radio stream to sync them up perfectly.
Actionable Steps to Get Started
Instead of clicking around aimlessly, follow this logic tree to find your broadcast.
- Step 1: Determine your location. Are you in the Minnesota "home" market? If yes, you need FanDuel Sports Network North via cable, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or the standalone app. If no, get ESPN+.
- Step 2: Check the "National" status. Is the game on TNT, ESPN, or ABC? If so, your local RSN will be dark. Use your TV provider login on the ESPN or Watch TNT apps.
- Step 3: Account for "Exclusives." If the schedule says "ESPN+/Hulu," you cannot watch it on cable. Period. You must have a subscription to one of those two digital services.
- Step 4: Verify your hardware. Ensure your smart TV or streaming stick (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV) supports the specific app you need. Older smart TVs often lose support for newer RSN apps.
Hockey broadcasting is currently in a state of flux. With the Diamond Sports bankruptcy proceedings finally settling, we might see more stability soon, or perhaps a shift toward a completely different streaming model. For now, these are the hoops you have to jump through. It's not perfect, but once the puck drops and the crowd starts chanting, the effort usually feels worth it. Keep your subscriptions updated and your internet speed high. This season is looking like a fast one.