The continued efforts to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection has led the Diamond Sports Group-owned Bally Sports to allow a family-owned broadcast media company to take on the task of bringing the remainder of the 2023-2024 regular season Friday night matches for the National Basketball Association’s Oklahoma City Thunder to viewers.
An agreement announced Tuesday between the NBA and Bally Sports creates “a unique and exciting opportunity” for the Thunder to, in the league’s words, “broaden its TV reach.”
How so? Friday night games during the rest of the season will now get a “Thunder Friday Nights” showcase via a partnership with Griffin Media.
This means the team’s remaining eight Friday regular-season games will air on Griffin-owned broadcast TV stations in Oklahoma City and in Tulsa.
The first of these eight broadcasts will be Friday, Jan. 26 when the Thunder faces the New Orleans Pelicans.
In addition to the Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets, the Thunder has partnered with Gray Television stations in Wichita and in Lawton, Okla., and with Morgan Murphy Media in Pittsburg, Ks., to ensure the team’s full territory has access to the over-the-air games.
To be clear, the NBA confirmed that these eight Friday games will not be available on Bally Sports Oklahoma or Bally Sports+ streaming. Aside from the Friday games and four games exclusively airing nationally on TNT, all other remaining Thunder games this season will be broadcast and streamed by Bally Sports Oklahoma and Bally Sports+ as normal.
“For 70 years, the Griffin family has been a pioneering force in our community and the television industry, and we are particularly proud to partner with a locally-owned broadcaster that brings such a deep connection and commitment to all Oklahomans,” said Clay Bennett, chairman of the Oklahoma City Thunder. “The Thunder is grateful for the loyal support we receive from our fans across Oklahoma and the region. We look forward to providing them this additional access to our game broadcasts.”
David Griffin (pictured, top left), the Chairman/CEO of Griffin Media, added, “Our mission is to keep Oklahomans safe, informed and entertained, and partnering with the Oklahoma City Thunder in broadcasting these Friday Night games further instills our commitment to our state and our fellow Oklahomans.”
The eight Thunder Friday Night games are:
Friday, Jan. 26 at New Orleans Pelicans 7 p.m. CT
Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Charlotte Hornets 7 p.m. CT
Friday, Feb 23 vs. Washington Wizards 7 p.m. CT
Friday, March 8 vs. Miami Heat 7 p.m. CT
Friday, March 22 at Toronto Raptors 6 p.m. CT
Friday, March 29 vs. Phoenix Suns 7 p.m. CT
Friday April 5 at Indiana Pacers 6 p.m. CT
Friday, April 12 vs. Milwaukee Bucks 7 p.m. CT
These games will be exclusively televised via the following stations:
Griffin Media
KSBI-52 in Oklahoma City (COX Cable Channel 7/DISH and DirecTV Channel 52)
KOTV-6.3 in Tulsa (News On 6 NOW — COX Cable Channel 53)
Gray Television
KSWO-7.3 in Lawton, Okla./Wichita Falls, Tex.
KSCW-33 in Wichita (COX Cable Channel 5/DirecTV Channel 33)
Morgan Murphy Media
KOAM-7/KFJX-14.2 in Joplin, Mo./Pittsburg, Ks.