The New Orleans Pelicans have put accessibility at the heart of their 2026-27 broadcast plan, with 20 regular season games set to simulcast on FOX 8 for the first time in franchise history. It is a notable step for a team that wants more fans to be able to follow every key moment, and it adds another layer to a schedule already built around regional television, Pelicans+, and national platforms.
Team president Dennis Lauscha said the partnership with Gray Media and FOX 8, along with streaming access through Pelicans+, is designed to give supporters more flexibility in how they watch. That is the central point here: this is not just about more games on TV, but about widening access across New Orleans and the wider Gulf Coast footprint in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
What the FOX 8 schedule includes
The first of the 20 simulcasts comes on October 21, 2026, when the Pelicans open the season against the Indiana Pacers on FOX 8 and GCSEN. From there, FOX 8 is also scheduled to carry a New Year’s Eve game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 31, a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 28, a road game at the Boston Celtics on March 21, and a road game at the New York Knicks on March 23.
There is also a strong national element to the calendar. Amazon Prime will carry the Pelicans’ game against the San Antonio Spurs in Paris on January 14, 2027, and the game in Manchester on January 17. So while FOX 8 expands the local reach, the club’s broader schedule still stretches onto an international stage.
Why this matters for Pelicans fans
The important detail is the scale of the access. Twenty regular season games on FOX 8 means a bigger free-to-air presence than ever before for the Pelicans, and that matters in a market where visibility can shape how connected fans feel to the team across an 82-game season. The club will still have 80 of its 82 regular season games available one way or another, plus four preseason games, but the real story is the first-time milestone for FOX 8.
Mikel Schaefer said the network is thrilled to offer even more Pelicans games this season on WVUE FOX 8, and added that the aim is always to make as many games available free to fans as possible. He also pointed to the new coach and the talent on the roster as reasons this should be an exciting season, which only strengthens the sense that the broadcast plan is being built around momentum as well as convenience.
Who will be on the call?
The television and radio coverage will again be anchored by familiar voices. Joel Meyers and Antonio Daniels are part of the broadcast picture, giving the Pelicans continuity as they move into the 2026-27 season. For a team trying to grow its audience, that kind of stability matters almost as much as the number of games available.
In practical terms, the message from the Pelicans is straightforward. They want the 2026-27 season to be easier to follow, easier to access, and easier to watch from more places across the Gulf Coast. Twenty FOX 8 simulcasts, Pelicans+, and regional coverage together create a much wider net, and that is the big win from this announcement.
