Thunder Rolls In OKC With Griffin Media Deal

OKLAHOMA CITY — A privately held media company with a dominant presence in the two largest markets of Oklahoma is ready to expand on a fresh partnership announced in late August with the National Basketball Association team that has literally transformed a sleepy Plains metropolis into one of the most under-the-radar business and tourism destinations in the U.S.

Griffin Media, led by David Griffin and controlled by family members as a privately held broadcasting company, will air 67 Oklahoma City Thunder games during the 2026-2027 season.

In Oklahoma City, they will air “on stations through Charter/Spectrum and DirecTV/AT&T U-Verse” while Griffin notes that “ten games will also be available over the air with an antenna.”

What, precisely, does that mean? Of the 67 games as part of the agreement, 63 will air on KSBI-52 “through participating distributors.” This suggests that a simulcast agreement with a non-broadcast distribution partner is at play, although the language of the deal as shared by KWTV-9 over the weekend is vague. Furthermore, KSBI will broadcast six of these games.

In Tulsa, Griffin-owned KQCW-19 will mirror the KSBI over-the-air package. The six free over-the-air games on KSBI and KQCW are Nov. 4 vs. Cleveland, Nov. 20 vs. New Orleans, Dec. 18 at Charlotte, Jan. 15 vs. Utah, March 10 at Toronto, and March 24 at Phoenix.

Furthermore, four Thunder games will air on KWTV, branded as “News 9,” in Oklahoma City and on Griffin sibling KOTV-6 in Tulsa on October 31, November 28, January 18, and April 9.

In essence, the Griffin agreement allows the public to access some of the Thunder games that are now tied to the recently launched Thunder Gameday Network, in which subscription-based distribution of the NBA team’s play-by-play is had via the Thunder+ app. The network was created in partnership between Griffin Media and the NBA, creating a unique broadcast and subscription-based hybrid platform wholly controlled by an owner of over-the-air television stations.

Thunder VP of Broadcasting Dan Mahoney commented, “The changing landscape of local and regional TV sports provided us the opportunity to reimagine our broadcast distribution and create the Thunder Gameday Network. This modern hybrid approach is designed to meet fans where they are, offering multiple ways to watch, from streaming to cable and satellite to free over-the-air television. We’re excited to expand our partnership with Griffin Media. We’ve been proud to collaborate with them for a limited number of games over the past three seasons, but this enhanced partnership makes Griffin the true local TV home of the Thunder. We’re also pleased to work directly with the NBA to launch Thunder+, our new direct-to-fan streaming service available through the NBA App. It allows viewers to enjoy Thunder games on a wide variety of platforms, from mobile to connected TV.”

Previously, Thunder games aired on the now-defunct FanDuel Sports Network, previously Bally Sports and owned by subsidiary of Sinclair Inc. after its unsuccessful acquisition of FOX Sports regional sports networks.

“As a locally owned company, we are proud to continue and expand our partnership with the Oklahoma City Thunder,” said Wade Deaver, President of Griffin Media. “Covering the Thunder since their first season in Oklahoma City and broadcasting Thunder games the past three seasons, we’ve seen the passion Thunder fans have for their team firsthand, and all of us at Oklahoma’s Own Griffin Media are excited to bring games to viewers across Oklahoma again this year.”