Add the broadcast media company led by President Norman Shapiro and President of Content and Networks Neal Sabin to the TV station owners that will be bringing the local National Basketball Association team’s telecasts to a free-to-air channel.
It marks the first time in 17 years that Milwaukee Bucks games not nationally televised have aired on a broadcast channel in Wisconsin’s biggest market.
Ten Milwaukee Bucks telecasts are being moved from Bally Sports Wisconsin to WMLW “The M,” which airs on Channel 49— hence the TV-49 licensee name used often by the ultimate owner, Weigel Broadcasting.
It’s the latest arrangement between bankrupt Diamond Sports Group, an independently run subsidiary of Sinclair Inc., and the NBA, in which a selection of games across the remainder of the 2023-2024 season will be given to a broadcaster.
For Weigel, broadcasts will commence on February 23 when the Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, face the Minnesota Timberwolves, a top team this season. That game will also be simulcast on Weigel-owned CBS affiliate WDJT-58 in Milwaukee.
The arrangement goes beyond just Friday night games. In fact, there is a Monday, March 4 home game that sees the Bucks face a resurgent Los Angeles Clippers team will air on WMLW-49 and on WYTU-63, Weigel’s low-power Telemundo affiliate serving the Milwaukee market.
The schedule appears below:
“We are thrilled to expand our collaboration with the Bucks to bring these games to our local stations for viewers,” said Weigel/Milwaukee VP/GM Anne Brown.
Peter Feigin, President of the Bucks and Fiserv Forum, added, “Broadcasting Bucks games on free over-the-air television is a tremendous opportunity to give even more of our fans easy access to their team. We appreciate our partnership with Weigel for this exciting initiative.”
Weigel Executive Vice President Evan Fieldman commented, “In a media ecosystem that’s only becoming more fragmented, Weigel’s broadcast footprint provides unmatched reach for forward-thinking sports teams such as the Bucks.”
Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Steve Novak will call the Bucks games for Weigel, with Melanie Ricks reporting from the sidelines.