• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 9, 2025
One week until Asset Class at the NYSE Request to Attend

Caitlin Clark and the Fever to Receive Even More TV Coverage

  • The WNBA team is placing 17 games on over-the-air stations in the Indianapolis area.
  • The deal taps into a fast-rising interest among many pro teams in over-the-air TV exposure.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Caitin Clark is showing once more that the WNBA economy developing around here holds few limits. 

One week after the Iowa superstar was drafted by the Fever with the No. 1 pick—fueling record ratings for the WNBA draft and meteoric rises in ticket sales—the team struck a deal Monday with Tegna to place 17 of the team’s games on the media company’s over-the-air stations in Indianapolis. Those games, beginning with a May 16 contest against the 2023 league runner-up Liberty, will be shown on either WTHR, the NBC affiliate, or WALV, the MeTV affiliate. 

Dominating National Games

Even before the Fever selected Clark, 36 of the team’s 40 games were slated for national broadcast, with those games split between NBA rightsholders ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Ion, NBA TV, Amazon Prime Video, and CBS Sports Network. The Tegna deal expands that reach locally, and also includes the four games that hadn’t been scheduled to air. The company added that it is working “with additional broadcast companies in the coming weeks to expand free over-the-air access to all available television markets outside of Indianapolis” as the interest in watching Clark continues to grow.

“This is an exhilarating moment for women’s sports. The WNBA and Fever are leading the charge with this groundbreaking local broadcast rights agreement,” said Dave Lougee, Tegna president and CEO. “The remarkable journey of Caitlin Clark and her teammates has captured the hearts and minds of millions.”

Embracing Over-the-Air Broadcasts

Several WNBA teams already have robust local broadcast coverage, particularly on regional sports networks, and the Fever last year had 10 games on Bally Sports Indiana and another 23 on the team Facebook page. But in addition to tapping further into the fervent interest around Clark, the Fever’s Tegna deal extends a fast-rising trend among teams embracing over-the-air broadcasts to reach cord-cutter and cord-never consumers. 

The NBA’s Suns and Jazz broadcast all of their local games on free television, as do the WNBA’s Mercury and NHL’s Golden Knights. The newly relocated NHL Utah franchise similarly shifted to over-the-air television in its prior form as the Coyotes, and is expected to continue on that path. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Aug 3, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; NBA commissioner Adam Silver talks to International Basketball Federation board member Mark Tatum in the fourth quarter between the United States and Puerto Rico during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

NBA Aims for Drama-Free Return to China After 6-Year Hiatus

The league looks to rebuild its presence in the populous country.
Alexis Ohanian

Alexis Ohanian Tweaks Track Rivals With Promise of Instant Payments

Athletes will be paid minutes after finishing their races at Athlos.
Maverick Carter, LeBron James
exclusive

New International Basketball League Plans Launch, Without Maverick Carter

The venture plans to launch men’s and women’s leagues next fall.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Oregon Ducks inside linebacker Will Straton celebrates a stop as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

CBS Eyes Breakthrough As Big Ten Ratings Still Lag Behind SEC

The network will air No. 7 Indiana at No. 3 Oregon on Saturday.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.
October 7, 2025

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
Netflix
October 9, 2025

Netflix Claims Bigger NFL Package ‘Doesn’t Really Fit’ Sports Strategy

Roger Goodell has signaled media-rights conversations could restart next year.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.