Cavs rank dead last in NBA for ease of watching games

October 21, 2026

The Cavaliers have championship expectations, four former All-Stars in their starting lineup and a fan base eager to see whether this is finally the year they break through.

Actually watching them play? Well, that could be another matter.

According to Manny Soloway of Awful Announcing, the Cavs rank dead last among all 30 NBA teams when it comes to accessibility of local television broadcasts for the 2026-27 season.

That’s right. THIRTY. The website examined every team’s broadcast arrangements, factoring in streaming costs, cable and satellite availability, national television appearances and games available free over the air.

Cleveland finished at the bottom, largely because of its new exclusive local streaming arrangement with DAZN.

The Cavs are one of five NBA teams whose local broadcasts aren’t available through traditional cable packages. And while DAZN offers a season-long option for $120, subscribing to that service won’t get fans every game.

Awful Announcing noted that 59 Cleveland games will be exclusive to streaming, while 10 others will require access to separate national platforms.

That means some fans who already pay for DAZN will need additional subscriptions to see every game. Welcome to watching professional basketball in 2026.

At least there’s some good news

The Cavs do have 15 local games scheduled to be simulcast over the air, allowing fans with an antenna to watch without paying for another service. As Hoops Wire previously detailed, those games will air on WOIO (Channel 19) and WUAB (Channel 43), as well as Rock Entertainment Sports Network.

But for fans accustomed to finding nearly every game in one place, the adjustment is significant.

And Cleveland isn’t alone. The Pacers rank 29th in Awful Announcing’s accessibility rankings, followed by the Timberwolves, Spurs and Grizzlies. All five have DAZN-centered local arrangements.

At the other end of the spectrum? The Bucks finished No. 1, with 80 games available over the air. The Hawks ranked second, followed by the Suns.

That’s quite a contrast for fans in neighboring NBA markets. Of course, the Cavs’ broadcasting decisions come amid a changing local media landscape following the shutdown of the FanDuel-branded regional sports networks.

Teams are experimenting with new distribution arrangements, and the idea is to create a sustainable way for fans to follow their favorite clubs. But there’s a difference between making games available and making them easy to find.

The Cavs are hoping to be among the last teams standing this spring. Their fans, meanwhile, may have to do more searching than anyone else just to watch them get there.