New Orleans Pelicans NBA schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games

The New Orleans Pelicans enter the upcoming season with fresh firepower, adding some high-profile talent to strengthen their roster. Among the new arrivals is Jordan Poole, who averaged 20 points per game with the Wizards last year and is expected to provide an offensive spark in New Orleans.

The biggest X-factor, however, remains Zion Williamson’s health. His presence has proven pivotal—during the 2023-24 campaign, the Pelicans notched 49 wins in the 70 games he suited up. 

From regular season to the playoffs, here's a detailed guide to the broadcast options and how to watch, covering streaming services, over-the-air channels, and VPN options for the 2025-26 season.

New Orleans Pelicans 2025-26 NBA TV schedule

How to watch New Orleans Pelicans NBA games in local markets

While each NBA team has a Regional Sports Network that carries its local games, some will also air nationally on channels like ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Amazon Prime.

The Pelicans made a major shift in how fans can catch their games last season. Gray Television will handle coverage, with select games broadcast on Fox 8 and the bulk of the schedule moving to a brand-new station, the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network. The change is a win for local viewers; last year's broadcasts pulled in an average of more than 40,000 fans per game, a staggering 260 percent jump compared to the team’s run on Bally Sports.

Supporters in New Orleans and nearby markets, most Pelicans matchups will now be available over the air at no cost, though you may want to dust off or pick up a digital antenna, which is quietly becoming essential again.

For even more flexibility, Pelicans+ offers the ultimate viewing option. Supporters living within 150 miles of New Orleans—including all of Louisiana and most zip codes around the Smoothie King Centre—can stream live and on-demand regular season games right from their phones, tablets, or connected devices, whether at home or on the move.

New Orleans does have a handful of national TV games this year, though, for which you'll need to have cable such as Xfinity, DISH, and DIRECTV, or streaming services such as DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo, both of whom provide more options for catching NBA teams' regional sports networks (RSNs) than other providers (see the table below) alongside the national TV channels. If you live outside of the local market, you can catch games with a subscription to NBA League Pass.

How to watch New Orleans Pelicans NBA games With An OTA Antenna

Interested in watching Pelicans games for absolutely free? You can watch ABC for free by installing an over-the-air antenna, but there are no games on the national network this season.

Fans in New Orleans and the surrounding region can catch Pelicans action free of charge on local television. WVUE-TV FOX 8 will air eight games over-the-air, while the brand-new Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network Channel 7 will carry every non-exclusive nationally televised matchup for those with a digital antenna.

OTA TV is nearly free compared to cable or streaming. The main cost is a TV antenna, which can be as cheap as $20. It will pick up both digital and analog stations, including the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network and FOX 8 channel, where you can watch Pelicans games.

To see which channels you can access, plug your zip code into the FCC's Reception Map Tool.

The best part? No monthly fees! Once you’ve got the antenna set up, you can enjoy local broadcasts as long as the device keeps going strong.

If you’d rather stream Pelicans games, you can also grab a free trial from a streaming service like DIRECTV STREAM.

How to watch the 2025-26 New Orleans Pelicans season without cable

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Streaming services are rapidly becoming the primary method for fans to watch NBA games, thanks to a growing array of providers in the market.

There is a wide selection of streaming options available, ranging from those that offer specific broadcast packages, such as Fubo and YouTube TV, to more flexible choices like Sling TV and Peacock, which allow users to customize their channel selection. No cable or satellite TV subscription needed. Start watching with a free trial.

This season, U.S. hoops fans can pick from four main types of streaming services. Multichannel platforms like Fubo, DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV carry both national and regional games. Sling, Peacock (w/o RSN add-on), and Prime Video focus strictly on national broadcasts. Regional DTC platforms such as MSG+ and SNLA+ cater to local markets, while NBA League Pass remains the go-to for out-of-market matchups.

This season, the NBA is going bigger than ever on the national stage, with 247 games slated across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Amazon, a massive leap from last year's 172.

The schedule locks in weekly primetime hoops: Mondays on Peacock, Tuesdays on NBC/Peacock, Wednesdays on ESPN, and Fridays on Prime Video. Once midseason rolls around, the menu expands even more — Thursdays on Prime Video, Saturdays split between ABC, ESPN, and Prime Video, and Sundays loaded with matchups on ABC, ESPN, and NBC.

Fans won't have to chase down games either. Every nationally televised contest will be available on major streaming platforms — ESPN App for ABC/ESPN, Peacock for NBCUniversal broadcasts, and Prime Video for Amazon's slate. Hoops every night, everywhere.

This makes multi-channel services like DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo even better, as they show both regional and national matchups.

How to watch New Orleans Pelicans NBA games on DirecTV Stream

• Suggested Plan: CHOICE
• Price: $108.99 plus RSN fees ($15)
• Free Trial: (5 Days)
• Channels: ABC, ESPN, NBC, NBA TV

DIRECTV STREAM boasts the widest range of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) compared to other live TV streaming services. To access RSN livestreams, you'll need to subscribe to the DTV Stream Choice package or higher. The package starts with a five-day free trial and is priced at $108.99 per month, not including RSN fees, which you can check here by entering your pin code.

It has 91 channels as part of their service, including sports channels like TBS, USA Network, TNT, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, and Fox Sports 2.

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With DIRECTV STREAM, you'll still encounter blackouts for out-of-market games. However, you can sidestep these restrictions by adding NBA League Pass to your subscription for as low as $14.99 per month. This combo allows you to catch every NBA game, combining League Pass access with the channels provided by DIRECTV STREAM.

Every DIRECTV STREAM subscriber enjoys unlimited storage on their Cloud DVR, allowing for extensive recording capabilities, and up to 20 users can stream simultaneously.

DIRECTV STREAM is compatible with a variety of devices for watching the New Orleans Pelicans, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, iPhones/iPads, Android phones/tablets, Mac computers, Windows PCs, and smart TVs from brands like LG, Samsung, Sony, and VIZIO. However, it's worth noting that DIRECTV STREAM is not accessible on gaming consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo.

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How to watch New Orleans Pelicans NBA games on Fubo

• Recommended Plan: Pro
• Price: $84.99 plus RSN fees ($15)
• Free Trial: N/A
• Channels Included: ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, NBC

To catch New Orleans Pelicans games, FuboTV is a great option. You can tune in to ESPN, ESPN2, NBC and ABC with their Pro package, priced at $84.99 per month. 

Fubo markets itself as a haven for sports enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy international soccer, NFL, MLB, NASCAR, and F1. After a free 7-day trial, subscribers can subscribe to Fubo for as low as $84.99 per month, gaining access to nearly 200 channels, as well as the ability to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously.

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You can also purchase the fuboTV Sports Plus package for an additional $11/mo. The add on package includes access to NBA TV, which carries around 90 NBA regular-season games, which are subject to local blackout restrictions, as well as analysis shows and documentaries. NBA TV also has live out-of-market games and highlights.

Fubo’s lineup boasts 90 channels, offering a robust mix of sports options such as ESPN, USA Network, FS1, ESPN2, Fox Sports 2, ABC, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and NFL RedZone.

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How to watch New Orleans Pelicans NBA games on Sling TV (Not recommended)

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You can watch New Orleans Pelicans games on NBC, ESPN2, ESPN, NBA TV, and ESPN3 with Sling Orange's Sports Extra package, which costs $56 per month. However, Sling doesn't offer GCSEN or Fox 8.

The budget-friendly options let you save money while customizing your plans to fit your viewing preferences. Based on your location, you may have access to local channels like ABC, Fox, and NBC. However, if you live in an area where these are available, your monthly cost will rise by $5. For sports enthusiasts, you can enhance the limited selection by adding a Sports Extra package to your subscription.

How to watch New Orleans Pelicans NBA games on Peacock

Pelicans fans will be able to catch plenty of action on Peacock this season. The Pelicans are slated for an exclusive clash against the San Antonio Spurs.

Peacock has quickly carved out its place as a go-to sports streamer. In addition to its extensive Olympic coverage, it's already a must for Premier League supporters and WWE followers, while also serving as the digital home of Sunday Night Football and other NBC NFL programming.

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The value proposition isn’t bad either — for under $17 a month (for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus pack), subscribers get far more than just basketball. Starting in October and running through April, Peacock will stream NBA games every Monday night, creating a prime slot for high-profile matchups.

On top of hoops and football, the service has stacked its lineup with Big Ten football, MLB Sunday Leadoff, Notre Dame football and hockey, NASCAR, IndyCar, cycling, golf, rugby, U.S. soccer, track and field, figure skating, horse racing, SuperMotocross, snow sports, IMSA racing, and more.

Sports fans can also tack on Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) to a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription. This add-on unlocks access to 24/7 live channels from NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, and NBC Sports Philadelphia — giving local fans another way to stay plugged in.

How to watch New Orleans Pelicans out-of-market NBA games

If you're looking to catch New Orleans Pelicans games outside of your local market during the 2025-26 season, NBA League Pass offers the most comprehensive access. It features all games not blacked out nationally or locally as well as the channel NBA TV.

For those seeking more features, NBA League Pass Premium includes everything from the standard pass, plus the ability to stream games live and on-demand on up to three devices at once. You’ll also get exclusive access to the in-arena feed for any game of your choice.

The current cost for NBA League Pass is $16.99 per month, while the Premium version is priced at $24.99 per month. If you purchase either plan directly on NBA.com, you'll also get NBA TV at no extra cost. That's an additional savings of $6.99 a month for a channel that airs basketball coverage 24/7, including exclusive regular season NBA and WNBA fixtures.

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Nationally televised games are blacked out for all NBA League Pass subscribers. This applies to matchups aired on ABC, ESPN, NBC, and NBA TV in the U.S., as well as those broadcast on Sportsnet and TSN in Canada.

Due to this limitation, you won’t be able to stream any All-Star Weekend events, the NBA Play-In Tournament, or any NBA playoff games via this service. To watch those, you'll need to find alternative ways to access the channels broadcasting the game you're interested in.

You do get to listen to the local radio broadcasts for all live games through NBA League Pass, so if you are interested in a game that is blacked out to you, you are not completely shut out from following the action live.

Watch New Orleans Pelicans Games With A VPN

For those living abroad or just outside of New Orleans TV market, another dependable way to watch Pelicans in action is via a VPN.

Regardless of whether you use DirecTV Stream, Fubo (formerly FuboTV), or another streaming platform, you can supplement it with a VPN to watch out-of-market games. It enables you to alter your virtual location, letting you access games as though you're in a different state or even abroad (NBA League Pass is the ticket you need if you're overseas).

NordVPN is our pick for the best VPN service in 2025 when streaming live sports. You can even try NordVPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Useful links

• How to watch live sports on DirecTV Stream
• The best streaming services for sports fans in 2024

• Fubo launch half price offer to mark the start of the 2024 NFL season