The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the 2026-27 NBA season with a transformed broadcast landscape, marking the team’s first full year on DAZN. Following the shift away from traditional regional sports networks, the Cavaliers have moved to a hybrid model that combines a premium local streaming service with free over-the-air broadcasts for select games.
The season officially begins for Cleveland on October 22, 2026, with a road game against the Philadelphia 76ers. This matchup highlights a season that features the first full-year pairing of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who joined the roster at the 2026 trade deadline.
DAZN Subscription and Pricing
DAZN serves as the exclusive local streaming partner for all Cavaliers games not designated for exclusive national broadcast. Fans within the Cleveland broadcast territory can access the “Cavaliers on DAZN” pass for $19.99 per month or a full-season rate of $119.99. This service is designed as a standalone digital option, removing the requirement for a traditional cable or satellite package.
The transition to DAZN includes a significant upgrade in broadcast production handled by Rock Entertainment Group. The new setup increases the number of game cameras from six to 19. These broadcasts will also integrate augmented reality (AR) overlays and predictive AI data to provide deeper analytical context during live play.
For fans traveling outside the Cleveland market, DAZN includes a “30-day travel rule,” allowing subscribers to continue viewing local games for up to one month while away from their home territory.
Free Over-the-Air Games
While DAZN is the primary home for the season, the Cavaliers have designated 15 regular-season games to remain free for all local viewers. These games are broadcast through a partnership with Gray Media stations and the Rock Entertainment Sports Network (RESN). This ensures that fans with a standard digital antenna can access a portion of the schedule without a paid subscription.
The initial slate of free over-the-air games for the 2026-27 season includes:
- October 26: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- October 29: at Atlanta Hawks
- November 2: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
National Broadcasts and Blackouts
The DAZN local pass does not include games that are exclusive to national media partners. Under the NBA’s current multi-partner rights agreement, national games are distributed across NBC, Peacock, ESPN, ABC, and Amazon Prime Video. If a Cavaliers game is selected for exclusive national coverage on one of these platforms, it will be “blacked out” on the local DAZN stream.
Fans looking for a complete viewing experience will need to supplement their DAZN local pass with access to these national providers. The NBA regular season overall is set to tip off on October 20, 2026, with the Cavaliers entering the fold two nights later as they begin their campaign in the Eastern Conference.
