Miami Heat fans will be able to watch the game for free this Thursday, October 8, against the New Orleans Pelicans on WPLG Local 10 in South Florida. The preseason matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m. Miami time, at the Kaseya Center and will also be available through the free app Local 10+ Platinum for viewers in authorized areas.
The confirmation came this Thursday from the television network itself, which announced the broadcast of the Heat-Pelicans game on its channel and app. The matchup also generates interest because it is expected that Giannis Antetokounmpo, who joined Miami this summer, will play for the first time in front of the Kaseya Center crowd wearing the Heat uniform. This is a pre-game expectation, not a confirmed lineup.
The match will also serve to kick off the new preseason at home and to remind fans of a beneficial change: most games that do not have exclusive national broadcasting will be available without the need to subscribe to a paid sports platform, thanks to the expanded agreement announced by the Heat and WPLG in June.
What channel can you watch Miami Heat vs. Pelicans for free?
The simplest option in the broadcaster's coverage area is to tune in to WPLG Local 10 (channel 10) using a television antenna that can receive its signal over the air. The broadcast of Thursday's game was confirmed by the station itself, without the need to subscribe to NBA League Pass for those who can receive the local transmission.
The new agreement, presented by Local 10 on June 8, specifies that the station will offer Heat games for free that are not exclusively reserved for a specific platform or national network. For those using cable or satellite television, the channel's availability depends on the provider and the package subscribed to.
If the television uses an antenna and Local 10 does not appear, the viewer can perform a new automatic channel scan. Reception depends on location, equipment, and the effective coverage of the signal.
How to watch Heat games online for free
The digital alternative is Local 10+ Platinum, the free app from WPLG. Despite the word Platinum in its name, the television station confirms that it can be downloaded and used at no cost. It includes sports, news, and live television streaming.
To use it, you need to search for «Local 10+ Platinum» in your device's app store, install it, and enter the option that plays the full feed of WPLG Local 10. It is important to select that programming feed, not the separate Local 10 news channel, which does not equate to the full broadcast of WPLG.
The app is available for iPhone, Android phones, tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and compatible smart TVs. Those who prefer to watch it from a computer can also access the official platform in the browser.
The full broadcast of WPLG online is restricted, due to broadcasting rights, to users located in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe, as explained by the channel itself. Its international news signal can be viewed from other locations, but that does not mean it allows watching Heat games outside the authorized counties.
Therefore, while a Cuban in another state or outside of the United States may install the app, they should not assume that they will be able to watch the match for free from any country. Sports availability is subject to territorial rights.
Will all matches of the 2026-27 season be available to watch for free?
Not all games will be on Local 10. The official broadcast guide of the Miami Heat states that WPLG and Local 10+ Platinum will air the games for free when there is no exclusive national broadcast. Games reserved for other networks or platforms must be checked separately.
The regular season schedule released by the Heat in August includes 25 appearances on national television or platforms: seven on ESPN, six on Prime Video, five on NBC, four on Peacock, and three on ABC. Just because a game is listed on national programming does not automatically mean it is excluded from a simultaneous local broadcast; availability depends on the specific rights for that game.
Some of these national channels, such as NBC and ABC, also broadcast on free television, while other services may require a subscription. That's why it's advisable to check the channel assigned to each game in the official NBA schedule, rather than assuming that they will all be available on a single app.
For fans outside the South Florida market, the official Heat page lists NBA League Pass as an option for games available outside of your region, subject to its terms and geographic restrictions. It is not the same as free access to the WPLG feed.
The upcoming games of the Miami Heat and their schedules
After facing the Pelicans this Thursday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m., Miami will play two more preseason games at the Kaseya Center: Saturday, October 10 against Minnesota at 8:00 p.m., and Wednesday, October 14 against Brooklyn at 7:30 p.m.. They will wrap up their preparation on Friday, October 16 as visitors against the Orlando Magic at 7:00 p.m., according to the schedule originally released by the team and reported by their official broadcaster.
The regular season will begin on Wednesday, October 21 with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:30 p.m., scheduled for ESPN. It will be a nationally televised game, so fans should check that specific broadcast and not assume it will air on the free Local 10 channel.
The cited schedules correspond to the local time in Miami. The programming may change, so it is advisable to check the team's updated schedule on NBA.com before each game.
How to listen to the Heat for free on the radio and what happens with other television services?
For those who are unable to access the image, the Heat also provides radio coverage. In English, their official guide indicates 104.3 FM WQAM in Miami-Dade and Fort Lauderdale. In Spanish, it identifies Radio Mambí, 710 AM (WAQI) as one of the team’s network stations in the Miami area.
There is another difference that can confuse fans: Local 10 warns that its signal is no longer available on certain internet television services, including YouTube TV, Hulu Live, Fubo, and DirecTV under the conditions specified by the station. Subscribing to one of those services does not guarantee access to WPLG. The option that the television station directly promotes to watch its signal for free is Local 10+ Platinum, always within the allowed territory.
For the Heat-Pelicans game this Thursday, the most straightforward formula in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe is simple: tune in to Local 10 with an antenna or access its full signal on Local 10+ Platinum. For the following matches, it will be enough to first check whether the game is available on local television or a national rights platform.
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