How to Watch Lightning Games in the 2025-2026 Season

Come 2025, Tampa Bay Lightning fans can ditch their cable subscription to watch games. A new deal with Scripps Sports brings hockey back to regular broadcast TV. "Scripps Sports and the Lightning worked this summer to ink deals with affiliate stations throughout the team's TV territory," according to Eduardo Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

WXPX-TV Channel 66 will become "The Spot – Tampa Bay 66" in mid-2025. They'll show every Lightning game that's not on national TV, including preseason games through the first round of playoffs.

This change moves away from FanDuel Sports Network's subscription service. Local fans will now watch games on regular TV or through the team's app in the broadcast region.

The Lightning's trusted broadcast team isn't going anywhere. Dave Randorf handles play-by-play, with Brian Engblom providing analysis and Gabby Shirley reporting from the ice.

The updated Channel 66 will blend sports coverage with regular programming. They're currently pushing to get the channel added to local cable and satellite packages.

This change follows the Florida Panthers' similar move in 2024, when they jumped from Bally's Sports to Scripps channels in South Florida.

Scripps already runs WFTS-ABC Action News in Tampa. Getting WXPX helps them grow their footprint in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.