Select 2026 Tampa Bay Rays games coming to Gulf Coast viewers
Updated: 1:02 PM EDT Mar 30, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays fans across Southwest Florida will be able to watch select regular-season games in 2026 under a new broadcast agreement with Hearst Television.The agreement between the team and Hearst Television will not only bring Rays baseball games to Gulf Coast NBC and Gulf Coast ABC, but also to Hearst Television stations in Orlando, Daytona, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and West Palm Beach.The agreement delivers 10 games, including the Rays’ Opening Day game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday, April 6, to the following stations:Gulf Coast NBC (WBBH), Gulf Coast ABC (WZVN), and Gulf Coast H&IWESH-TV and WKCF-TV/CW18, the NBC and CW affiliates in OrlandoWMOR-TV, an independent station in TampaWPBF-TV, the ABC affiliate serving the West Palm Beach TV market(Hearst Television owns WBBH, WPBF, WESH, WKCF, and WMOR. Hearst also manages WZVN on behalf of Montclair Communications, Inc.)The new agreement is the first time the Fort Myers/Naples market will be included in a Hearst Television regional sports package in Florida. This is the second consecutive major regional sports deal for Hearst stations in Florida. For the 2025-26 NBA regular season, WESH, WKCF, and WMOR secured 10 Orlando Magic games through a simulcast partnership with FanDuel Sports Network Florida.”As the Spring Training home of the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, we have a strong connection to this team and its fans,” said Darrel Lieze-Adams, President and General Manager of Gulf Coast NBC and Gulf Coast ABC. “We’re pleased to bring these games to viewers across the Gulf Coast and expand access to Rays baseball throughout the region.”The following 2026 Tampa Bay Rays games will be televised on the Gulf Coast:Monday, April 6, 4 p.m. vs. Chicago Cubs on Gulf Coast ABCFriday, April 24, 7 p.m. vs. Minnesota on Gulf Coast H&IFriday, May 8, 7 p.m. at Boston on Gulf Coast ABCSunday, May 24, 1:30 p.m. at New York Yankees on Gulf Coast NBCFriday, June 5, 7 p.m. at Miami on Gulf Coast H&IFriday, June 19, 7 p.m. vs. Washington on Gulf Coast H&IFriday, July 17, 7 p.m. at Boston on Gulf Coast ABCThursday, July 23, 3 p.m. at Toronto on Gulf Coast ABCSunday, August 9, 4 p.m. at Seattle on Gulf Coast ABCWednesday, August 12, 3 p.m. at the Athletics on Gulf Coast ABC*All times are Eastern Standard Time*DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —
Tampa Bay Rays fans across Southwest Florida will be able to watch select regular-season games in 2026 under a new broadcast agreement with Hearst Television.
The agreement between the team and Hearst Television will not only bring Rays baseball games to Gulf Coast NBC and Gulf Coast ABC, but also to Hearst Television stations in Orlando, Daytona, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and West Palm Beach.
The agreement delivers 10 games, including the Rays’ Opening Day game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday, April 6, to the following stations:
Gulf Coast NBC (WBBH), Gulf Coast ABC (WZVN), and Gulf Coast H&IWESH-TV and WKCF-TV/CW18, the NBC and CW affiliates in OrlandoWMOR-TV, an independent station in TampaWPBF-TV, the ABC affiliate serving the West Palm Beach TV market
(Hearst Television owns WBBH, WPBF, WESH, WKCF, and WMOR. Hearst also manages WZVN on behalf of Montclair Communications, Inc.)
The new agreement is the first time the Fort Myers/Naples market will be included in a Hearst Television regional sports package in Florida. This is the second consecutive major regional sports deal for Hearst stations in Florida. For the 2025-26 NBA regular season, WESH, WKCF, and WMOR secured 10 Orlando Magic games through a simulcast partnership with FanDuel Sports Network Florida.
“As the Spring Training home of the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, we have a strong connection to this team and its fans,” said Darrel Lieze-Adams, President and General Manager of Gulf Coast NBC and Gulf Coast ABC. “We’re pleased to bring these games to viewers across the Gulf Coast and expand access to Rays baseball throughout the region.”
The following 2026 Tampa Bay Rays games will be televised on the Gulf Coast:
Monday, April 6, 4 p.m. vs. Chicago Cubs on Gulf Coast ABCFriday, April 24, 7 p.m. vs. Minnesota on Gulf Coast H&IFriday, May 8, 7 p.m. at Boston on Gulf Coast ABCSunday, May 24, 1:30 p.m. at New York Yankees on Gulf Coast NBCFriday, June 5, 7 p.m. at Miami on Gulf Coast H&IFriday, June 19, 7 p.m. vs. Washington on Gulf Coast H&IFriday, July 17, 7 p.m. at Boston on Gulf Coast ABCThursday, July 23, 3 p.m. at Toronto on Gulf Coast ABCSunday, August 9, 4 p.m. at Seattle on Gulf Coast ABCWednesday, August 12, 3 p.m. at the Athletics on Gulf Coast ABC
*All times are Eastern Standard Time*
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.