How to watch New Orleans Pelicans games, Zion Williamson for free in Mississippi

The New Orleans Pelicans are the latest NBA team to establish a new media rights deal that allows fans to watch games for free, including in Mississippi.

The Pelicans announced Tuesday a deal with Gray Media that will provide free over-the-air television broadcasts starting with the 2024-25 season. The new station, Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network (GCSEN), will reach 4.1 million households across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, according to a news release.

Pelicans games previously were broadcast on Bally Sports New Orleans, but the Pelicans recently parted ways due to financial struggles with Bally Sports’ parent company, Diamond Sports Group. 

In Mississippi, there will be affiliate stations in Hattiesburg, Jackson, Biloxi and Meridian.

The full broadcast schedule hasn’t been revealed, but according to the announcement, fans “will be able to watch all non-exclusive nationally televised Pelicans games.”

The preseason begins Oct. 7 at Smoothie King Center against the Orlando Magic. The Pelicans’ first regular-season game is Oct. 23 at home against the Chicago Bulls. 

The Pelicans made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed last season and were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The core group of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray return, though Ingram is in the final season of a max contract that pays him $36 million in 2024-25.

All that’s necessary to watch the Pelicans is a TV with an antenna. These are the four stations that will carry Pelicans games:

• Biloxi (WTBL, 51.3)
• Hattiesburg (WLHA, 18.2)
• Jackson (WLBT, 3.3)
• Meridian (WOOK, 15.5)

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.