The Garden is loud again. It’s different now. If you’ve spent the last decade watching the Knicks, you know that "different" usually meant a new head coach or a lottery pick that didn't pan out, but lately, the energy around 4 Pennsylvania Plaza is actually... good? Jalen Brunson is playing like a folk hero. Josh Hart is diving into the front row for loose balls every other night. This team has an identity. But for the average fan sitting at home, the biggest challenge isn't the double-team on the perimeter—it's figuring out how to actually watch New York Knicks games without a degree in telecommunications or a massive cable bill that makes you wince every month.
Everything changed with the launch of MSG+. For years, if you didn't have a traditional cable package, you were basically out of luck unless you wanted to go find a grainy, lagging stream on some questionable corner of the internet. Now, the regional sports network (RSN) landscape is shifting. It’s messy. It’s expensive. But if you want to see every OG Anunoby defensive masterclass or Donte DiVincenzo three-pointer, you have to know which lane to pick.
The MSG+ Factor and the Local Blackout Problem
If you live in the tri-state area—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and parts of Pennsylvania—MSG Network is your lifeblood. They carry the vast majority of the 82-game regular season. Honestly, the biggest news in recent years was the rollout of MSG+, which is their direct-to-consumer streaming service. You can buy it by the month, by the year, or even pay for a single game. It’s a lifesaver for cord-cutters who grew up watching Mike Breen and Walt "Clyde" Frazier but don't want to pay for 200 channels they never touch.
However, there is a catch. There’s always a catch with RSNs. If you are outside the local broadcast territory, MSG+ won't work for you. You'll be hit with that dreaded "content not available in your area" message. This is where League Pass comes in for the displaced Knicks fans living in Los Angeles or Chicago. But even then, if the Knicks are playing a national TV game on ESPN, TNT, or ABC, League Pass goes dark. You’re constantly juggling apps. It’s a lot of work just to watch a basketball game.
Streaming Services That Actually Carry MSG
Not all "Live TV" streamers are created equal. This is the part that trips people up the most. If you subscribe to YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, you probably realized pretty quickly that MSG isn't there. They dropped the RSNs years ago during those massive carriage disputes that left fans in the lurch.
So, where do you go?
💡 You might also like: What Time Do the Chiefs Play? Finding Today's Kickoff and TV Channel
Fubo is currently the most popular "skinny bundle" for Knicks fans because it actually carries MSG and MSG Sportsnet. It feels like cable, looks like cable, but runs over your internet. DirecTV Stream is the other big player here. It's usually a bit more expensive, but it's one of the few places where you get the local sports networks plus the national channels like TNT and ESPN in one single interface. If you’re tired of switching inputs on your TV, these are your best bets.
What About the National Games?
The Knicks are "back," which means the NBA wants them on national television as much as possible. When the team is winning, the schedule flexes. Suddenly, that random Tuesday night game against the Pacers isn't on MSG; it's on TNT. If you only have MSG+, you're staring at a blank screen. To watch New York Knicks in their full glory, you need access to:
- TNT: Home of the best studio show in sports, but notoriously picky about which streaming services they partner with.
- ESPN/ABC: Where the "big" games live.
- NBA TV: Sometimes they'll simulcast the MSG feed, but other times it's a dedicated national broadcast.
It’s a patchwork quilt of subscriptions. Most fans end up with a base streaming service like Fubo and then supplement it with Max (which now carries TNT games via the B/R Sports Add-on) or just keep a digital antenna for the ABC games.
🔗 Read more: Jordan Dunking on LeBron: What Really Happened Behind Closed Doors
The League Pass Loophole and the VPN Debate
Let's talk about the fans who don't live in NYC. If you’re a Knicks fan in Florida, NBA League Pass is actually a great deal. You get almost every game for a relatively low price. The only time you’re blocked is when the Knicks play the local team in your market (like the Magic or Heat) or when they are on national TV.
Then there’s the "VPN trick." You’ll see people on Reddit talking about using a VPN to make it look like they are in another country or a different state to bypass blackouts. While it works for some, the NBA and streaming services have gotten much better at detecting and blocking these services. It’s a game of cat and mouse. If you go this route, be prepared for technical glitches right at tip-off. Nothing is more frustrating than the game starting and your connection dropping because the server got flagged.
The Cost of Fandom in 2026
Watching the Knicks isn't cheap. If you go the MSG+ route, you're looking at roughly $30 a month. If you go the Fubo route, you're north of $75. If you’re a die-hard who needs every single game, including the playoffs, you might find yourself spending over $100 a month across different platforms during the season.
Is it worth it? When Leon Rose put this roster together, he built something that New Yorkers actually respect. High-effort, defensive-minded, gritty basketball. People are willing to pay because the product on the floor finally matches the ticket prices at the Garden. We aren't watching Alexey Shved take 20 shots a game anymore. We're watching a legitimate contender.
Common Misconceptions About Knicks Broadcasts
- "I can watch every game on Amazon Prime." Nope. While the NBA is moving toward more streaming partnerships, the Knicks' local rights are still firmly with MSG. You might see a stray game here and there, but it’s not a one-stop shop.
- "The playoffs are on MSG." Only the first round. Once the Knicks (hopefully) move deep into the postseason, the games migrate entirely to national networks. If you're relying solely on MSG+ in May, you're going to miss the biggest moments of the year.
- "4K is standard." We wish. Most Knicks broadcasts are still in 1080i or 720p, though MSG has been experimenting with higher-quality feeds on certain platforms. Don't expect a crystal-clear 4K image for every game just yet.
Why the Radio Feed is the Underrated MVP
Sometimes, the tech fails. Or you're stuck in traffic on the West Side Highway. Don't sleep on the radio broadcast. 98.7 ESPN New York (and often carried on the Knicks app) provides a level of descriptive detail that's actually incredible. Ed Cohen and the team bring a different kind of energy. It’s free, it never buffers, and it’s a great way to stay connected when you can’t get to a screen.
How to Set Yourself Up for the Season
To make sure you don't miss a single minute of the Brunson era, you need a strategy. Don't wait until five minutes before tip-off to realize your app needs an update or your subscription lapsed.
- Check your zip code. Go to the MSG+ website and use their look-up tool. This tells you definitively if you are in-market or out-of-market. This is the most important step.
- Audit your current subs. If you already have a cable provider (like Spectrum or Optimum), you might already have "TV Everywhere" credentials. This means you can log into the MSG+ app for free using your cable account info. Many people pay for the app twice without realizing they already had access.
- Prioritize the "Big Three." If you can only afford one thing, and you live in NY, get a service that has MSG. The national games are great, but the heart of the season is those 70+ games on the local net.
- Get a decent streaming device. Smart TV apps are notoriously buggy. A dedicated Roku, Apple TV, or Fire Stick usually handles the MSG+ and Fubo apps much better than the built-in software on a five-year-old Samsung TV.
The Knicks are finally relevant, and while the "how to watch" part is more complicated than it used to be, the payoff is actually having a team worth watching. Just remember to check the schedule—half the battle is knowing which app to open.
📖 Related: Aaron Rodgers: Why the Green Bay Packers Era Still Matters in 2026
Actionable Next Steps
If you're ready to get started, your first move is to verify your "territory" on the MSG+ website. If you are local, decide between the $29.99 monthly MSG+ sub or a full-service streamer like Fubo if you want other channels. If you are out of state, sign up for NBA League Pass but keep a "Plan B" like a Max subscription for the TNT games. Clear your cache, update your apps now, and make sure your internet bandwidth can handle a live sports stream—usually at least 25 Mbps for a stable HD experience. Once that's settled, you're ready for tip-off.