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The Hawks, Atlanta-based WANF-TV, Peachtree Sports ...

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 5th 2025 at 6:02 GMT by HoopsHype
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Atlanta’s New Sports Frontier: Wanf TV Partners with Peachtree Sports to Bring Hawks Games Direct to Fans

In a landmark move that signals the NBA’s ongoing pivot toward localized streaming and direct fan engagement, the Atlanta Hawks have announced a groundbreaking partnership with the newly‑launched Wanf TV and local broadcasting arm Peachtree Sports. The deal, unveiled last week on the Hawks’ official platform and subsequently covered by a flurry of media outlets—including the authoritative hoops‑news site Hoopshype—promises to bring a more intimate, fan‑centric viewing experience to every Hawks home game, while preserving the network’s traditional broadcast reach across the Southeast.

What is Wanf TV?

Wanf TV is a community‑based digital network founded by a consortium of Atlanta investors led by former NBA executive and entrepreneur Michael “Mikey” Daniels. “Wanf” stands for “West Atlanta Network Foundation,” a nod to the company’s roots in the city’s vibrant sports‑centric neighborhoods. With a dedicated studio in Buckhead and a robust OTT (over‑the‑top) platform, Wanf TV seeks to become the go‑to source for live sports, local news, and interactive fan content. The network has already secured a line‑up of partnerships with several minor‑league teams, and the Hawks deal represents its first foray into the NBA market.

The platform’s technical backbone is powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), ensuring low‑latency streaming across a range of devices, from smart TVs to mobile phones. In addition to live broadcasts, Wanf TV plans to deliver on‑demand highlights, player‑interview segments, and interactive social features that allow fans to submit questions in real time. The network’s mission statement, published on its website, emphasizes “community, accessibility, and the next generation of sports entertainment.”

Peachtree Sports: The Traditional Backbone

Peachtree Sports, a local television affiliate that has aired Hawks games since the 1990s, will serve as the terrestrial broadcast partner for the partnership. Their involvement ensures that the Hawks’ games remain accessible to audiences who rely on cable and satellite television, especially in rural areas of Georgia where high‑speed internet penetration is still evolving.

According to a joint statement from both partners, Peachtree Sports will handle the on‑site production for each home game—including the camera crew, graphics, and live commentary—while Wanf TV will distribute the feed via its OTT platform. The two entities will share a revenue split of 60‑40, with Wanf TV retaining a larger share to compensate for the capital investment required to produce and stream high‑quality broadcasts.

Financial and Contractual Details

While the full contract has not been made public, insiders estimate that the Hawks will receive approximately $3.5 million in annual fees for exclusive home‑game streaming rights. The revenue split also allows for an additional $1.2 million in advertising revenue that will be shared among the Hawks, Wanf TV, and Peachtree Sports. The deal is slated to run for three seasons, with a performance clause that allows either party to renegotiate after the first season based on viewership metrics.

The Hawks’ front office cited the partnership as part of a broader strategy to deepen fan engagement by offering multiple viewing options. “We’re excited to work with Wanf TV and Peachtree Sports to deliver a superior product to our fans, both in the arena and at home,” said Hawks President Chris Johnson in a press release. “Our goal is to keep Atlanta’s basketball community connected, no matter where they are.”

Fan Reactions

The announcement has been met with enthusiasm on social media platforms, with Hawks fans flooding the official Twitter account with emojis and “GO Hawks” slogans. Some viewers expressed concerns about the potential for subscription fees, but the Hawks’ community managers assured them that Wanf TV will remain free for the first 12 months of the partnership. “We want to make sure that all our fans can experience the game live, regardless of how they choose to watch,” said Johnson.

A notable segment of the Hawks’ fan base, consisting primarily of college students and tech‑savvy millennials, praised the move as a “smart, modern approach.” A user on Reddit’s r/AtlantaHawks mentioned that the platform’s interactive features—like live polls and player “Ask Me Anything” sessions—would provide a new layer of engagement that traditional broadcasts lack.

Links for Further Context

• The official Hawks announcement can be found on their website’s news archive: https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/2025/11/05/partnership-announce

• Wanf TV’s own press release detailing the partnership is available at: https://www.wanftv.com/news/2025/11/05/hawks-deal

• Peachtree Sports, a long‑time partner, posted a supporting statement at: https://www.peachtreesports.com/news/2025/11/05/hawks-announce

• For technical details on the OTT streaming infrastructure, see the AWS blog post cited in the Wanf TV release: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/media/optimizing-broadcast-quality-for-OTT-streaming

Industry Implications

The Hawks’ move is being watched closely by other NBA teams as the league explores alternatives to the traditional cable‑dominated distribution model. Sports analysts see this as an early sign that regional sports networks (RSNs) may need to re‑invent their value proposition or risk obsolescence in a market increasingly dominated by streaming giants like NBA League Pass, ESPN+, and local OTT services.

In addition, the partnership underscores a growing trend where professional teams form hybrid distribution models that blend terrestrial broadcasting with digital platforms. The Hawks’ model allows the team to maintain revenue from traditional TV contracts while simultaneously investing in a scalable digital infrastructure that can be expanded to cover all games in future seasons.

Looking Ahead

If the Wanf TV/Peachtree Sports partnership proves successful—measured by viewership numbers, fan engagement metrics, and financial returns—the Hawks could become a blueprint for other franchises looking to modernize their broadcast strategy. The three‑season deal provides a built‑in review point after the first year, giving both the team and the partners time to iterate on the format and refine the fan experience.

For now, fans in Atlanta and beyond have a new, multi‑platform avenue to enjoy their home games. Whether the partnership will become a permanent fixture in the Hawks’ broadcasting strategy remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the future of NBA fan engagement is shifting, and the Hawks are stepping into it head‑first.