ESPN and the Atlanta Hawks: How to Watch, Listen, and Follow the Team in Atlanta

If you search for “ESPN Atlanta Hawks”, you’re usually trying to figure out one of three things:

1. How to watch Atlanta Hawks games on ESPN
2. How to follow Hawks coverage through ESPN in Atlanta
3. How the NBA’s national TV schedule (including ESPN) affects local Atlanta viewing

This guide walks through all of that from an Atlanta-focused perspective—whether you live in the city, are visiting, or just want to understand how to keep up with the Hawks from here.

ESPN and the Atlanta Hawks: What It Actually Means

The Atlanta Hawks are an NBA team based in Downtown Atlanta, playing home games at State Farm Arena (1 State Farm Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303). ESPN is one of the main national broadcasters that carries:

• Selected regular season games
• NBA Playoffs games
• Occasional NBA In-Season Tournament or special event matchups
• Daily coverage, highlights, and analysis involving the Hawks

You will not see every Hawks game on ESPN. Instead:

• Some games are on national TV (ESPN, TNT, ABC, NBA TV)
• Most games are on a regional sports network (RSN) that serves the Hawks’ local market, typically accessible through cable or streaming packages

So, if you’re in Metro Atlanta, following the Hawks means understanding both:

• How national broadcasts like ESPN work
• How local TV and radio coverage are set up here

How to Watch Atlanta Hawks Games on ESPN in Atlanta

1. Check the Hawks’ Schedule for ESPN-Designated Games

Each season, the NBA schedule marks specific games as ESPN broadcasts. From an Atlanta standpoint, here’s how to use that:

• Look for the TV column on the Hawks’ official schedule
• If it lists ESPN, that game will be on national TV
• These are often marquee matchups (top opponents, star players, or key playoff implications)

These games can usually be watched:

• On ESPN through a cable or satellite package
• Through a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN
• Sometimes at sports bars or restaurants around Atlanta that typically show national NBA games

💡 Tip for visitors: If you’re staying at a hotel in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or near the airport, most larger hotels carry ESPN as part of their in-room TV lineup. Ask the front desk if you’re unsure.

2. ESPN Availability Through Atlanta TV Providers

ESPN is widely available in the Atlanta market through:

• Traditional cable providers
• Satellite TV services
• Major live TV streaming platforms that carry ESPN

When comparing options, Atlantans commonly look at:

• Channel availability (ESPN, ESPN2, and sometimes ESPN News)
• Whether they also include NBA TV or regional Hawks coverage
• Whether you can stream on mobile devices while moving around the city

If you already have a provider that includes ESPN, you can typically:

• Watch ESPN on your TV at home
• Use that provider’s app to stream ESPN on your phone, tablet, or laptop while in Atlanta

3. Watching Hawks on ESPN While at State Farm Arena

If you’re actually inside State Farm Arena for a Hawks game:

• National ESPN broadcasts are usually focused on viewers at home, not the in-arena experience
• The arena runs its own scoreboard feed and in-game entertainment, which is separate from ESPN’s TV coverage

However, for nationally televised ESPN games, you may notice:

• More cameras and media presence courtside
• ESPN-branded broadcast areas within the arena
• Slightly different tip-off times to accommodate the national TV window

If you want to confirm that a game you’re attending is on ESPN:

• Look at your game ticket listing or the Hawks schedule before heading downtown
• Check the TV broadcaster line (ESPN, TNT, etc.)

ESPN’s Coverage of the Hawks Beyond Live Games

Watching live games is one part of it, but ESPN also covers the Atlanta Hawks in several ongoing ways that Atlanta fans often follow.

Daily ESPN NBA Shows Featuring Hawks Discussions

Hawks storylines—especially around key players like Trae Young or major trades—show up on ESPN programs that are widely available in Atlanta, including:

• Morning and afternoon talk shows focused on NBA news and debate
• Pre-game and post-game studio shows on days when the Hawks play on national TV
• Nightly highlight shows featuring game recaps and big plays

If you’re in Atlanta and can’t watch every game live, these shows are a common way to:

• Catch the highlights
• Hear analysis of the Hawks’ performance
• Stay updated on injuries, trades, and standings

ESPN Digital and App Coverage for Atlanta Fans

Even if you’re always on the move across Metro Atlanta—commuting, working in Midtown, or traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson—you can still follow the Hawks via ESPN’s digital presence:

Common ways Atlantans use ESPN digitally include:

• Checking scores and box scores during games
• Reading recap articles after Hawks matchups
• Keeping up with power rankings, trade rumors, and injury updates

These tools are especially useful if:

• You’re at work during a game
• You’re using MARTA or rideshares and want quick updates
• You’re traveling but still want Atlanta-focused NBA coverage

How National ESPN Games Interact With Local Hawks Coverage

A key point for Atlanta viewers: national broadcasts can change how games are shown locally.

Here’s the general pattern:

• When a Hawks game is picked up exclusively by ESPN:

  • The local regional broadcast may not air that game
  • Fans in Atlanta usually must watch via ESPN (or listen via radio)

• When ESPN shares rights with a local broadcaster:

  • Some viewers choose between the national ESPN telecast and the local broadcast
  • Blackout rules sometimes apply, depending on your provider and location

For Atlantans, this mainly means:

• If you rely only on the local regional channel, you may miss certain nationally exclusive ESPN games
• If you rely only on ESPN, you will not get all regular season Hawks games, since many are local-only

To cover both, many Atlanta fans combine:

• A way to watch regional Hawks broadcasts
• A way to watch ESPN and other national channels (TNT, ABC, NBA TV)

Following the Hawks on Radio and Local Media in Atlanta

Even when games are on ESPN TV, local radio and media remain important for Atlanta-based fans.

Local Radio Game Broadcasts

Hawks games are typically called on Atlanta sports radio, giving you:

• Play-by-play coverage if you can’t watch on TV
• A way to follow the team while driving, working, or moving around the city

You can usually listen:

• On traditional FM/AM radio in Metro Atlanta
• Via many stations’ official apps or web streams when available

This is especially useful when:

• A game is nationally televised on ESPN, but you’re away from a TV
• You’re commuting on I‑75, I‑85, I‑20, or the Perimeter (I‑285) and want to keep up in real time

Where Atlanta Fans Watch Hawks Games Socially

Nationally televised ESPN games often bring out more crowd energy at watch spots around the city. Atlanta fans commonly:

• Gather at sports bars and restaurants in neighborhoods like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Old Fourth Ward, West Midtown, and the Battery Atlanta
• Look for venues that advertise NBA viewing or “big game” nights
• Watch Hawks playoff or “big opponent” games together when they’re on ESPN

If you’re visiting Atlanta and want a social viewing experience:

• Ask if the venue will have sound on for the Hawks game, especially when there are multiple live events
• Arrive a bit early for marquee ESPN matchups, as these can draw larger crowds

Quick Reference: Ways to Follow the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta

Here’s a simple overview of how ESPN fits into the bigger local picture:

Practical Tips for Hawks Fans in Atlanta

A few simple habits can make following ESPN-based Hawks coverage smoother:

• Check the schedule early. Note which games list ESPN as the TV partner so you can plan ahead.
• Confirm your TV package. Make sure your home or streaming setup in Atlanta includes both ESPN and your regional Hawks channel, if you want full season coverage.
• Use radio and mobile for backup. If you’re stuck in traffic, at work, or traveling around the city, it’s easy to follow via radio and mobile apps.
• Plan for big games. For national ESPN broadcasts against top opponents or in the playoffs, consider whether you want to be at State Farm Arena, at home, or at a sports bar for a shared atmosphere.

By understanding how ESPN and local Atlanta coverage work together, you can reliably watch, listen to, and keep up with the Atlanta Hawks from anywhere in and around the city.