Local sports TV network rebranded

But channels for Heat, Marlins and Panthers are staying the same

After being a fixture in the homes of South Florida sports fans for more than 20 years, Fox Sports Florida and Fox Sports Sun have been officially renamed Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun.

The regional channels — which joined Fox Sports Networks in 1996 and 2000 respectively — are television homes for the Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Orlando Magic. The channel number used by different cable and satellite providers is not changing.

The Miami Heat’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night was shown on Bally Sports Sun, marking the first live event on both networks.

Joining 17 other regional networks in the rebranding, Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun will air their first full slate of live programming on Thursday, beginning at 11 a.m. with national MLB Opening Day coverage.

Opening Day coverage will continue at 3 p.m. on Bally Sports Florida with a special one-hour “Marlins Live” pregame show leading into live coverage of the Miami Marlins’ game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Following the Marlins’ game and Opening Day baseball, the networks will showcase regional NBA and NHL matchups. Bally Sports Florida will air the Florida Panthers taking on the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m., while Bally Sports Sun will air the Miami Heat squaring off against the Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m.

Just like Fox Sports Florida and Fox Sports Sun, Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun are available throughout Florida on cable, satellite and streaming providers.