Sports Media News

NBA TV to Broadcast 96 Live Games During 2010-11 Regular Season

Network’s Comprehensive Coverage to Include Return of NBA TV’s Fan Night and

First Regular Season Games in Europe

NBA Digital announced today the 2010-11 NBA TV regular season game telecast schedule, which will feature 96 live games, the most of any network.  The schedule is highlighted by the return of Fan Night, where fans can vote on NBA.com for the games they want to see televised nationally on NBA TV every Tuesday night during the season.  Along with live games multiple days each week, NBA TV will air the NBA’s first regular season games in Europe on March 4-5 at 3 p.m. (ET), when the Toronto Raptors face the New Jersey Nets at London’s O2 Arena.

The season tips off on NBA TV on Saturday, Oct. 30 when All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets visit seven-time All-Star Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets (8:30 p.m. ET).

NBA TV’s Fan Night studio team of host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale will return this season. Fan Night voting will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 26, to select the first match-up of the season to air on Election Night on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

In addition to NBA TV’s full slate of games, fans can also watch games on NBA Digital’s full suite of NBA LEAGUE PASS subscription products, including NBA LEAGUE PASS with up to 40 live NBA games on TV each week, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband for fans to watch games online and NBA LEAGUE PASS Mobile for on-the-go access on mobile devices. Products feature live and on demand out-of-market games, scores and stats. Early bird offers will be available prior to the start of the season on NBA.com.

Key match-ups on the NBA TV schedule this season include:

• Opening Week: The network tips off the season on Saturday, Oct. 30, with the Nuggets @ Rockets (8:30 p.m. ET). Coverage will continue on Sunday, Oct. 31, with the Deron Williams-led Utah Jazz @ Oklahoma City Thunder (7 p.m. ET), which features reigning scoring champion Kevin Durant and emerging star Russell Westbrook. On Monday, Nov. 1, the Chicago Bulls, led by All-Star Derrick Rose and recently acquired Carlos Boozer, host the Portland Trail Blazers (8 p.m. ET) and Brandon Roy. The first Fan Night game will air on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

• Nov. 7 – The Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, led by All-Stars Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo — visit the Thunder (7 p.m. ET).

• Dec. 18 – Southeast Division All-Star power trio Chris Bosh, reigning MVP LeBron James and Dwyane Wade travel from Miami to challenge John Wall, the top overall selection of the 2010 NBA Draft, and the Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET).

• Jan. 8 – A matchup between 2011 NBA championship contenders featuring the Bulls vs. the Celtics (8 p.m. ET).

• Jan. 17: NBA TV will celebrate MLK Day when it presents the Sacramento Kings, led by 2009-10 T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, against the Atlanta Hawks, featuring All-Stars Al Horford and Joe Johnson (4 p.m. ET).

• March 4-5 – NBA TV will air the NBA’s first regular season games in Europe at London’s O2 Arena with the Andrea Bargnani-led Toronto Raptors facing the New Jersey Nets, and their rising star Brook Lopez, making basketball history (3 p.m. ET).

• March 19 – A match-up featuring the stars of the USA’s 2008 Olympics “Redeem Team” when Anthony, Billups and the Nuggets visit Bosh, James and Wade of the Miami Heat.

• March 21 – Historic NBA rivals face off with the Celtics versus All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET).

• April 10: A rematch of the 2010 NBA Playoffs first round ensues with the Thunder @ Finals MVP Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending champion L.A. Lakers (6:30 p.m. ET).

Also appearing on NBA TV throughout the season are hosts Matt Winer, Ahmad Rashad, Rick Kamla, Marc Fein and Kyle Montgomery, analysts Brent Barry, Steve Smith and Dennis Scott and NBA Insider David Aldridge. In addition, TNT’s Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello and Cheryl Miller will all make select appearances on NBA TV throughout the season.
NBA Digital is the NBA’s extensive cross-platform portfolio of digital assets jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports. This robust offering includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS, TNT and truTV, Turner Sports’ line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, professional golf, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com. Turner Sports’ diverse portfolio also offers a collection of mobile Web sites and apps featuring NBA, NASCAR and professional golf content, along with Turner Sports’ first branded consumer product, SportsNOW. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAUGE.com and WNBA.com.

NBA TV 2010-2011 NBA REGULAR SEASON TELECAST SCHEDULE

Subject to change / All Times Eastern

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NBA TV and NBA.com to Deliver Week Long Coverage of the

2010 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festivities

Network to Present Exclusive Features Including Special on Scottie Pippen, In-Depth Profile on Karl Malone and

Live Presentation of the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

NBA TV and NBA.com will provide exclusive coverage of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement festivities in Springfield, Mass., beginning Monday, Aug. 9, and culminating with the induction ceremony on Friday, Aug. 13 at 6:00 p.m ET.

NBA TV will air special programming each day to honor the inductees leading up to its live presentation of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony with in-depth features on Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen and Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone, archived footage, historical games, and specials produced by NBA Entertainment.

The greatly-anticipated 2010 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will feature the induction of Pippen, Malone, WNBA pioneer Cynthia Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, high school coaching legend Bob Hurley Sr., Brazilian basketball great, the late Maciel “Ubiratan” Pereira, and the 1992 and 1960 U.S. Men’s Gold Medal Winning Olympic Teams, as well as the late Dennis Johnson of the Boston Celtics and the late Gus Johnson of the Baltimore Bullets.  Members of the 1992 and 1960 U.S. Men’s Olympic teams scheduled to attend the Enshrinement include: Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton from the 1992 Dream Team and Walt Bellamy, Jerry Lucas, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West from the 1960 team.

NBA TV and NBA.com’s line-up of Hall of Fame coverage includes:

§         Monday, Aug. 9 at 7:00 p.m ET: NBA TV will air a special featuring six-time NBA champion, seven-time NBA All-Star and Bulls great Scottie Pippen.

§         Monday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET: NBA TV will profile legendary Jazz power forward, two-time NBA MVP and member of the 1992 and 1996 US Men’s Olympic team (Dream Team) Karl Malone.

§         Thursday, Aug. 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET: NBA.com will stream live the Special Awards Ceremony featuring Curt Gowdy Media Award winner Joe Tait, the longtime radio voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Jackie MacMullan, the first female recipient to receive the Gowdy Media Award, along with legendary coach Don Meyer, who will be honored with the John Bunn Award, the Hall’s highest honor other than enshrinement. The ceremonies will honor Sacramento Kings center Samuel Dalembert of Haiti, Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim of Syracuse University and Alfreda Harris, a community leader from Massachusetts, co-recipients of Mannie Jackson’s Basketball Human Spirit Award presented by CSX.

§         Friday, Aug. 13 at 10:00 a.m. ET: NBA.com will stream live the Inductee News Conference on Friday, Aug. 13 featuring exclusive interviews with the honorees and the many special guests attending the ceremonies, including Hall of Famers, former NBA players and coaches.

§         Friday, Aug. 13 at 6:00 p.m ET: Hosted by Matt Winer with reporters David Aldridge and Rick Kamla, NBA TV’s exclusive coverage will feature the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2010. Prior to the ceremony, the network will present its Red Carpet Show showcasing the arrivals of the inductees and their special guests as well as interviews with Hall of Famers and attendees. NBA TV’s Ahmad Rashad will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

NBA.com will also honor the impressive careers of the Hall of Fame inductees with a special Hall of Fame page available at www.nba.com/halloffame/2010. The page will include inductee profiles, photo galleries and extensive video packages highlighting the honorees’ storied careers.  NBA.com writer Scott Howard Cooper will be on-site covering the event.  In addition, the site will post the inductees’ speeches immediately following the ceremony, to highlight the great moments and many achievements of each inductee.

NBA Digital is the NBA’s extensive cross-platform of digital assets jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports. This robust offering includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAGUE.com, and WNBA.com.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS, TNT and truTV, Turner Sports’ line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, professional golf, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com. Turner Sports’ diverse portfolio also offers a collection of mobile Web sites and apps featuring NBA, NASCAR and professional golf content, along with Turner Sports’ first branded consumer product, SportsNOW. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAUGE.com and WNBA.com.

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Notes from NBA TV’s Coverage of the NBA Tip-Off ’10 Schedule Announcement

– Tuesday, August 3, 2010

NBA TIP OFF ’10 PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS

HOLIDAY NATIONAL TELEVISION GAMES

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NBA Tip-Off ’10 Schedule Announcement

Rick Kamla, Chris Webber and Craig Sager

Webber on Shaquille O’Neal potentially signing with the Boston Celtics: “(O’Neal) could easily start on 20 (other) teams but if he wants to come off the bench, it’ll be easier on his body.  He won’t have to get hurt during the season like he has over the past four or five years.  It’s a veteran team and when I got to play with a veteran team like the Pistons, they knew how to treat you different than the (younger) teams that got beat up for no reason.  He’s going to be able to see his trainers and he won’t have to practice a lot.  If he goes into the playoffs playing strong and maybe has an agreement with them to start then, you never know.”

Webber on the Miami Heat: “This is the first pre-celebration team that I’ve ever seen but (Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade) have already shown their commitment to winning by taking less money.  They left $50 million on the table between the three guys and if you are that gung-ho about giving up that money, you’ll be that gung-ho about leaving their egos at the door.  I do think that because Dwyane and LeBron play the same sort of position, at times it will be clashing because both of those guys need the ball in their hands.”

TNT analyst Kenny Smith joined the NBA TV studio show via satellite

Smith on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kevin Durant: “I think (Durant) is going to be the best basketball player on the planet.  I think he offers that much to the game.  It showed in the Lakers (playoff) series last year.  He is capable of taking his team to seven games and they pushed the Lakers harder than anybody in the Playoffs.  Kevin Durant is in the mix.  I think LeBron James is numero uno but Kevin Durant is in the passenger seat.”

Smith on teams playing on Christmas Day: “(As a player), you love the marquee games.  You love that everybody is at home but you.  It feels like a playoff atmosphere because when you turn on the television, there’s no one but you on the game.  That’s why most players look forward to NBA on TNT Thursdays.  There’s no one else playing on Thursday nights so you can’t go watch another game.  If you want to watch basketball, you have to watch TNT and you have to watch them on Christmas Day.  No one wants to pass that up.  Those (Christmas) presents are going to be there and it actually might cost you less on Christmas Day because you don’t have to buy as many gifts.”

Smith on the Heat being a favorite to win the NBA Championship: “I don’t think that you can buy a championship but I think (the Heat) put themselves in position where they are in the showroom to actually get (an NBA Championship).  They have assembled talent that we haven’t seen together at one time in terms of those three guys being so highly rated in this era.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime for those three players and not for one year.  They are talking about an eight to nine year run when every year; they are going to be talked about as winning it every single year.”

TNT analyst Steve Kerr joined the NBA TV studio show via satellite

Kerr on the league being in a point guard era: “It’s really incredible to watch.  You’ve got some of the older guys like Steve Nash who is still lighting it up and dominating games.  You’ve got Derrick Rose and I can’t wait to see John Wall with the Wizards and of course Deron Williams, Chris Paul.  There’s an unbelievable line of point guards now.  It’s definitely a point guard era that we’re in right now.”

Kerr on the Chicago Bulls being the most well-rounded team in the Eastern Conference: “I actually think that (the Bulls) are the most well-rounded team in the East (Conference).  Obviously, Miami has the most talent but when you look at Chicago’s mix, they’ve got two unbelievable frontcourt defenders with (Joakim) Noah and Taj Gibson, they’ve got the great point guard play of Derrick Rose and now you’ve got the low-post scoring that Chicago has been lacking for years with (Carlos) Boozer.  I just really like that mix.  They’ve done a nice job of quietly putting some pieces in there on the wings with Kyle Korver and (Ronnie) Brewer.  They’ve got a really deep mix of players and I think they are going to be really good.”

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra sat down with NBA TV’s Joel Meyers and Kevin McHale tonight during coverage of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Spoelstra on finding players to fill out the Heat’s roster: “Chemistry is going to play a big part of what we’re trying to do and we’ve got to find players that want to be part of our culture.  Not every player fits our culture.  Obviously, there are exciting things going on and I think we’ll have plenty of opportunities to find players to fill out the roster.  We’ll start with Summer League right here but even some veterans will be willing to sacrafice like the three guys (Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade) did to be part of something big.”

Spoelstra on the type of players the Heat are looking for: “In general, the type of culture players that we are looking for are defensive-minded, energy, high motor-type guys.  We need a little more depth at the point guard position and probably up front.  But we like shot-blockers and I like active guys back there who can erase some mistakes at the rim and can create a lot of opportunities with offensive rebounds.  But just with a high motor and activity.”

Please click on the link below for a video clip of the interview posted on NBA.com:

Erik Spoelstra interview on NBA TV

Notes from NBA TV’s Coverage of Decision 2010–Thursday, July 8, 2010

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NBA TV Decision 2010

Vince Cellini, Lawrence Frank, Chris Webber & Eric Snow

Free Agent LeBron James announces his decision to play for the Miami Heat

Snow on LeBron’s decision to play with the Miami Heat: “The decision doesn’t make me feel excited. He doesn’t give me anything to look forward to because I would have wanted him to go somewhere where he could play against Miami.”

Frank on the potential for the Heat to win championships: “These guys know that in order to win everyone has to make huge sacrifices. There are going to be a lot of doubters saying they can’t win. The question now is how they are going to fill the rest of their roster. There are still some question marks.”

Snow on filling up the remaining Miami Heat roster: “Every guy that is making the minimum is trying to go to Miami.  So they are going to get good guys that will play for the minimum. Now that he is there, filling out the roster is going to be easy.”

Webber on Miami Heat President Pat Riley’s influence on LeBron James’ decision: “I would like to think he did this for (Miami Heat President) Pat Riley. Knowing Pat Riley, the little that I do, I can see how you are convinced to go with a winner like that who is disciplined in every aspect of the game. I bet Pat Riley had just a bit of influence on his decision.”

Snow on LeBron James wanting to win championships: “They will win multiple championships and that will be great but Dwyane Wade will always have one more than him.”

Webber on LeBron James starting a new era of basketball: “I’m never mentioning him and (Michael) Jordan in the same sentence ever again. There is no more discussion; Kobe (Bryant) is the last heir to Jordan. I think LeBron is starting a new era of basketball that is not led by a dominate two guard. Magic (Johnson) and Michael Cooper, Magic and Byron Scott, it’s not that type of thing. I mean who would be MVP if they (LeBron James and Dwyane Wade) both average 18 points?”

Snow on the new team dynamic of the Miami Heat: “I think they will make it work because of the talent there. Having a guy like Chris Bosh because of his style of play and because he is big and can really spread the court. They are going to make it work.”

NBA Insider David Aldridge joins the NBA TV Crew from Las Vegas, NV

Aldridge on what is next for the Cleveland Cavaliers: “I don’t see a way out or a viable plan B after you lose a guy like LeBron James. Maybe they can do a sign and trade and get four players. What do you build around? Who do you build around? All of those guys were brought to that team because they were complementary pieces to LeBron. They are all good basketball players but their best skill was how they played with LeBron or off LeBron and now that they don’t have that center and that hub, I don’t see a way out.”

Aldridge on Miami Heat President Pat Riley selling LeBron James on joining the Heat: “I didn’t know he was going to get LeBron (James) and (Dwyane) Wade but I knew he was going to get someone. I say this all the time: (TNT’s) Kera Sedgwick is not the Closer, Pat Riley is the closer. With cap room, Pat Riley always gets someone pretty good. Their chance to win multiple championships in years to come sold them in the end. I also don’t think the Olympic relationship can be talked about enough. I think the experience that those young men had playing on that team brought them together in a way we really didn’t realize.”

NBA on TNT analyst Reggie Miller joins the NBA TV crew via satellite from Los Angeles, CA

Miller on LeBron James’ decision to play for the Miami Heat: “I’m on both sides of the fence here. You are speaking to a guy that spent 18 years for one organization. I would have loved to see LeBron James stay in a small market. Not everyone can play for a New York (Knicks), Chicago (Bulls) or Miami (Heat). When you have a true superstar playing for a small market, it means so much. When you play in a small market, fans live and die by everything you do.  To me, him going down to Miami and jumping on the bandwagon of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh that’s great, that is going to be good basketball to see. But personally I would love to have seen him win a championship and stay in Cleveland.”

Miller on the impact this will have on the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise: “I’m wondering where (Cleveland Cavaliers owner) Dan Gilbert and the rest of the Cavaliers organization goes from here. They had the best record in the league the last two seasons and they were never able to get out of the Eastern Conference. If I’m LeBron I’m frustrated from that standpoint but for the organization what else can they do. I think their campaign was great but it is frustrating. Three or four championships in Miami are equivalent to one in Cleveland because they are a starving franchise city and they would have appreciated it more if the King(LeBron James)  would have stayed.”

Miller on being in a similar situation when making his decision to stay with the Indiana Pacers: “If you listen to LeBron he says it is not about the money but about winning championships and winning rings. That I get. There is one thing on my resume that I will never have same as Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton those guys are superstar players without rings. This is LeBron’s eighth season coming up and he doesn’t have any jewelry so I understand him wanting to go somewhere else and win a championship. It is not guaranteed. To me it is all about the pieces that they surround these three superstars with. They are not going to have a ton of money to go out and get players so the supporting players are going to have to sacrifice. The Miami Heat are the “it’ ticket now with these three guys so they will find players. To me it is the supporting cast that they surround them with that will determine if they will be championship caliber.”

Miller on how LeBron’s decision will affect his legacy:  “He is the best player in the league, can we put him now in the same category of Michael Jordan, who never left Chicago, Larry Bird, who never left Boston or Magic Johnson who has four or five rings in the same breath – no. If he would have stayed in Cleveland and won one championship built around him we would have put him on Mt. Rushmore. It’s great, I get it. I can’t wait to call games in Miami and watch these three play. But now you are going into a situation where Dwyane Wade already has one championship. He is the Derek Jeter down there. LeBron is the Alex Rodriguez. It is still Dwyane’s team. Between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade one of those guys has to sacrifice and to me it will have to be LeBron James because it is Dwyane Wade’s team.”

NBA on TNT Analyst Charles Barkley joins the NBA TV crew via phone from Ontario Canada

Barkley on what this decision says about LeBron James: “The Miami Heat are in a great situation right now, they have three great players. I was disappointed,  I wanted Lebron to stay in Cleveland. I don’t blame the guy but I think it will be a lot more important and significant to win a championship in Cleveland then it would be in Miami (if he wins it.)”

Barkley on the most important criteria in making a decision of this caliber: “In fairness, if I was 25 I would try to win it by myself. I would make sure that I was the guy on the team. We just started giving Kobe Bryant credit the last two years. That was that stigma that he couldn’t win it without Shaquille O’Neal and you see we have elevated him because he has won the last two without him. LeBron (James) will never be the guy. I wish he would have tried to win it by himself as ‘the guy’.”

Barkley on LeBron James’ legacy taking a hit: “The analogy I use is that until Kobe (Bryant) won that championship last year without Shaquille O’Neal we never gave him credit. This definitely hurts Lebron. When you are 25 you shouldn’t be trying to piggy back on other people. It would have been a lot more significant to win a championship in Cleveland and not to piggyback on Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.”

NBA TV analyst Kevin McHale joins the NBA TV crew via phone from Las Vegas, NV

McHale on the anticipation surrounding LeBron James’ announcement: “It was too much. It ends up being an hour special and it just seemed to drag on. It had the feel of a reality show to me. I understand it is a big decision and sports are big in the United Sates but it seemed to go on and on. I think they had a plan to make it big and fun and instead it was big and cumbersome. LeBron didn’t look very comfortable making that decision tonight.”

McHale on how players in the league will respond to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together on the Miami Heat: They are going to come after them hard but that is what makes you better. When you are able to win a championship or put together an All-Star type team like that, other teams come at you hard. What will happen is (Dwyane) Wade, (Chris) Bosh, LeBron (James) will all be better players by the time the Playoffs start because other teams will try to knock them down a notch.  They are going to press them hard but they better bring their game because (Dwyane) Wade, (Chris) Bosh and (LeBron) James are good.”

McHale on LeBron James’ decision to join the Miami Heat: “It surprised me a little bit. I just thought he was going to Chicago (Bulls) with (Carlos) Boozer Derrick Rose, (Joakim) Noah; I kind of thought that would be a place for him. Then again, I thought he was going to stay in Cleveland. I thought it was going to be hard for him to leave.”

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