There’s no better way to kick off an NBA season by having four of the league’s most recognizable teams in one doubleheader. ESPN on ABC will have the Miami Heat take on the Oklahoma City Thunder followed by the two most venerable NBA franchises, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers squaring off. Plenty of other stuff ESPN wants you to know about. Here are the details.
NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC Tips Off with Marquee Doubleheader
Regular Sunday Broadcasts on ABC – Home of The Finals – Remainder of Season
ESPN’s comprehensive coverage of the 2010-11 NBA season continues this weekend with an NBA Sunday doubleheader (Jan. 30) on ABC, the first of regular Sunday afternoon broadcasts airing on the network over the remainder of the regular season. Sunday’s marquee doubleheader will be highlighted by the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant hosting the Boston Celtics, currently with the best record in the Eastern Conference, at 3:30 p.m. ET. Mike Breen will call the game with analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Lisa Salters.
Preceding Lakers/Celtics, the Miami Heat, with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, will visit the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant at 1 p.m. Mike Tirico will provide commentary for Heat/Thunder with analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox. The NBA Countdown pregame show, with host Hannah Storm and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon, will preview the doubleheader at 12:30 p.m.
Both games will also be available on ESPN Radio, with Jim Durham and Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay calling the Lakers/Celtics game (coverage beginning at 12:15 p.m.) and Marc Kestecher and analyst Will Perdue providing commentary for Heat/Thunder. Additionally, ESPN will televise a Sunday evening contest – the Utah Jazz and Deron Williams visiting the Golden State Warriors and Monta Ellis – at 10 p.m. ESPN’s telecast will also be available via ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.
ABC’s upcoming NBA game schedule:
Date Time (ET) Teams Sun., Jan. 30 1 p.m. Miami at Oklahoma City 3:30 p.m. Boston at L.A. Lakers Sun., Feb. 6 2:30 p.m. Orlando at Boston Sun., Feb. 13 1 p.m. Miami at Boston 3:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Orlando ABC Viewership Up 54 Percent; ESPN Up 24 Percent; Growth Across Digital Media & Mobile Platforms
ABC’s two NBA broadcasts this season (both on Christmas Day) generated an average of 10,883,000 viewers, an increase of 54 percent over last year’s broadcasts (7,078,000 viewers). The corresponding 5.5 rating improved by 45 percent (3.8 rating) and the 6,353,000 household impressions were up 44 percent (4,403,000 impressions).
Through 39 telecasts, ESPN has seen a 24 percent increase in average viewers (2,068,000 vs. 1,668,000), and household impressions (1,570,000 vs. 1,268,000) and 23 percent in average rating (1.6 vs. 1.3) when compared to 41 telecasts season-to-date in 2009-10. (Ratings information provided by Nielsen)
The average minutes spent on the NBA section of ESPN.com this season is up 31 percent, with unique visitors up 26 percent compared to the same time last year. NBA content on the ESPN Mobile Web has seen average minutes spent increase 75 percent, daily unique visitors improve 74 percent and page views up 62 percent. On ESPN3.com, NBA games have generated nearly 58 million minutes consumed this season, which is up 94 percent compared to the same point last year. (Source: Adobe)
Comprehensive Digital Media Content
ESPN.com, ESPNBoston.com, ESPNLA.com and the Heat Index will offer extensive coverage surrounding this weekend’s doubleheader on ABC.
Pregame:
§ Heat Index previewing the Heat/Thunder top five things to watch;
§ Tom Haberstroh story on LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant and the contrast of the modern small forward;
§ ESPNLA.com on whether Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey should be retired as a Laker;
§ ESPNLA.com/ESPNBoston.com podcast and blog post on who would have won Game 7 if it had been played in Boston;
§ Jackie MacMullan reporting on Kendrick Perkins and whether he could have made a difference last year;
§ Chris Forsberg previewing the Celtics/Lakers matchup;
§ Celtics/Lakers video previews;
§ Phil Jackson interview (video);
§ ABC Sunday Dime.In-game:
§ Daily Dime Live – live chat with ESPN and TrueHoop Network reporters, analysts, commentators and bloggers;
§ ESPNRadio.com live stream (Heat/Thunder and Celtics/Lakers).Post-game:
§ Daily Dime (complete coverage of Sunday’s games);
§ Heat Index reaction – player grades for the Heat/Thunder matchup;
§ Game column by the Heat Index’s Brian Windhorst;
§ Analysis by the Heat Index’s Haberstroh;
§ Game column by ESPNBoston.com’s Chris Forsberg;
§ ESPNBoston.com game notes;
§ Game column by ESPNLA.com’s Dave McMenamin;
§ General column by ESPNLA.com’s Ramona Shelburne;
§ ESPNLA.com’s Andy and Brian Kamenetzky – “At the Buzzer,” “Lakers Late Night,” and postgame video.
And I’ll try to do linkage tonight provided I won’t have to do work.
