NBA TV, the league-owned and Turner Sports-run network, will be part of the TV rotation in the early-going for the playoffs. For the first week, it will carry three games and will utilize NBA television veterans Ian Eagle and Kevin Calabro to call the games. Steve Smith and Greg Anthony will be the analysts. Tracy Wolfson and Stephanie Ready will be the reporters.
In addition, NBA TV will provide plenty of programming surrounding the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Matt Winer, Rick Kamla and Vince Cellini will be the studio hosts. Chris Webber, Greg Anthony, Brent Barry, Dennis Scott and Steve Smith will be among those who will join the fun in the studio.
We have the NBA TV announcement.
NBA Digital to Provide Comprehensive Coverage of 2012 NBA Playoffs Across Television, Online and Mobile
NBA TV to Air Approximately 1,500 Hours of Playoff Coverage Including Originally-Produced Games
NBA.com to use Playoffs Pulse to Track Popular Social Media Content and Highlight Fan Tweets with Social Spotlight; NBA Mobile to Offer Enhanced Playoff Experience with NBA GameTime AppNBA Digital, coming off a record-setting regular season, will guide fans through the 2012 NBA Playoffs with comprehensive coverage and enhancements across multiple screens, including originally-produced NBA TV game telecasts, NBA.com’s Playoffs Pulse and Social Spotlight, and new features for an enhanced experience on NBA Mobile.
NBA TV’s original productions of NBA playoff games will mark the first time the network will independently produce its playoff games since the start of the Turner Sports-NBA partnership to jointly manage the NBA’s digital assets four years ago. The network’s playoff telecasts will tip off with the Indiana Pacers hosting the Orlando Magic on Monday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Ian Eagle will provide commentary with analyst Steve Smith and reporter Stephanie Ready.
NBA TV playoff telecasts will include interviews with coaches, who will also wear microphones during the games. Each game night will include the Pregame Show, Halftime Report and NBA GameTime postgame shows.
2012 NBA PLAYOFFS ON NBA TV (All Times ET)
TIME/DATE GAME Monday, April 30 7:30 p.m. ET Orlando at Indiana (Game 2)
Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst) and Stephanie Ready (reporter)Tuesday, May 1 7:30 p.m. Boston at Atlanta (Game 2)
Kevin Calabro (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)Wednesday, May 2 7:30 p.m. Indiana at Orlando (Game 3)
Eagle (play-by-play), Anthony (analyst) and Ready (reporter)NBA TV will air approximately 1,500 hours of wall-to-wall NBA Playoff coverage. The network will provide pre- and post-game analysis, press conferences, complete-game playbacks of every playoff game and encore presentations of NBA GameTime.
The 2011-12 NBA regular season on NBA TV was the most viewed in the network’s history. The league’s 24-hour network averaged 337,000 viewers (up 33 percent vs. 253,000 last year) and 266,000 household impressions (up 34 percent vs. 2010-11) for its 96-game schedule.
“This has been a record-setting year for NBA Digital and we look forward to carrying that momentum into the postseason,” said Albert “Scooter” Vertino, vice president of content, NBA Digital. “NBA Digital prides itself on being the home for all things NBA and that will be our focus throughout the playoffs with originally-produced games, constant updates and analysis across NBA TV, NBA.com and NBA Mobile.”
NBA.com will transform into “Playoffs Central” including a converted home page with access to series breakdowns, complete video highlights, stats, game storylines and live streaming press conferences. In addition, NBA.com’s Playoffs Pulse will allow users to vote, track top trending topics and share content in real-time about NBA players and teams.
Throughout the Playoffs, NBA.com will showcase the best tweets, photos and videos from players, fans and NBA.com writers through NBA.com’s Social Spotlight – a dynamic mosaic that flips every few seconds to highlight the conversation in the social media space.
NBA Digital’s complete playoff coverage – from the opening tip through trophy presentation – will also include:
NBA TV
- NBA TV’s studio teams will include hosts Matt Winer, Rick Kamla and Vince Cellini, alongside a deep roster of analysts – Chris Webber, Greg Anthony, Brent Barry, Dennis Scott and Steve Smith, among others.
- Winer, Smith and Sam Mitchell will break down each first round series on Friday, April 27, with the Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview at 8 p.m. followed by the Western Conference Playoffs Preview at 9 p.m. with Cellini, Smith and Mitchell.
- NBA TV will feature NBA GameTime every night before, during and after games throughout the playoffs featuring highlights, analysis, player interviews and live press conferences.
- The network will produce Playoff Playbacks, which will be 60-minute versions of every playoff game for re-air on NBA TV.
- Original programming will include: (*air dates TBD)
- Sounds of the Playoffs – Airing at the conclusion of each round of the playoffs, the three 30-minute NBA Entertainment-produced shows will provide exclusive coverage of games plus access on and off the court, delivering all the big shots, clutch performances and memorable moments in the weeks leading up to The Finals.
- NBA Backstage: The Playoffs – The NBA’s top stars talk about what it takes to succeed in the playoffs.
- The Association: Denver Nuggets – In Episode 7, The Association follows the Denver Nuggets as they begin their playoff run.
- One on One with Ahmad Rashad – Ahmad sits down with three players to discuss their compelling stories.
NBA.com
- NBA.com will produce Playoff Series Hub pages available for every series. Each page will include video highlights, box scores, series stats and game stories from the site’s stable of award-winning writers.
- NBA.com will provide instant analysis on all breaking news throughout the playoffs.
- Exclusive content, live chats with NBA.com writers, and replays of Inside the NBA will be available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com.
NBA Mobile
- During the playoffs, users can follow all the action through NBA GameTime, the signature mobile app of the NBA available via the iTunes App Store, Google Play and the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace. NBA GameTime will provide live scoring, game alerts, video on demand, radio feeds, a redesigned app dashboard and full bracket view.
- Users also can follow the playoffs through NBA Game Time Courtside, the official tablet application of the NBA, available via the iTunes App Store. Courtside will provide live scoring, a new NBA dashboard view, video on demand, and full bracket view.
- The NBA.com mobile web site will provide users with an enhanced experience with new features including video, series trackers and an expanded bracket view.
- The site will also allow users to access postseason stats, scores and standings, as well as follow their favorite players from any HTML 5 enabled device.
That is all.
