A couple of things from Turner Sports which runs NBA TV. First, Greg Anthony who has done work with the NBA on TNT and NBA TV, will be part of the network’s Fan Night, which allows the fans to choose which game will be aired that night. Anthony, who is also CBS’ NCAA Tournament studio analyst, will join host Ernie Johnson and co-analyst Chris Webber.
In addition, Turner has announced that NBA on TNT studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal will contribute to NBA TV as well.
Plus, NBA TV will have a one hour pregame show airing before TNT’s Thursday Night doubleheaders. That will be hosted by Matt Winer.
And there are other features on the NBA’s other digital platforms. I’ll let the press release speak for itself.
NBA Digital to Offer Content Across More Platforms Than Ever Before During the 2011-12 NBA Season
– Greg Anthony to Join NBA TV’s Acclaimed Fan Night and Shaquille O’Neal to Serve as Network Contributor –
NBA Digital – a partnership between Turner Sports and the NBA – today announced the addition of Greg Anthony to NBA TV’s signature Tuesday Fan Night program and TNT NBA analyst Shaquille O’Neal for regular contributions and in-studio appearances, as part of its multiplatform digital plans for the 2011-12 season, which includes new programming on NBA TV, an enhanced NBA GameTime mobile application, and access to NBA.com StatsCube for the first time during the regular season.
Anthony will join host Ernie Johnson and analyst Chris Webber, with O’Neal making contributions for the popular NBA TV Fan Night on Tuesdays throughout the regular season. Entering its fourth season, Fan Night provides fans with the opportunity to vote on NBA.com for games they want to see televised nationally on NBA TV. The first Fan Night game will be January 3, 2012.
NBA TV new programming for the 2011-12 season will include Thursday Night Pregame Show, a 60-minute pregame show on Thursday nights with host Matt Winer, joined by analyst Steve Smith or Dennis Scott and a rotating TNT studio analyst each week prior to the TNT pregame show.
“NBA Digital’s goal is to provide fans with around-the-clock access to the most-comprehensive coverage of the game they love, regardless of platform,” said Christina Miller, senior vice president and general manager of NBA Digital and senior vice president, Turner Sports Strategy, Marketing and Programming. “Our talented and energetic studio teams, coupled with our full schedule of games, informative original programming and our extensive cross-platform offerings, deliver everything fans need to catch every minute of the season.”
NBA TV will tip off its 13th season and 96 games of coverage on Dec. 26 with a doubleheader, as the Houston Rockets take on the Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET) followed by the L.A. Lakers visiting the Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET). Prior to the regular season, NBA TV will broadcast at least 10 preseason contests live, including Florida’s intrastate rivalry when the Orlando Magic hosts the Miami Heat Dec. 21 (7 p.m. ET), with Marv Albert and Mike Fratello calling the game, and Craig Sager providing courtside reporting.
NBA GameTime Mobile Application:
- The NBA GameTime Mobile application has been enhanced for the 2011-12 season to provide more content and video for fans, along with the option to customize the home screen to their favorite NBA team. A premium NBA GameTime version will provide live audio of games, in-game video highlights, game highlight recaps, and extensive video features.
NBA.com StatsCube and NBA.com highlights:
- NBA.com StatsCube – For the first time during the regular season fans will have access to the NBA.com StatsCube, the official analysis tool of the NBA. The one-of-a-kind tool allows fans and media on NBA.com to navigate an easy-to-use interactive application to develop deep, custom analysis on NBA players, teams and matchups. NBA StatsCube (http://www.nba.com/statscube/) is developed from the official NBA play-by-play data that is tracked courtside during every game.
- Additional Social Media interaction – NBA.com will provide a more interactive fan experience through Facebook Connect integration and feeds from Twitter throughout the season. The site also will provide original content from the extensive roster of writers, onsite features, photo galleries, and video blogs.
NBA LEAGUE PASS highlights:
- This season a subscription to the NBA LEAGUE PASS television product allows viewers, for one price, to watch live games on television, via the Internet on NBA.com, and on a variety of mobile devices and internet connected devices via NBA GameTime application. NBA LEAGUE PASS will provide fans with up to 40 out-of-market games per week.
Additional NBA TV highlights:
- The Beat: The reporter roundtable-based program moves to Monday nights from Tuesday nights. Vince Cellini will host, with David Aldridge returning as a regular contributor on the show.
- NBA.com Fantasy Insider: Rick Kamla, NBA TV’s fantasy expert, teams up with Dennis Scott to continue the weekly fantasy show NBA.com Fantasy Insider airing Mondays on NBA.com at 3 p.m. (ET) and airing on NBA TV at 5 p.m. (ET).
- The Jump: Along with Fan Night, Tuesday’s will feature the return of The Jump at 3 p.m (ET) on NBA.com with Brent Barry, Dennis Scott, chat master Sekou Smith and a new host to be announced soon. The show will re-air at 5 p.m on NBA TV.
- NBA GameTime: This year, Shaquille O’Neal joins the NBA GameTime team. Wednesday night’s edition of NBA GameTime will offer a double dose of analysis. The show will feature host Rick Kamla and analysts Dennis Scott and Greg Anthony for the early part of the night. For the later part of the night, Matt Winer and Greg Anthony will be joined by TNT analysts Kenny Smith and O’Neal for regular appearances.
- NBA GameTime on Christmas Day: NBA TV will tip off its new Thursday night pregame show as a part of the NBA’s opening day action on Sunday, Dec. 25 with a live studio NBA GameTime show at 10 a.m. (ET) with host Vince Cellini and analysts Steve Smith and Chris Webber previewing all of the Christmas Day games prior to TNT’s pre-game show, TNT NBA Tip Off ’11 at 11 a.m. (ET). At the conclusion of the Christmas Day games, host Matt Winer and analyst Dennis Scott will wrap up the holiday with a breakdown from all of the opening day activity.
That will do it.
