The NBA Playoffs begin this weekend and TNT will carry the first game on Saturday before handing off to ABC/ESPN to kick off the eight game schedule this weekend. Then on Sunday, TNT has an evening doubleheader.
Thanks to TNT, we also have the announcing assignments for the three games it will carry this weekend and then for the games through May 6. The usual suspects will be involved for TNT including Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert and Dick Stockton with Matt Devlin joining the crew to call games. Analysts include Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello and NBA TV’s Chris Webber.
Reporters include Craig Sager, Cheryl Miller, Marty Snyder, David Aldridge and Jamie Maggio. I believe Tracy Wolfson from CBS makes her NBA on TNT debut this season.
We have the schedule of games for the first week of the Playoffs.
TNT’s Coverage of the 2012 NBA Playoffs Begins April 28
TNT on Pace for Highest-Rated & Most-Viewed NBA Regular Season; More Than 40 NBA Playoff Games on TNT Including Western Conference Finals
On pace to deliver a record-setting 2011-12 NBA regular season -– the highest-rated and most-viewed in its 28-year history with the league -– TNT will televise more than 40 NBA Playoff games beginning Saturday, April 28. TNT, the home of the Western Conference Finals this season, will open its postseason schedule with the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose hosting the Philadelphia 76ers and Andre Iguodala at 1 p.m. ET. Recently, Turner Sports was nominated for four Sports Emmy® Awards for its coverage of the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
Through 43 telecasts, the NBA on TNT has averaged a 1.7 U.S. HH rating, 2,566,000 viewers and 1,955,000 household impressions. The top six NBA regular-season games on cable this season have all aired on TNT and the network has televised two of the top five most-watched NBA regular-season games in cable television history this season.
The NBA on TNT is up nine percent among household impressions (vs. 1,797,000); seven percent among viewers (vs. 2,397,000); and six percent in U.S. HH rating (vs. 1.6) when compared with last season. TNT is expected to post its fifth straight year of growth among viewers and households. There has also been considerable growth among all core demos:
- A18-34 +17% (899,000 vs. 771,000)
- A18-49 +9% (1,440,000 vs. 1,325,000)
- A25-54 +4% (1,234,000 vs. 1,188,000)
- M18-34 +19% (651,000 vs. 545,000)
- M18-49 +9% (1,032,000 vs. 946,000)
- M25-54 +3% (866,000 vs. 839,000)
TNT’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs will feature the four-time Sports Emmy® Award-winning studio show hosted by Ernie Johnson with analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal (in his first year with the network) and Kenny Smith.
Commentator teams for TNT’s first round coverage include Marv Albert/Steve Kerr; Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller; Dick Stockton/Chris Webber; and Matt Devlin/Mike Fratello.
TNT’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs will also include sideline reporters Craig Sager, David Aldridge, Cheryl Miller, Marty Snider, Tracy Wolfson, Jaime Maggio, Lewis Johnson and Stephanie Ready.
Additionally, TNT OverTime on NBA.com will provide multi-camera angle coverage including an “Action Cam” and a “Backboard Cam” for up to 21 games through the Western Conference Finals. Users also will have the ability to vote for which player they would like the “Home Player Cam” and “Away Player Cam” to follow per quarter. Fans can watch each camera individually, with picture-in-picture or in the Mosaic View. Viewers also can participate in “Ask The Expert” Cover It Live chats where they can ask NBA insiders questions during the playoff games.
2012 NBA PLAYOFFS ON TNT (All Times ET)
TIME/DATE GAME Saturday, April 28 1 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Philadelphia at Chicago — (Game 1)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)Sunday, April 29 6:30 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)7 p.m. Boston at Atlanta — (Game 1)
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)9:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Memphis (Game 1)
Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Monday, April 30 7 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)New York at Miami — (Game 2)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)9:30 p.m. Dallas at Oklahoma City — (Game 2)
Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Tuesday, May 1 8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Philadelphia at Chicago — (Game 2)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)9:30 p.m. Denver at L.A. Lakers — (Game 2)
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Jaime Maggio (reporter)Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Wednesday, May 2 7 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Utah at San Antonio — (Game 2)
Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (reporter)9:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Memphis — (Game 2)
Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Thursday, May 3 7 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Miami at New York — (Game 3)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)9:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Dallas — (Game 3)
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Saturday, May 5 7 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)7:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Dallas — (Game 4)
Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)10 p.m. San Antonio at Utah — (Game 3)
Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (reporter)Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Sunday, May 6 6:30 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)7 p.m. Atlanta at Boston (Game 4)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)9:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Denver — (Game 4)
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)Midnight Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
That is all.
