List of NBA Finals broadcasters

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The following is a list of the television networks and announcers that have broadcast NBA Finals games over the years.

[edit] Broadcasters

• DuMont: 1953-1954
• NBC: 1954-1962
• ABC: 1962-1973
• CBS: 1973-1990
• NBC: 1990-2002
• ABC: 2002-present

[edit] See also

• InsideHoops - NBA TV Contracts

[edit] 2000s

[edit] 1990s

[edit] Notes

• 1994 - During Game 5 (June 17, 1994) most NBC affiliates (with the noted exception being WNBC-TV out of New York) split the coverage of the game between NFL Hall of Famer O. J. Simpson's low speed freeway chase with the LAPD. A visibly confused and distraught Bob Costas (NBC's anchor for their NBA Finals coverage) said during the telecast from Madison Square Garden that the Simpson situation was "not just tragic but now surreal."

• 1992 - Magic Johnson helped call Games 1, 4, and 5; Hannah Storm was the first female sportscaster to work a NBA Finals for national television.

• 1993 - Magic Johnson was unavailable for Game 6 (the series clincher) because he was attending his brother Larry's wedding.

[edit] 1980s

[edit] Notes

• Prior to the 2003, the 1981 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets received the lowest television rating of all-tme. The 1981 Finals drew a 6.7 ratings, according to Nielsen Media Research. Meanwhile, the 2003 Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey Nets drew a 6.5 rating.

• From 1979-1981, CBS aired weekday NBA Finals games on tape delay. They normally aired them after the late local news (11:30 p.m.) in the CBS Late Movie time slot.

[edit] 1970s

[edit] Notes

• ^[1]1970 - The 1970 NBA Finals was the first NBA Final to be nationally televised in full.

[edit] 1960s

[edit] Notes

• 1969 - Game 7 was televised by ABC in prime time.

• For much of the 1960s, ABC was only contracted to televise Sunday afternoon games, including the playoffs. This meant that ABC didn't have to televise a potential NBA Finals clincher if it landed on a weeknight.

• 1962 - All of the games from Boston were televised in Los Angeles on Channel 9 (then called KHJ-TV) with Chick Hearn on play-by-play. For Game 7, Jack Drees joined the broadcast team. In addition, Chick Hearn indicated that Game 7 was being syndicated around the nation to a variety of cities.

[edit] 1950s

[edit] See also

• The NBA on ABC
• The NBA on NBC
• The NBA on CBS
• The NBA on TNT
• List of NBA Eastern Conference Final broadcasters
• List of NBA Western Conference Final broadcasters
• List of National Basketball Association All-Star Game broadcasters