NBA on TNT
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| NBA on TNT | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Sports |
| Running time | 150 minutes+ Subject to change |
| Starring | Marv Albert Steve Kerr Doug Collins Ernie Johnson Jr. Charles Barkley Kenny Smith |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original channel | TNT (1988–) |
| Original run | 1988– |
The NBA on TNT, known since October 2002 as TNT NBA Thursday, is a weekly broadcast of National Basketball Association games on TNT. TNT began airing NBA games in 1988, and aired games on multiple nights of the week (usually twice a week with sister network TBS airing another game on another night) until 2002.
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[edit] Coverage
[edit] Overview
TNT airs many of the NBA's marquee games (the NBA All-Star Game, a full Conference Final, Opening Night games, and the vast majority of playoff games), and is regarded by many NBA fans as the equivalent of what NBC was during their coverage of the league[1]. TNT would seem to be the preferred carrier to the NBA as well; from 2003 to 2005, TNT aired the Conference Final with the most interest from the national media (Spurs-Mavericks in 2003, Lakers-Wolves in 2004 and Pistons-Heat in 2005). TNT also airs most of the big games during the regular season (TNT will air a Lakers-Heat game for the third straight year in 2007), and TNT studio content is streamed to NBA.com via the TNT Overtime section.
[edit] Studio team
The host of the NBA on TNT since its inception is Ernie Johnson Jr. Currently, Johnson is joined by Kenny "The Jet" Smith and Charles Barkley. The NBA postgame show which features the three, Inside the NBA, has gained popularity in recent years for the chemistry and banter they have. Occasionally, Johnson, Smith and Barkley are joined by either Magic Johnson or Reggie Miller.
Barkley has been known for his controversial comments and outrageous bets. During the 2006 NBA Playoffs, in response to performer David Blaine's attempt to stay under water for nine minutes, Barkley duplicated the stunt with a small tub of water[2]. In late 2002, Barkley told Kenny Smith that he would "kiss [his] ass" if Houston Rockets then-rookie Yao Ming scored twenty points in a game[3], which was followed by Yao doing exactly that later that week. As a result, on Listen Up! With Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson that Thursday, Barkley kissed the rear end of a donkey that Smith brought into the studio. Barkley has also been weighed on air several times, and once said "bullshit" live on air. In 2002, a controversial Sports Illustrated cover, in which Barkley was portrayed in chains (like a slave)[4], led to a sometimes heated debate on the TNT studio show.
The chemistry of Johnson, Smith and Barkley has led some to believe that Inside the NBA is the best studio program on television [5] [6]. The program has won several Emmys, including one by host Ernie Johnson Jr. for "Best Studio Host/Personality". Some criticize the show, mainly due to Barkley's brashness[7]; in turn, that same brashness is also cause for some to praise the show [8].
[edit] Charles and Kobe Bryant
Barkley came under fire by some in 2006, due to his criticism of Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant. After Game 6 of the Lakers' first round series against the Phoenix Suns (when Bryant scored 50 points and the Lakers lost in overtime), Barkley criticised him for scoring too much and not getting his teammates involved. After Game 7 of the same series (when Bryant did not score and hardly attempted any shots in the second half), Barkley ripped him for being selfish. Some columnists thought that Barkley was being hypocritical [9] [10]. Bryant and Barkley exchanged several text messages about the issue [11], and during the second round of the playoffs, Bryant appeared on TNT's studio show[12]. Bryant and Barkley had a mild debate about the issue, and some observers (mainly Bryant supporters) found that Barkley was too easy on Bryant, considering his previous comments about him [13].
[edit] Playoff coverage
TNT's playoff coverage, nicknamed 40 Games in 40 Nights, is entering its 19th year. In previous years, TNT and TBS aired doubleheaders opposite each other each night of the first round of the playoffs, with one network airing a doubleheader at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and the other network airing a doubleheader at 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
In 2007, TNT will air the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time.
[edit] 2000-2002
Starting in 2000, the NBA spread out playoff series so that only two series would play per day (so as to avoid TNT and TBS competing for ratings). TNT would air doubleheaders on most weekdays, while TBS would air one doubleheader per week (in 2002, TBS aired doubleheaders every Tuesday night of the playoffs until the Conference Finals).
[edit] Since 2003
With the advent of the new NBA television deal in 2003 (which shut TBS completely out of NBA coverage), TNT has aired playoff games alone, including (in 2003 only) some weekday tripleheaders. The tripleheaders, which were criticized by both fans and many in the media, consisted of one game at 6:00 p.m., another at 8:30 p.m., and a final game at 11:00 p.m. After 2003, the NBA and TNT discontinued the tripleheaders, instead settling for a doubleheader on TNT and a single game on NBA TV simultaneously.
[edit] Coverage anomalies
On isolated occasions since the new TV deal, TBS has aired NBA games. In 2003, TBS aired a doubleheader of first round Game 6 matchups (Indiana vs. Boston, followed by San Antonio vs. Phoenix). On May 22, 2006, due to the San Antonio Spurs-Dallas Mavericks Game 7 going overtime, TBS aired part of the Los Angeles Clippers-Phoenix Suns Game 7. On May 14, 2004, the same situation arose, as Game 5 of the New Jersey Nets-Detroit Pistons playoff series went three overtimes. However, due to scheduling conflicts with TBS, TNT had to air part of the Sacramento Kings-Minnesota Timberwolves game that was supposed to follow on NBA TV.
[edit] Catchphrases and quotes
- "Win or go home" - The main tagline TNT uses for its playoff coverage. While the phrase may not resonate in the early games of a playoff series, it becomes especially useful towards the end of series. For all of TNT's Game 7s (Dallas-Sacramento in 2003, Miami-New Orleans and Sacramento-Minnesota in 2004, Indiana-Boston, Dallas-Houston and Detroit-Miami in 2005 and Lakers-Phoenix Suns, San Antonio-Dallas and Clippers-Phoenix in 2006), the phrase has been used in the pregame montage and in the graphics during the game.
- "Gone fishin'" - The most notable of TNT's catchphrases. It is used whenever a team is knocked out of the playoffs, and is usually accompianied by doctored photos of players on the team on fishing boats with anaylst Kenny Smith. Occasionally, Barkley or Smith will wear fishing hats when they anticipate a team's elimination from the playoffs. In addition to players, notable figures from the city of the eliminated team often show up (i.e., Condoleezza Rice, who was doctored into a Gone Fishin' photo after the Washington Wizards were eliminated from the 2005 playoffs). The catchphrase has gotten popular enough to warrant its own page on NBA.com and has also become a metaphor for being eliminated from the playoffs.
- "My big fat obnoxious boss" - Barkley's nickname for Inside the NBA director Tim Kiely ; the term is a take off on the short-lived FOX television show with the same name.
[edit] Announcing Teams
- See also: List of NBA on TNT announcers
Currently, the lead announcing team for the NBA on TNT is Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, with Doug Collins joining them for important regular season games, the NBA All-Star Game and the Conference Finals. Past lead broadcasting teams for TNT include Dick Stockton and Hubie Brown, who worked as a team dating back to The NBA on CBS and continued doing games together until 2002, when Brown left the broadcast booth to coach in the NBA. Bob Neal and Reggie Theus also worked as a lead team for TNT for several years. Several prominent NBA analysts have chosen TNT over ABC or ESPN, such as Doug Collins and Charles Barkley (Barkley was not only approached by ABC about an NBA studio job in 2002, but as also rumored to have been approached for a job on Monday Night Football). Reggie Miller was also sought out by ABC and ESPN, only to go to TNT.
The biggest TNT acquisition once sought out by ABC and ESPN was Marv Albert. After the 2002 NBA Finals, Albert, essentially a free agent, was a candidate for the lead spot on The NBA on ABC. Albert, hired by TNT in 1999, decided to stay with the network[14]. Some attributed this to the fact that TNT gave Albert his first chance to be on national television after the embarrassing sex scandal that forced his firing at NBC.
Hubie Brown is currently the only former TNT announcer working for ABC. Brown, whose role on TNT was going to be significantly reduced starting with the 2002-03 NBA season, left in 2002 to coach the Memphis Grizzlies. After two seasons of coaching, he left Memphis in early 2004 (leading to the departure from TNT of lead analyst Mike Fratello, who replaced him in Memphis) and was quickly picked up by ABC. Part-time TNT broadcaster Mike Breen is now the lead broadcaster for ABC and once-time TNT analyst Doc Rivers worked for ABC in 2004.
[edit] Ratings
- For more details on TNT's NBA ratings, see National_Basketball_Association_Nielsen_ratings#Turner_Sports.
Since becoming the main cable participant in the NBA's television deal (a deal that includes an entire Conference Final each season) TNT's NBA ratings have improved dramatically in the postseason from prior years. While regular season ratings for TNT NBA Thursday are the same or slightly higher than years before, postseason ratings have delivered TNT several of the highest rated NBA games on cable in history. The NBA All-Star Game delivered TNT's highest ever NBA rating in 2003, while the Conference Finals in 2004 and 2005 set playoff cable ratings records in back-to-back years.
In 2006, TNT's NBA playoff ratings were down slightly in the first round (from a record high the previous year), up significantly in the second round, but down twenty percent in the marquee Conference Final. For the first time ever, ESPN's Conference Final coverage out-rated TNT's (4.8 to 4.6), and TNT's Conference Final coverage finished at its lowest level since 2003. Still, NBA Playoff coverage helped TNT win the ratings race for the season, and TNT scored the highest-rated first round NBA Playoff game on cable in history with Game 6 of the Phoenix Suns-Los Angeles Lakers series.
While TNT's playoff ratings usually range from respectable to very high, regular season ratings are typically between a 1.0 and 1.6 rating (similar to ESPN's ratings). In 2006, ratings are expected to drop somewhat due to several NBA doubleheaders going up head-to-head against NFL games on the NFL Network.
[edit] Contract History[15]
| Seasons | Contracts Amount |
| 1988-89 to 1989-90 | $50 million/2 years |
| 1990-91 to 1993-94 | $275 million/4 years |
| 1994-95 to 1997-98 | $397 million/4 years |
| 1998-99 to 2001-02 | $840 million/4 years |
| 2002-03 to 2007-08 | $2.2 billion/6 years |
TNT's NBA contract is up at the end of the 2007-08 NBA season. NBA Commissioner David Stern is trying to extend the current television deals by the end of 2006[16], which could mean that TNT's coverage would extend into the next decade.
[edit] References
- ^ Old School Friday - SLAM Online
- ^ Charles Barkley tries to hold his breath for 9 minutes
- ^ Barkley pays up, but Smith avoids being butt of joke
- ^ Gallery :: Hall of Shame :: siunchained
- ^ Why "Inside the NBA" is the best sports show on TV
- ^ TNT studio show doing dynamite job
- ^ The Loudmouth Bully Strikes Again
- ^ Barkley's off-color commentary is comic-relief
- ^ [1]
- ^ BARKLEY MISSES POINT ON KOBE
- ^ ABC/ESPN's World Cup coverage plans revealed
- ^ Youtube - Half
- ^ BARKLEY IS THE COWARD... NOT KOBE
- ^ Albert follows bouncing NBA from NBC to TNT
- ^ *Inside Hoops - NBA TV Contracts
- ^ Stern Fast-Tracks TV Rights
| American Football: TNT Sunday Night Football | College Football on TBS |
| Auto Racing: NASCAR |
| Baseball: Major League Baseball on TBS | Braves TBS Baseball |
| Basketball: The NBA on TNT | The NBA on TNT announcing teams | List of NBA on TNT announcers |
| See Also: United States sports broadcasting lists |
