WNBA on ESPN

The WNBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of Women's National Basketball Association games on the ESPN family of networks. Under the title of WNBA Tuesday, games are broadcast throughout the WNBA season on Tuesday nights on ESPN2.

In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension with ESPN. The new television deal runs from 2009 to 2016. A minimum of 18 games will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 each season. Additionally, a minimum of 11 postseason games will be broadcast on any of the three stations.^[1]

Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars" will be "dispersed to the league's teams."

Beginning with the 2009 WNBA season, all nationally broadcast WNBA games are shown in high definition.

Announcers

Announcers change from year to year, but recent play-by-play personalities have included: Terry Gannon, Mark Jones, Dave Pasch and Pam Ward. Generally, game broadcasts include a pair of announcers--alongside those providing play-by-play are the color analysts which have included: Doris Burke, Nancy Lieberman, Carolyn Peck, Rebecca Lobo.

These broadcasts also commonly include a sideline reporter. Recent sideline reporters have included: Heather Cox, Holly Rowe and previously Rebecca Lobo.

During halftime of the broadcasts, Cindy Brunson, and more recently Doris Burke, provide game analysis and other sports updates.

Wired

One unique aspect of WNBA coverage on the ESPN family of networks is that many of the participants wear live microphones^[2]. Starting with the 2003 WNBA All Star Game (which aired on ABC), most games televised have involved coaches, players and referees being wired for sound. On some occasions, the sound of players and coaches talking will overlap with commentary; also, on several occasions, ESPN has had to mute the sound because of expletives.

Controversy

During the 2006 WNBA Finals, Detroit Shock head coach, and former ESPN NBA analyst, Bill Laimbeer became irritated^[3] by ESPN's coverage, quoted by the Detroit Free Press as saying:

Laimbeer banned ESPN from the Shock locker room for Game 4 of the series, and also refused to wear a live microphone for that game (as had been the custom throughout the regular season and the playoffs).

Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault admitted that he does not like having a microphone on during games. He also said that he sometimes finds himself turning the microphone off.

Viewership

Saturday and Sunday afternoon games are broadcast on ABC. Tuesday night games are broadcast on ESPN2. On opening day (May 17, 2008), ABC broadcast the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury matchup. The game received a little over 1 million viewers. Average viewership for games broadcast on national television (ABC and ESPN2) was 413,000 (up from 346,000 in 2007).

In 2008, the WNBA finished up in key demographics on ESPN2—Women 18-34 (+71%) and Men 18-34 (+28%) – and on ABC—All Women (+10%) and Women 18-34 (+20%).^[4]

Ratings remain poor in comparison to NBA games. WNBA games averaged just 413,000 viewers, compared to 1.46 million viewers for NBA games.^[5] However, the WNBA gets more viewers on national television broadcasts than both Major League Soccer (253,000) ^[6] and the NHL (310,732).^[7]

The 2009 regular season on ESPN2 (13 telecasts) concluded with an average of 269,000 viewers, up 8% vs. 2008 season (248,000 viewers). In addition, regular-season games on ESPN2 saw increases in key demographics, including men 18-34 (+9%), men 18-49 (+14%) and men 23-54 (+23%).

The 2011 season on ESPN2 averaged 270,000 viewers per game, the league's highest since 2005. Viewership for the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game on ABC was up 46% from the previous game.

References

External links

• Media Watch: WNBA