TheNBA on TBSis an American presentation ofNational Basketball Association(NBA) regular season and playoff game telecasts that aired on the AmericancableandsatellitenetworkTBS.The games were produced byTurner Sports,the sports division of theTurner Broadcasting Systemsubsidiary ofTime Warner,TBS's corporate parent.
| NBA on TBS | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | America's Game[1] America's SuperShootout |
| Directed by |
|
| Presented by | Seecommentatorssection below |
| Opening theme | "Higher Ground"byRun-DMC[2] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No.of seasons | 16 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Don McGuire |
| Producers |
|
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 180 minutes (varies depending on game length) |
| Production company | Turner Sports |
| Original release | |
| Network | TBS |
| Release | October 10, 1984– May 14, 2002 |
| Related | |
The network obtained rights to air NBA games[3]beginning with the1984-85 season[4](replacing theESPNandUSA Networkas the NBA's national cable partners) in which TBS shared the NBA television package along withCBS.The1989-90 seasonthen saw Turner start to split the NBA cable package between TBS andTNT.TBS then lost its portion of the cable package toESPNprior to the start of the2002-03 season.
Coverage
editAtlanta Hawks
editFor many years beginning when the station assumed rights to the team's game telecasts in the late 1970s, WTBS (channel 17) inAtlanta– which served as the originating feed of the national TBS cable channel from December 1976 to October 2007 – aired some regular season games from theAtlanta Hawks(which was also owned byTed Turnerat the time), which also aired nationally on WTBS'ssuperstationfeed;[5]TBS aired the games nationwide until the telecasts became subjected to NBAblackoutrestrictions within 35 miles of the home team's arena, resulting in many Hawks away games televised by the network being unavailable to cable providers within the designated market area of the opposing team (this restriction was dropped when TNT gained the right to be the exclusive broadcaster of any game that it chose to carry).
National coverage
editWhen it began to televise games from NBA teams other than the Hawks beginning with the1984-85 season,TBS maintained a package of approximately 55 regular season NBA games annually[6]on Tuesday and Friday nights. TBS also carried numerousNBA Playoffgames as well as theNBA draft[7][8]from1985-1989.
Playoff coverage
editTBS was also allowed to televise 20 early round conference playoff games beginning with the1985 NBA playoffs.In 1986, TBS (as well asCBS) did not carry Game 1 of theEastern Conference Finals,relegating the broadcast of that game to television stations in the team's designated market areas; this would be the last time that an NBA Conference Finals game was not televised on a national network. During the1989 NBA playoffs,only 13 of the 24 games (comprising Games 1-3 of each series) in the first round aired on TBS or CBS. For example, none of the four games from theSeattle-Houstonfirst round series appeared on national television.
All-Star Weekend
editBeginning in1986,TBS televised the various contests from the NBA All-Star Weekend. In1987,theslam dunk contestwas televisedlivefor the very first time on the network.
Partnership with TNT
editIn the summer of 1988, the Turner Broadcasting System signed a new joint broadcast contract between TBS andTNT[9][10]effective with the1989-90 NBA season;beginning that season, TBS and TNT split broadcast rights to televise NBA games. TNT held rights to broadcast the NBA Draft and most NBA regular season and playoff games, while TBS only aired single games or double-headers once a week.
Both networks continued to expand their NBA coverage during the late 1990s;[11][12]by this time, TBS only aired games on Wednesday nights, while TNT ran games on Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights. By 1994, the opening round of theplayoffsfeatured overlapping doubleheaders on both TBS and TNT on the first two nights of each series.
1999–2001
editFor the1999-2000 NBA season,TBS shifted itsprimetimegame telecasts from Wednesdays to Mondays.[13]For the2000-2001 NBA season,the broadcasts were moved to Tuesdays, while TNT assumed rights to Wednesday and Thursday evening games.
Starting in2000,the NBA spread out telecasts of games from theEastern ConferenceandWestern Conferenceplayoff series so that only two series would play on their scheduled game days (so as to avoid scheduling conflicts andratingscompetition between TNT and TBS). TNT would air doubleheaders on most weekdays, while TBS would air one doubleheader each week.
2001–2002
editThe2001-2002 seasonwould ultimately mark TBS's final year of NBA coverage. Turner Sports signed a new NBA television contract in which TNT would assume rights to the company's NBA package, while TBS would discontinue game coverage altogether;ESPNassumed TBS's half of the league's cable television rights. During 2002, TBS aired doubleheaders every Tuesday night of the playoffs until the Conference Finals. The final NBA game ever to be regularly televised on TBS aired on May 13, 2002, when theSan Antonio Spursfaced theLos Angeles LakersinGame 5 of the Western Semifinals.In that last game,Robert Horryhit a key three-pointer that won the series four games to one for the Lakers to move on to the Western Conference Finals.
Coverage anomalies
editOn May 3, 1992, Game 4 of theplayoff seriesbetween theLos Angeles Clippersand theUtah Jazzwas rescheduled due to the1992 Los Angeles riotsand its broadcast was moved to TBS fromNBC,creating a problem as the game was now required to beblacked outwithin the Los Angeles television market. The game was only available in the Los Angeles area throughSportsChannel Los Angeles,aregional sportspremium cable service(as opposed to TBS, which operates as abasic cablechannel and at the time, a superstation). SportsChannel Los Angeles chose not to unscramble its signal and as a result, viewers complained in letters to theLos Angeles Timesand other sources that the game should have been made available to all cable subscribers as a public service.
Current broadcasts
editOn isolated occasions (typically during the playoffs) since TNT assumed partial cable rights to the NBA, TBS has served as an overflow feed for certain games. In2003,TBS aired a doubleheader of first round Game 6 matchups (theIndiana Pacers-Boston CelticsandSan Antonio Spurs-Phoenix Sunsseries). On May 22,2006,due to Game 7 of theSan Antonio Spurs-Dallas Mavericksseries going intoovertime,TBS aired part of the Game 7 Western Conference playoff match between theLos Angeles ClippersandPhoenix Suns.On May 14,2004,the same situation arose, as Game 5 of theNew Jersey Nets-Detroit Pistonsplayoff series lasted three overtimes. However, due to scheduling conflicts with TBS, TNT had to air part of theSacramento Kings-Minnesota Timberwolvesgame that was supposed to follow onNBA TV.The first few minutes of Game 4 of the2007 Western Conference Semifinalbetween the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs were shown on TBS, due to the game between theCleveland Cavaliersand theNew Jersey Netsrunning past the former's 9:30 p.m.Easternstart time. In2021 NBA playoffs,Game 5 between theLos Angeles Clippersand theUtah Jazzhad to temporarily air on TBS due to the Hawks/76ers game finishing later than usual.
The above situations are not unlike those that have been encountered duringTBS telecastsofMajor League BaseballDivision Seriesgames since 2007; at times, due to certain games running over their scheduled end time, TNT has had to air the first few minutes of games that TBS is supposed to cover.
Since2015,TBS has simulcast TNT’s coverage of theNBA All-Star Game.In2019,instead of simulcasting TNT’s feed, TBS carried a special Players Only telecast, withGreg Anthony,a former NBA first-round pick, doing play-by-play, Hall of FamerCharles BarkleyfromInside the NBA,andKevin Garnett,Minnesota Timberwolveslegend, analyzing the game, with former NBA 3-point marksmanDennis Scottreporting from the sidelines. TBS returned to simulcasting TNT’s feed in2020,after the Players Only brand was canceled by the NBA, Turner Sports, and NBA TV. In2022and2023,the Inside the NBA crew called TBS' alternate broadcast of the All-Star Game.
Commentators
editPlay-by-play
edit- Marv Albert[14]
- Rick Barry[15]
- Tim Brando
- Kevin Calabro
- Chip Caray
- Skip Caray
- Jim Durham
- Mike Gorman
- Kevin Harlan
- Verne Lundquist
- Bob Neal
- Charlie Neal
- Mel Proctor
- Dick Stockton
- Ron Thulin
- Pete Van Wieren
Color commentators
edit- Danny Ainge
- John Andariese
- Red Auerbach
- Rick Barry
- Hubie Brown
- Quinn Buckner
- Doug Collins
- Chuck Daly
- Mike Fratello
- Walt Frazier
- Jack Givens
- Mike Glenn
- Rod Hundley
- Steve Jones
- John MacLeod
- Don Nelson
- Bill Raftery
- Doc Rivers
- Oscar Robertson
- Bill Russell
- Reggie Theus
- John Thompson
- Dick Versace
- Bill Walton
Contributors
editStudio hosts
editChristmas Day broadcasters
editConference Finals broadcasters
edit| Year | Conference | Play-by-play | Color commentators |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Eastern (Games 2, 5) Western (Games 2–3) |
Skip Caray Bob Neal |
Rick Barry(Game 2) andSteve Jones(Game 5) Steve Jones |
| 1988 | Eastern (Games 1–2, 5) Western (Games 1–3) |
Skip Caray Bob Neal |
Rick Barry Steve Jones |
| 1987 | Eastern (Games 1–2, Game 5), Western (Game 3) Western (Game 2) |
Bob Neal Mel Proctor |
Doug Collins Bill Russell |
| 1986 | Eastern (Game 2) Western (Game 2) |
Skip Caray Rick Barry |
John Andariese Bill Russell |
| 1985 | Eastern (Games 2, 5) Western (Game 2) |
Skip Caray Rick Barry |
John Andariese Bill Russell |
Music
editAt the end of its1987 playoffcoverage, TBS usedBachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business"[19]as the soundtrack for the closing credits sequence during the game telecast. TBS usedRun-DMCto perform and compose its theme during the early2000s.The song included a version of theStevie Wondersong "Higher Ground."
| Seasons | Network | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1984-85to1985-86 | TBS | $20 million/2 years |
| 1986-87to1987-88 | TBS[21] | $25 million/2 years |
| 1988-89to1989-90 | TBS/TNT | $50 million/2 years |
| 1990-91to1993-94 | TNT | $275 million/4 years |
| 1994-95to1997-98 | TNT/TBS | $397 million/4 years |
| 1998-99to2001-02 | TNT/TBS | $840 million/4 years |
References
edit- ^NBA 1987 playoffs Game 5 "Celtics - Pistons" (part 1)onYouTube
- ^TBS NBA Tuesday theme intro - Run-DMC (2001-2003)onYouTube
- ^Sarmento, Mario R."The NBA on Network Television: Historical Analysis".
- ^June 6, 1984—TBS announces exclusive two-year NBA cable contract (extension through 1988 announced in February 1986 and extension through 1990 announced in November 1987).ArchivedFebruary 23, 2008, at theWayback Machine
- ^July 12, 1989—SuperStation TBS announces plans to air NBA Atlanta Hawks package, showcasing 25 regular season Hawks games during the 1989-90 season.ArchivedFebruary 23, 2008, at theWayback Machine
- ^Farhi, Paul (Sep 11, 1988). "TV Sports Coverage Vaults to Profitability; NBC Wins Its Gold Before".Washington Post.p. h.01.
- ^Lindquist, Jerry (Jul 1, 1988). "STRAYHORN LEAVING WXEX FOR NEW HAVEN".Richmond Times-Dispatch.p. D-5.
- ^"THE SOVIETS WILL BE COMING TO THE NBA SOON".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Sep 25, 1988. p. 12D.
- ^Schwartz, Jerry (Jul 16, 1988). "Turner Is Hopeful on New Cable Network".The New York Times.
- ^"Turner Is Hopeful on New Cable Network".The Atlanta Journal.September 13, 1988. p. E/1.
- ^"NBA Schedule on TBS Superstation (1997-1998)".Archived from the original on December 24, 1997.Retrieved2017-03-28.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^"NBA Schedule on TBS Superstation (1998-1999)".Archived from the original on February 20, 1999.Retrieved2017-03-28.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^"TBS NBA Monday 2000 Schedule".Archived from the original on March 1, 2000.Retrieved2017-03-28.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^"Turner Sports NBA Announcers".CNN.Archived fromthe originalon 2002-10-01.
- ^"...BUT IT'S JUST RIGHT FOR MOUNTAIN TIME".Sun Sentinel.September 13, 1986.
- ^"For the next seven years he was the main studio anchor for Atlanta Braves baseball, Atlanta Hawks basketball, NBA basketball, SEC College football and the Sunday night Coors Sports Page highlight show, as well as a contributor to CNN and Headline News".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-28.Retrieved2007-06-25.
- ^Hickman previously anchored TBS Superstation's Wednesday night NBA studio show in 1995
- ^"Paul Ryden - Sports Host - NBA Halftime Show".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-28.Retrieved2007-06-25.
- ^NBA 1987 playoffs Game 5 "Celtics - Pistons" (part 24)onYouTube
- ^NBA TV Contracts
- ^Martzke, Rudy (November 3, 1988)."ESPN scoops Brown's remarks about Kansas".USA Today.Gannett Company.Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2012.