- With the 2008-09 NBA season beginning in less than a month, Turner is set to unveil a “multimillion-dollar rebranding campaign to raise the profile of the NBA?s digital assets” which Turner Sports acquired earlier this year. With the slogan “The Game Happens Here”, ads will highlight the season long coverage given the NBA by NBA.com, NBA League Pass and NBA TV. For example, one ad consists of Kevin Garnett‘s various “on-camera quotes, beginning with training camp and continuing to after his Celtics team won a championship. The commercial fades to black, then brings up the tag line: ‘The Game Happens Here.‘” (Sports Business Journal)
- With Turner taking over, NBA TV will relaunch at 5 PM on October 28, with “a new on-screen look, featuring new sets and graphics“, and a focus on “live studio programming, which will use some of TNT?s high-profile talent such as Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.” The new NBA TV will also have “theme nights”, such as the already publicized Fan Night, on which fans will be able to vote for which game is televised. In addition to Fan Night, Turner intends to “develop themes for two other nights, as well.” (Sports Business Journal)
- The CBC’s venerable Hockey Night in Canada will now be available in the U.S. via NHL Network. NHL Network will “not only broadcast the live Hockey Night In Canada double-header, but also the CBC pre-game show Scotiabank Hockey Tonight and post-game show After Hours.” NHL Network will also simulcast 17 TSN Wednesday Night Hockey telecasts as part of its 75-game schedule. (Biz of Hockey via Fang’s Bites)
Ted Turner, whose cable business transformed TV sports, dies
Ted Turner, the media mogul and team owner whose TBS "SuperStation" helped pave the way the era of cable...
