The NBA Finals will include extra off days starting this season. In other news, ESPN is cutting back on afternoon editions of SportsCenter, and the network will not continue displaying a ‘cover alert’ during its college football coverage.
NBA Finals Schedule Expanded
- The NBA has announced a revised NBA Finals schedule that includes two off days for each game that requires travel. As a result, the schedule has expanded from a maximum of 15 days to 18 and abandoned the Thursday-Sunday-Tuesday rotation in place since 2005. Next year’s series will begin Thursday, June 2, with the subsequent games on Sunday the 5th, Wednesday the 8th, Friday the 10th, Monday the 13th, Thursday the 16th and Sunday the 19th. It will be the first NBA Finals since 2003 to include a game on Friday, one of the lowest rated nights of the week. (nbcsports.com)
SportsCenter to Cut Afternoon Editions
- ESPN will cut back on afternoon editions of SportsCenter starting next month, The Big Lead reported Monday. The network will eliminate the 1:30-6 PM ET block of shows, choosing instead to air “regular live updates” during that time period. Currently, SportsCenter airs live on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNEWS continuously each weekday from 9 AM-2 AM. (The Big Lead)
ESPN Dumping ‘Cover Alert’ During Games
- ESPN, which has ramped up references to gambling this year, has done away with the ‘cover alert’ — an on-screen graphic during its college football coverage that alerted viewers when plays affected the point spread. In a Sports Business Journal report, ESPN EVP programming/production John Wildhack said the graphic — used just once — was “too overt” and the product of “trial and error.” (Sports Business Journal)
