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Networks Plan Season NBA Events

Oct 20, 2003  •  Post A Comment

The NBA plans to fast-break into the new season.
The league’s TV outlets, ESPN/ABC Sports, Turner Broadcasting and NBA TV, plan to open the season with four straight nights of nationally televised doubleheaders beginning Oct. 28. The first game, pitting the World Champion San Antonio Spurs against the Phoenix Suns on TNT, will feature the Spurs receiving their championship rings.
Other highlights of the first week include the first games of top rookies LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets.
The NBA’s cable channel, NBA TV, plans to premiere seven new shows during the first week of the season. The new shows include “Real Training Camp With the Denver Nuggets,” “Basketball Internacional” and “The NBA Store.”
The league also will bring back its “I Love This Game” promotional campaign, with promos using the slogan “1,000 Reasons Why I Love This Game.”
ESPN last week said it also will unveil a new marketing campaign. The theme of the new ads, created by Wieden & Kennedy, is “Basketball’s Back … And Not a Moment Too Soon.”
The ads focus on the competitive nature of the players. In one spot Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey Nets outdoes Jalen Rose of the Chicago Bulls by donating more to charity.