ABC and ESPN 2008-09 NBA Schedule

ABC and ESPN Combine to Deliver 90-Game Flexible Schedule Including
Christmas Day Tripleheader

18 Exclusive ABC Broadcasts
72 Regular-Season Games on ESPN; 26 on ESPN Radio; 22 on ESPN Deportes
Game Simulcasts on ESPN360.com & ESPN Mobile TV

ESPN’s multimedia presentation of the 2008-09 NBA regular season will include 90 games, highlighted by 18 exclusive broadcasts on ABC – the home of the NBA Finals – and 72 games on ESPN (beginning October 29 at 8 p.m. ET).  ESPN and ABC, in conjunction with the NBA, will once again offer a flexible schedule, providing viewers with the best possible matchups with the most compelling storylines throughout the season.  All games will be seen in high definition on ABC HD and ESPN HD.  Additionally, all ESPN telecasts will be simulcast on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.  ESPN Radio will broadcast 26 games, while ESPN Deportes will televise 22 games. 

ABC and ESPN will combine to showcase some of the top teams in the NBA, including a collective 16 appearances by the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (the maximum allowed across both networks) and 15 appearances from the runner-up Los Angeles Lakers, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, and 14 appearances from the Dallas Mavericks.

ABC and ESPN will look to build on a strong 2007-08 performance, in which NBA Playoff viewership was up 52 percent on ABC (6,535,000 households in 2008 vs. 4,303,000 households in 2007) and 41 percent on ESPN (3,149,000 households vs. 2,239,000 households).  ESPN’s regular-season audience was up 14 percent (1,206,000 households in 2007-08 vs. 1,061,000 households in 2006-07), the best since the NBA returned to the network for the 2002-03 season, and ABC was up nine percent (2,451,000 households vs. 2,251,000 households).

The networks will combine to present a Christmas Day tripleheader, opening on ESPN with the Orlando Magic hosting the New Orleans Hornets at 12 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on ABC – San Antonio at Phoenix at 2:30 p.m., followed by an NBA Finals rematch between the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers and reigning MVP Kobe Bryant at 5:15 p.m.  ESPN’s coverage of the NBA season will begin with doubleheaders Wednesday, Oct. 29 – Phoenix at San Antonio at 8 p.m., followed by the Los Angeles Lakers at the L.A. Clippers at 10:30 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 31 – Chicago at Boston at 8 p.m. and San Antonio at Portland at 10:30 p.m.

ABC highlights:

• 18 exclusive broadcasts;
• a flexible schedule allowing for the best possible matchups throughout the season;
• a Christmas Day doubleheader featuring San Antonio at Phoenix and Boston at the L.A. Lakers with coverage beginning with NBA Countdown at 2 p.m.;
• an exclusive NBA Sunday “Game of the Week” regular-season schedule from Jan. 25 through April 12;
• six NBA Sunday doubleheaders;
• multiple appearances from several of the league’s top teams, including defending NBA Finals champion Boston and the runner-up L.A. Lakers, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki, the Detroit Pistons and Richard Hamilton, the Phoenix Suns and Shaquille O’Neal and the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan;
• a Western Conference Finals rematch when the L.A. Lakers host the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, Jan. 25, at 3:30 p.m.;
• a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals when the Boston Celtics host the Detroit Pistons Sunday, March 1, at 1 p.m.;
• Western Conference rivals taking center court on Sunday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m. when the Phoenix Suns host the San Antonio Spurs.

ESPN highlights:

• 10 appearances – the most by any team on the networks – by the Boston Celtics and Kevin Garnett, the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the L.A. Lakers and Kobe Bryant, and the Phoenix Suns and Shaquille O’Neal;
• a flexible schedule allowing for the best possible games throughout the season;
• 28 regular-season doubleheaders;
• an opening night doubleheader (Wednesday, Oct. 29) featuring the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan hosting the Phoenix Suns and Shaquille O’Neal at 8 p.m., followed by the L.A. Lakers and Kobe Bryant visiting the L.A. Clippers in the team debut of Baron Davis at 10:30 p.m.;
• a doubleheader including a pair of rookie debuts Friday, Oct. 31 – the Chicago Bulls and rookie Derrick Rose visiting the Boston Celtics at 8 p.m., leading into the home debut of Greg Oden with the Portland Trail Blazers hosting the San Antonio Spurs at 10:30 p.m.;
• a pair of lone-star showdowns between the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki and the Houston Rockets and Yao Ming – Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. and Wed., April 15, at 8 p.m.;
• the first-ever meeting between the New Orleans Hornets and Oklahoma City Friday, Nov. 21, at 9:30 p.m.;
• a Western Conference rivalry game between the Phoenix Suns and Shaquille O’Neal and the L.A. Lakers and Kobe Bryant Wed., Dec. 10, at 10:30 p.m.;
• top 2008 NBA Draft picks meet when the Miami Heat and No. 2 selection Michael Beasley host the Chicago Bulls and No. 1 pick Derrick Rose Friday, Dec. 26, at 5 p.m.;
• an Eastern Conference Finals rematch when the Boston Celtics visit the Detroit Pistons Fri., Jan. 30, at 7 p.m.

ESPN Radio

The NBA on ESPN Radio will tip off its 14th season Tuesday, Oct. 28, when the NBA champion Boston Celtics open their season at home – in a broadcast including the ring ceremony – against the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James at 7:35 p.m.  ESPN Radio’s schedule will also feature four All-Star Weekend specials, including the 58th All-Star Game in Phoenix, a Christmas Day Celtics-Lakers game, four doubleheaders, eight appearances by Boston and San Antonio and seven each by the L.A. Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

ESPN International

ESPN International will provide extensive coverage of the NBA regular season to fans in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean), the Middle East, Africa, Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands), cruise lines and studio programming to Europe. ESPN International coverage of the NBA will be offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese.  As of April 16, 2008, official rosters for the 2007-2008 NBA season featured 76 international players from 31 countries and territories.

2008-09 NBA Schedule on ABC

All Times Eastern; Games Subject to Change

2008-09 NBA Schedule on ESPN

All Times Eastern; Games Subject to Change

# Denotes ESPN Deportes telecast

2008-09 NBA Schedule on ESPN Radio

All Times Eastern; Games Subject to Change

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