NBA TV Takes Fan Engagement to Next Level With Social-Centric Fans Only' Telecast There will be no play-by-play caller but plenty of social-media content, fan interaction By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 - 3:06 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
In the age of ubiquitous mobile devices and social-media interaction, sports broadcasters have found it increasingly difficult to keep fans engaged during live game telecasts. Rather than fight it, Turner Sports and NBA TV aim to embrace the connected fan with a first-of-its-kind production format, dubbed Fans Only, debuting for the Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers game this Friday.
The Fans Only telecast will incorporate a constant stream of fan-driven content, including social conversation and instant polling, displayed in a multibox L-screen graphic throughout the game. In lieu of traditional play-by-play announcers, Fans Only will feature additional graphics (signaling simple occurrences like turnover or personal foul ) to help narrate the action. Along with significant fan involvement onsite at the STAPLES Center, NBA TV's studio team will take phone calls from viewers on-air, react to social-media content, and let fan polls determine what is featured next in the telecast.
Everyone knows that it's a challenge right now for TV networks to engage with the fans and find ways to keep their attention throughout these games, explains NBA TV Executive Producer John O'Connor. We believe it's now up to us to listen to them, find out what they want to see and when, and then react to that. That's the main philosophy for this game. I equate it to how fans are engaged on their phones during games; we are trying to bring that type of engagement to the TV screen.
The Graphics: On-Screen Layout and Social-Media Integration
NBA TV will feature an L-shaped graphic throughout the telecast; the action on the court will never go full-screen. The left vertical panel will display social-media content (from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat), and a scorebug and instant poll results will be displayed along the bottom. In addition to displaying the social-media conversation in general, NBA TV has recruited social influencers from around the country and will periodically incorporate them into the telecast.
One thing we discussed a lot is that we don't want to alienate the viewer because the full-screen experience is very important to fans. We understand that, says O'Connor. We have decided we are going to have the L-shaped screen the whole time and not switch between full-screen and the L-screen. That would drive the fan even crazier. You're going to see it the whole game, but you won't miss any game action whatsoever.
Because the Lakers-Timberwolves game coverage won't have an announcer or analyst, NBA TV will display lower-third graphics throughout the game.
We won't have traditional play-by-play or announcers, but, obviously, we still need to tell the story of the game, says O'Connor. The game will be dictated more graphically for fans at home watching the game, so they know what's going on. You will see extra lower-third graphics coming off the scorebug, like a turnover, out of bounds, and two-shot foul. Things that you'd normally take for granted when an announcer is calling the game we will now accentuate a little bit more with graphics so people aren't lost.
The Talent: Onsite at STAPLES Center and Back Home in the Studio
Throughout the telecast, host Casey Stern and analysts Grant Hill and Brendan Haywood will help guide the viewer through the telecast (the cast from NBA TV's The Starters will also be featured in the studio). In addition, Dennis Scott will be in the stands, and Nate Robinson will roam the concourse interviewing celebrities and engaging with fans.
Onsite at STAPLES, Dennis Scott and Nate Robinson will play a prominent role in the broadcast, says O'Connor. We have done some initiatives in the past, like Players Only, where we had Dennis Scott onsite, but he will be much more focused on the fans in the arena for this [telecast]. He will also talk to celebrities about being a fan and what it's like to show up to these games all the time as a celebrity.
NBA TV's Fans Only telecast will feature a constant L-screen graphic highlighting the social-media conversation, real-time fan polling, and more.
In the studio, NBA TV will be real-time polling fans throughout the telecast to determine what segment they would like to see next from Stern, Hill, and Haywood.
We're going to react to these instant polls with our content, O'Connor notes. Via our NBATV social handle, we will ask the fans if they would rather see an on-court demo from Grant and Brendan about a specific shot or the two of them just breaking down the game. We'll do a quick poll, and, coming out of the next break, we will be doing [the segment] they voted for.
Stern, Hill, and Haywood will also be taking calls live from fans via a hotline, incorporating social influencers, and chatting with The Starters.
Inside the Truck: The Fans Will Direct the Director, Producer
With multiple sources of content to manage - the game itself, interviews in the arena, in-studio segments, and social-media content, plus fan polling determining much of the rundown - Fans Only poses a very different dynamic for producer Stephen Lindsey and director Bert Bondi. To streamline the operation, NBA TV will have multiple producers managing various facets of the production and helping funnel the most relevant content to Lindsey at the front bench.
NBA TV will also air preproduced pieces within the telecast (for example, Scott doing a live standup at the top of every quarter), but O'Connor's goal is a free-flowing broadcast that r
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
07/05/2024
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. New findings from Hub Entertainment Research provides extensive data showing that the majority of consumers will opt for lower cost ad-supporte...
07/05/2024
NEW YORK The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has announced th...
07/05/2024
CBS News has named Lindsey Reiser an anchor and correspondent for CBS News 24/7, the network's live, streaming news service. Reiser, who was most recently a...
07/05/2024
NEEDHAM, Mass. After more than two years of decline, worldwide tablet shipments posted modest year-over-year growth of 0.5% in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24),...
07/05/2024
ESPN is reporting that April was a record-setting month as the network delivered its best April prime time audience on record, dating back more than 30 years....
07/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that Kirsten Donaldson has joined NAB as vice president of public policy. Donaldso...
07/05/2024
The Bulls are back home again this week from May 7-12! Don't miss out on any...
06/05/2024
By Ilyse McKimmie
Now, more than ever
That's a phrase so often used in the last few years that I've come to dread seeing it in notes like this one. A...
06/05/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12099 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Blog-Exabyte-Storage-Demand-960x540-1.jpg/> Demand for storage solutions has reached unprece...
06/05/2024
Around the world, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists continue to impact mu...
06/05/2024
Spotify is making it easier for booklovers to count down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until a new audiobook releases. With Countdown Pages for audioboo...
06/05/2024
Get Ready to join Dan Hong as he hits the streets in his ultimate culinary journ...
06/05/2024
In this video, cinematographer Simon Rowling welcomes viewers behind the scenes as he lights a daytime-interior scene inside a coffee shop. Shooting on Panavisi...
06/05/2024
L3Harris is well positioned to support the complex and multifaceted nature of special operations forces in all domains through our agile and responsive technolo...
06/05/2024
OAKVILLE, Ontario As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, Alert Ready, Canadas national public alerting system, will be distributing a test alert to Canadians i...
06/05/2024
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Horowitz Research has released a new study on the viewing and media habits of U.S. Hispanic/Latine audiences that shows a dramatic decline in...
06/05/2024
RE:Vision Effects Autograph 2024.4 released! 50% Off Through May 9th
Brie Clayton May 6, 2024
0 Comments
New game-changing motion graphics & VFX featu...
06/05/2024
NBC has renewed Night Court for a third season. The courtroom comedy was on the network from 1984 to 1992, and NBC rebooted it in early 2023....
06/05/2024
ABC has revealed its summer schedule. The Bachelorette gets going Monday, July 8, with Jenn Tran the star in season 21. Celebrity Family Feud starts up Tuesday,...
06/05/2024
It's almost go-time for the Holly Springs Salamanders! The season opener is ...
06/05/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Kobus busts Pretty in a compromising positionDon't miss Monday, 6 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem Saam on SA...
06/05/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Bra Zakes and Sphamandla agree to leave Tembisa and n...
06/05/2024
RT has announced details of its coverage across digital, TV and Radio in the ru...
06/05/2024
For years, radio stations have used on-premises servers to broadcast content and manage automation, traffic, and billing systems. As technology continues to adv...
06/05/2024
06 May 2024
AI and Big Data Take the Centre Stage in Central Asia at Beetech 20...
06/05/2024
FIRST LOOK AT JIM PARSONS & MAYIM BIALIK REPRISING THEIR ROLES FROM THE BIG BAN...
06/05/2024
NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Extend Historic Partnership, Kentucky Derby to Be...
06/05/2024
Beverly Hills Aerials, LIV Golf Make Australian-Broadcast History by Flying Live...
06/05/2024
Back to All News
Watch the Trailer for A Part of You - Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ry...
06/05/2024
Leadership in 12G-SDI for low impact migration to 4k production...
06/05/2024
Press release - 6 May 2024 07:31
STATEMENT CONCERNING EUTELSAT GROUP'S GROUND NETWORK Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Download as PDF
Paris, 06 May 2024 ...
06/05/2024
Tyngsboro, Mass. - May 6, 2024 - Join us at InfoComm 2024 to experience the latest advancements in live production technology. From June 12-14, 2024, at the Las...
06/05/2024
To champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities, Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, ava...
06/05/2024
Actress Matseliso Mohale has joined Muvhango'Talented actress Matseliso Mohale has joined SABC2's soapie Muvhango' as Vhangani's lover and a c...
06/05/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Leroy refuses to give up fighting to bury MthethoDon't miss Monday, 6 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Smoke...
06/05/2024
Intrinsic, a software and AI robotics company at Alphabet, has integrated NVIDIA AI and Isaac platform technologies to advance the complex field of autonomous r...
06/05/2024
Cybersecurity experts at the RSA Conference this week will be on the hunt for ways to secure their operations in the era of generative AI.
They'll find man...
06/05/2024
1) What is the rationale of the transaction? What is the benefit for SES shareholders?
This combination creates a stronger and more competitive multi-orbit ope...
05/05/2024
A special evening performance by multiplatinum singer Becky G will provide a memorable conclusion to TeievisaUnivision's Casa Cultura upfront event on May 1...
05/05/2024
Giant media buyer Publicis is telling network sales executives that it does not think Nielsen's new panel-plus-big-data currency is ready for this upfront....
05/05/2024
WASHINGTON Glenn Kirschner, legal analyst at NBC News, blasted the media for referring to the New York trial of former President Donald Trump as a hush-money ...
05/05/2024
Catchy Comedy's weekend marathon sees The Beverly Hillbillies on the weekend of May 4-5. The event kicks off Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. ET, and runs through...
05/05/2024
NBC Sports has the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4. The coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and the feature race at Churchill Downs in Louis...
05/05/2024
Back to All News
Netflix Announces New Comedy Series Roosters, Starring Jeroen ...
05/05/2024
Back to All News
Showdown Alert: Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura' Drops Electr...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
NBA TV Takes Fan Engagement to Next Level With Social-Centric Fans Only' Telecast There will be no play-by-play caller but plenty of social-media content, fan interaction By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
