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
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
05/05/2026
SVG is proud to announce Warner Bros. Discovery's Techwood Studios in Atlant...
05/05/2026
With no operator required, AutoMic workflow automates talent identification on U...
05/05/2026
A crash in 2015 set the industry back, but this winter proved that drones are he...
05/05/2026
Another year, and more proof that Asia continues to shape some of the world's most exciting new sounds. This year's RADAR artists draw from deep local r...
05/05/2026
The Austin City Limits Music Fest 2026 lineup just dropped, and this year, Spoti...
05/05/2026
New drum machine book campaign incoming
Bjooks have announced that during Superbooth 2026, they will be launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund the product...
05/05/2026
Flagship all-in-one production bundle updated
The latest version of Native Instruments' flagship virtual instrument and plug-in bundle has just been ann...
05/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz to host RF Testing Innovations Forum 2026, helping design engine...
05/05/2026
L3Harris provides communications, electronic warfare, sensors and mission systems that enable Virginia-class submarine crews to operate with confidence in conte...
05/05/2026
The company grew by 7.6% in net revenue and 16.3% in EBITDA, achieving a 33% inc...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
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 
