NBA Eastern Conference Finals: TNT Sports Bids Farewell With Upgraded Tech, Onsite Crews for Classic Knicks-Pacers Series The broadcaster will take Inside the NBA' on the road for one last time By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 12:01 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
When two familiar foes, the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, go toe-to-toe in the NBA Eastern Conference and fight for the right to play for the championship, TNT Sports will be fully onsite at both venues, producing its final live coverage of professional basketball games. With enhanced broadcast technologies and Inside the NBA along for one last ride, each remaining game is doubly significant.
You can never say enough, says Chris Brown, VP, technology and operations, TNT Sports. This is an iconic brand that has meant so much to so many people.
Playoff Party: More Super-Slo-Mo Cameras, Cinematic Lenses To Be Deployed As in other years, TNT Sports will up the number of workflows used for this series. Relying on other resources that were dedicated to other games of the NBA Playoffs, the broadcaster will fill the two venues - Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis -with additional equipment.
It does follow a certain format that we've managed year over year, said Brown prior to the beginning of last month's first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The first two rounds pretty much mimic our regular-season coverage, especially in the first round since those games aren't exclusive and we'll be compressed for space in many of the main camera areas and the loading dock.
For this round, 10 additional super-slow-motion cameras will be deployed: five at 3X speed, three at 6X speed, and two at 8X speed. Two handhelds at 8X speed, which will capture the benches, will each have a 10 25 cine lens. An RF Steadicam will be augmented with a 7 17 cine lens.
In addition, Inside the NBA will be produced from one of the lounges on the Chase Bridge level of the building. The show will deploy more than 30 cameras and will be well lit by the support of Lighting Design Group.
It's extra special when this show hits the road because it allows us to bring the guys to the fans, adds Brown. If you think the show is unpredictable in the studio, it's even more so when we are on the road, which makes it so exciting.
Onsite in Indy and the Big Apple: NEP Trucks Support Operations To handle the enhanced camera complement, produce the onsite studio show, and ensure high-quality broadcasts befitting the NBA postseason, TNT Sports will have all production and technical personnel onsite. Although many production workflows emanate from its Techwood facility in Atlanta during the regular season, the playoffs require increased attention to detail and the lowest possibility of error or disruption.
Moving from the Multi-Feed Production model, production and operations crews are working from within a handful of NEP Group mobile units. At MSG, Supershooter 9 and Supershooter 4 will handle game coverage and the studio show, respectively. This combination will drive Game 1, Game 2, and Games 5 and 7 if necessary. Supershooter 8 for game coverage and Supershooter 6 for studio coverage will be parked in the broadcast compound at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, powering Game 3, Game 4, and, if necessary, Game 6.
Never the Right Time To Say Goodbye: Reflecting on the Success of NBA on TNT Since the early 1990s, NBA on TNT has been a constant on the sports calendar. Covering legendary players who have shaped the way fans appreciate the sport, several eras of the league's evolution, and the numerous achievements that have withstood the test of time, the broadcaster's efforts have been remarkable. Besides live game coverage, Inside the NBA has been on television sets throughout the nation for the length of the NBA on TNT run. Many things have changed over time, but at the crux of it all was love for the game of basketball and bringing joy to millions who watched from home.
The trucks and studios have gotten more technically complex, which allow us to have more ways to play and showcase our talent, says Brown, but the captain Ernie Johnson and his crew of Chuck [Barkley], Kenny [Smith], and Shaq [O'Neal] were always at the heart of the show. The way we all treat each other sincerely came across on the air.
On a bigger picture, the work of NBA on TNT was testament to TNT Sports' overall ethos: bonding with the fan on a deeper level and allowing the broadcasts to be an escape from the day-to-day. During regular season and playoffs, fans knew where to go not only for in-depth analysis and top-tier coverage of the league but also for countless laughs and connection.
I'm fortunate enough to have been a part of the show since the mid 1990s, says Brown. One thing I think it has shown is that you can have fun, tell good stories, and put on a quality show that is just as entertaining as it is informative. The most impactful thing about this show is the sense of family. It will be hard to beat, and it was truly something special to be a part of it.
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers will begin at 8 p.m. ET on TNT Wednesday, May 21. The rest of the series follows, all at 8 p.m. on TNT: Game 2 on Friday, May 23; Game 3 on Sunday, May 25; Game 4 on Tuesday, May 27; Game 5 on Thursday, May 29 (if necessary); Game 6 on Saturday, May 31 (if necessary); and Game 7 on Monday, June 2 (if necessary).
