With Emirates NBA Cup in Full Swing, Productions Go Beyond the Look and Feel of Standard Regular-Season Games' Rebranded tourney offers new graphics and court designs, increased access By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - 2:51 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The NBA's second-annual In-Season Tournament, which was rebranded as the Emirates NBA Cup this season, has seen plenty of excitement throughout its opening two weeks. In addition to new City Edition jerseys and eye-popping court designs for all 30 teams, the league has boosted its production efforts for these games with an eye on making NBA Cup broadcasts stand out from the pack.
We're focused on building on the success of the inaugural Emirates NBA Cup and using our broadcasts to highlight the significance of these games for our fans, says Paul Benedict, SVP, broadcasting content management, NBA. There's so much excitement surrounding the NBA Cup, and these broadcasts should go beyond the look and feel of standard regular-season games.
All 30 teams once again have custom-designed painted courts for the NBA Cup group play and knockout rounds
Dynamic Storytelling: Creative Camera Angles, All-Access Audio Play Big Role Throughout this year's tournament, the league is experimenting with creative camera angles - including cable and drone systems - that Benedict and company believe provide a refreshing and dynamic viewing experience.
Videos and graphics that explain the NBA Cup format are key, given that it's still a relatively new concept for fans.
NBA Cup broadcasts have also featured an elevated level of access to players and coaches through more-robust and exclusive content from league broadcast partners ESPN and TNT Sports. This includes in-game player interviews as well as mics and locker-room cameras capturing pre/postgame and halftime content.
We're encouraging all of our broadcast partners to take advantage of this platform to leverage new technology and reach fans in new ways, says Benedict. I'd add that integrations such as videos that explain the NBA Cup format - given that it's still a relatively new concept - and unique graphics will remain staples of our broadcasts.
Additionally, the official anthem of the tournament - a reimagined version of LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out featuring The Roots - is back again after being well-received last year.
Also back are fully painted courts for all 30 teams during Group Play and the Quarterfinals. The courts, designed by artist Victor Solomon, certainly stand out during NBA Cup broadcasts and continue to generate plenty of buzz across social media.
It Takes a Production Village: Working With National, Regional Broadcast Partners This year's NBA Cup telecasts will follow the same structure as last season's, with 46 Group Play games airing on local broadcasts and 14 on national networks.
After providing pregame shows from Bristol, CT, for Group Play and Knockout games, ESPN's NBA Countdown will hit the road for the Semifinal and Championship Game in Vegas.
We've received tremendous support and buy-in from our broadcast partners across the board, says Benedict. It's easy to focus on the Semifinals and Finals in Vegas, but the majority of our audience will experience NBA Cup games on local networks. Our initiatives with national partners obviously get plenty of exposure, but we'd be remiss not to mention the significant investment that regional networks have put into the Cup.
These enhanced broadcast elements include customized educational videos featuring NBA stars from all 30 teams, dynamic storytelling featuring the individual courts across the league, and deeper access to players and coaches.
We worked directly with everyone - above- and below-the-line personnel, game talent, and team staff - to build the presentation from the ground up, says Benedict. This collaborative approach has allowed us to explore creative and technical solutions that enhance both the coverage and the storytelling around the NBA Cup.
The league has also provided a range of assets, including a dedicated graphics package and style guide, along with the official LL Cool J and The Roots Cup Anthem.
While these elements set the foundation, says Benedict, it has been exciting to see how each broadcast partner has infused their own creativity into each telecast. Everyone is committed to the long-term success of the NBA Cup.
All About Access: Bringing Viewers Close to the Action Access remains at the forefront of the NBA's broadcast-innovation efforts, and the league is using the Emirates NBA Cup as a platform to introduce elements that bring fans closer to the players and coaches on the court.
For 76ers' NBA Cup broadcasts, NBC Sports Philadelphia has incorporated in-game interviews featuring play-by-play caller Kate Scott (right) and analyst Alaa Abdelnaby.
Our goal is to provide more-dynamic, real-time content that brings fans closer to the action, says Benedict. These initiatives reflect our ongoing efforts to evolve the broadcast experience, providing fans with a deeper, more authentic connection to the Emirates NBA Cup.
For local broadcasts, the NBA and its broadcast partners prioritize in-game interviews and increased player access, which Benedict believes add a new level of excitement and real-time connection, giving fans more forward-facing content and deepens their connection to players.
For national broadcasts, the NBA has launched two interesting features for the Knockout Rounds: live coach mics and the latest Q5X player mics.
After using live mics during the Knockout Rounds in Las Vegas last year, the NBA will leverage them during the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and NBA Cup Championship Game this time around. The integrat
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...
08/05/2026
Nine Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards More than 20 alumni contributed to this year's Tony-nominated productions.
May 7, 2026
By
Tori Donahue
Boston Co...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Liberty University on why broadcast technology isn't just a technical invest...
08/05/2026
COW Jobs: UGC, On-Camera Video Content
Brie Clayton May 7, 2026
0 Comments
UGC, On-Camera Video Content
April 17, 2026Documentary Editor - US,......
07/05/2026
Journalists reporting on Sudan are working in one of the most complex and fast-m...
07/05/2026
Multi-year partnership positions Victory+ as a free home for Dallas Cowboys orig...
07/05/2026
From sideline reporting to directing and producing, the talented sophomore is building a well-rounded foundation for a career in live sports production
In the ...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital has received two Future Best of Show awards at NAB Show 2026. The COBALT blueCORE platform was recognized by TV Tech, and the COBALT PACIFIC ULL-...
07/05/2026
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the televised semifinals and finals of the 202...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI, the global film streaming platform, has selected Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner. Bitmovin's encoding infrastru...
07/05/2026
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and the U.S. Soccer Federation have announced...
07/05/2026
Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and Victory have announced a regional broadcast partnership bringing live match coverage to fans across the greater Los Angeles...
07/05/2026
Spiideo has announced the launch of AI Highlights inside Spiideo Play, its automated sports production platform. AI Highlights combines video, event data, audio...
07/05/2026
Leostream Corporation has announced a unified remote access ecosystem for high-p...
07/05/2026
The Atlanta Dream has partnered with Victory to stream all locally broadcast Dream games for free, expanding the team's digital distribution strategy and g...
07/05/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the appointment of Marc Engroff as Chief Fin...
07/05/2026
SES and ARD, Germany's largest public broadcasting network, have announced a long-term extension of their satellite distribution partnership through 2039. U...
07/05/2026
UpLight Technologies delivers a flexible video and lighting system for a new televised sportLaunching the Pro Cheer League required more than creating a compell...
07/05/2026
Full Day Productions and GSE Worldwide have announced Spikes Under the Lights, a...
07/05/2026
Seit dem Start im Jahr 2023 hat DJ (Beta) das personalisierte H rerlebnis von 94...
07/05/2026
Da quando stata presentata nel 2023, DJ (beta) ha aiutato a definire un'esperienza d'ascolto pi personalizzata per 94 milioni di utenti Spotify Premi...
07/05/2026
Since launching in 2023, DJ (beta) has helped shape a more personalized listenin...
07/05/2026
Desde o lan amento em 2023, o DJ (beta) j ajudou a deixar a experi ncia de ouvi...
07/05/2026
From our earliest days, Spotify has been built on a simple principle: Great audio should be easy to reach. It's what's driven us to expand from music to...
07/05/2026
Asian and Pacific Islander artists continue to shape the global soundscape, pushing creative boundaries and connecting with fans worldwide. This Asian & Pacific...
07/05/2026
Company announce long-requested choir instrument
In the latest expansion of their Symphonic Elements series, UJAM have introduced an all-new vocal instrumen...
07/05/2026
Modular-inspired sound generation with digital control
Buchla have introduced Ziggy, a new compact synthesizer built around the company's complex oscill...
07/05/2026
Combines analogue voices with digital synthesis and sequencing
Polyend have announced Drums, a new hybrid analogue and digital drum machine that combines sy...
07/05/2026
Control surface now officially supports four DAWs
When Nektar launched the Panorama CS12 control surface, it worked exclusively with Apple's Logic Pro, ...
07/05/2026
In the first quarter 2026, SGL Carbon generated consolidated sales of 184.5 million, which was 49.8 million, or 21.3%, lower than in the prior year (Q1 2025: ...
07/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Greenerwave achieve precise and fast ESA antenna characteriz...
07/05/2026
Two multi-role L3Harris products - the Red Wolf launched effects vehicle and SK...
07/05/2026
L3Harris will be developing key features of a secure and resilient digital infra...
07/05/2026
Alysa Liu and Shohei Ohtani Help Drive Viewership as 91 of the Top 100 Broadcast...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital Wins Two Future Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show
Manufacturer Recognized by TV Tech and TVBEurope for Innovation in signal processing
Cobal...
07/05/2026
Software and hardware platforms, AI power and user-friendliness on show...
07/05/2026
Intinor will demonstrate its latest technical enhancements for the Direkt series at BroadcastAsia 2026. With a continued focus on reliable contribution and remo...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI has chosen Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner, replacing MUBI's legacy on premises encoding setup to improve scalab...
07/05/2026
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2026 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next.
...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
At BroadcastAsia 2026, Interra Systems will demonstrate its latest innovations in automated quality control (QC), real-time monitoring, and captioning. The comp...
With Emirates NBA Cup in Full Swing, Productions Go Beyond the Look and Feel of Standard Regular-Season Games' Rebranded tourney offers new graphics and court designs, increased access By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. 
