NBA TV, having engaged in a full court distribution press, will reach some 45 million homes during the upcoming 2009-10 campaign -- an almost fourfold increase in its subscriber count from last season.
The pro basketball's league in-house service announced that it has reached new deals with Time Warner Cable, Cablevision Systems Corp. and Dish Network. Deal terms were not disclosed.
Those follow upgraded pacts that were finalized earlier with Comcast, Cox Communications and DirecTV. Verizon's FiOS also became a new member of the NBA TV's distribution roster.
Time Warner Cable will offer NBA TV to its customers on its digital-basic tier, jumping up from its sports package. Cablevision is positioning the service on its iO digital package, while Dish will present NBA TV as part of the Classic Silver 200 Package.
All told, officials at NBA Digital, which houses NBA TV and out of market package NBA League Pass, said the service, through staggered rollouts, will reach the 45-million home mark during the course of the season, up from 12 million at the close of the 2008-09 season.
Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, and Dish Network also will continue to provide NBA League Pass, the subscription package of up to 40 out-of-market live NBA games weekly.
"We are pleased to announce that our new agreements with Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, and Dish Network will bring NBA TV to 45 million U.S. homes," said NBA deputy commissioner and COO Adam Silver in a statement. "NBA TV remains the ultimate basketball destination, and we're excited to welcome the millions of new fans who will be able to experience the network's original programming, live games, and Emmy award-winning on-air talent."
NBA TV offers more than 100 live NBA games, original programming, and studio shows. The network's lineup of signature shows includes Tuesday's Fan Night, which provides live studio programming around weekly matchup(s) that fans select through a vote on NBA.com. NBA TV also features a marquee roster of on-air talent, including Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, former NBA All-Star Chris Webber, ex NBA players Steve Smith and Eric Snow, and Emmy award-winners Ahmad Rashad and Ernie Johnson.
The 2009-10 season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 27 on TNT with a doubleheader featuring the 2008 champion Boston Celtics taking on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers host their Staples Center rival, the Los Angeles Clippers
