Turner Sports is complementing TNT's linear coverage of NBA All-Star Weekend with a host of digital applications.
Fans can log on to NBA.com to view TNT OverTime Extra, an online mosaic player that will feature four live streaming camera angles from both NBA All-Star Saturday Night events on Valentine's Day and the All-Star game itself the next night. Launched during TNT's 2008 NBA All-Star coverage, TNT OverTime Extra had more than 1.7 million streams throughout its inaugural weekend of coverage,according to Turner officials.
By logging in through Facebook Connect on the mosaic, Facebook users can update their status directly as they watch live camera angles. Additionally, a wireless NBA.com All-Star Live application, is available for $0.99 cents from Apple's App Store.
The camera angles on both the mosaic and wireless application for the Saturday night extravaganza include: arena cam supplying wide shots from cameras positioned above the court and outside the arena; host cam affording coverage featuring the online host as well as the on-air announcers and reporters; action cam proffering a range of footage capturing the on-court action; and player cam, furnishing shots of players on the bench, as well as the court.
There will also be four online available during the All-Star Game: east player cam will be trained on the conference player receiving the most votes throughout the game: ditto, for west coast player; robo cam, presenting wide shots of the court from cameras positioned above it; and host cam, covering the online host, plus the on-air announcers and reporters.
The Facebook integration will give users worldwide the ability to interact in real-time by sharing their opinions and comments during the Saturday and Sunday night events. They can also view the status updates from their friends and Facebook users who are also watching the online coverage. Facebook pioneered this integration with CNN.com during the 2009 presidential inauguration.
"This year's unprecedented coverage of the Saturday and Sunday night NBA All-Star events on air and online brings together the extensive digital and linear expertise of Turner to offer fans the most interactive coverage of one of the year's most exciting events," said Turner Sports president David Levy in a statement. "From screen to screen, fans watching on TNT, NBA.com and on their wireless device will experience the high-flying, action packed drama of the weekend like never before."
TNT's coverage on Feb. 14 tips off at 5 p.m. (ET) with a two-hour studio show featuring the debut of a live H-O-R-S-E game, followed by exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented on TNT by State Farm at 8 p.m. The drama network's All-Star Game coverage starts at 8 p.m. on Feb.15.
