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TNT has announced their 2009-2010 NBA Telecast Schedule of 52 games. The NBA on TNT’s roster of NBA announcers include the studio team of two-time Emmy® award-winning host Ernie Johnson, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith, along with select studio appearances by Chris Webber. On-site game announcers will include Marv Albert (play-by-play), Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) Doug Collins (analyst), Mike Fratello (analyst), David Aldridge (reporter), Cheryl Miller (reporter) and Craig Sager (reporter).

Here is the breakdown of team appearances, the schedule, and the full TNT release.

Team Appearances

Cleveland	10	Utah	5
Denver	10	Dallas	4
Orlando	10	L.A. Clippers	3
Boston	9	New Orleans	3
Chicago	9	Golden State	2
L.A. Lakers	9	Atlanta	1
Miami	8	Memphis	1
Phoenix	7	Philadelphia	1
San Antonio	7	Washington	1
Portland	6

TNT 2009-2010 NBA telecast Schedule

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
	7 p.m.		NBA Tip-Off ’09 presented by Autotrader.com
	7:30 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers
	10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ L.A.Lakers (Lakers Ring Ceremony)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
	8 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Chicago Bulls
	10:30 p.m.		Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, November 5, 2009
	8 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers
	10:30 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Utah Jazz
Thursday, November 12, 2009
	8 p.m.		Cleveland Cavaliers @ Miami Heat
	10:30 p.m.		Phoenix Suns @ L.A. Lakers
Thursday, November 19, 2009
	8 p.m.		Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Hornets
	10:30 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ L.A. Lakers
Thursday, November 26, 2009
	8 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Atlanta Hawks
	10:30 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ Utah Jazz
Thursday, December 3, 2009
	8 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ San Antonio Spurs
	10:30 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, December 10, 2009
	8 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Washington Wizards
	10:30 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Utah Jazz
Thursday, December 17, 2009
	8 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Miami Heat
	10:30 p.m.		Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, December 31, 2009
	7 p.m.		Miami Heat @ San Antonio Spurs
	9:30 p.m.		Philadelphia 76ers @ L.A. Clippers
Thursday, January 14, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.		Cleveland Cavaliers @ Utah Jazz
Monday, January 18, 2010
	5:30 p.m.		Phoenix Suns @ Memphis Grizzlies
	8 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ L.A. Lakers
Thursday, January 21, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
	10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, January 28, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Orlando Magic
	10:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns
Thursday, February 4, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Cleveland Cavaliers
	10:30 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers
Monday, February 8, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		New Orleans Hornets @ Orlando Magic
	10:30 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ L.A. Lakers
Thursday, February 11, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers
	10:30 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets
NBA ALL-STAR 2010
	Friday, February 12, 2010		NBA Rookie Challenge
	Saturday, February 13, 2010		NBA All-Star Saturday
	Sunday, February 14, 2010		2010 NBA All-Star Game from Dallas
Thursday, February 18, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Denver Nuggets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
	10:30 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ L.A. Lakers
Thursday, February 25, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.		Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors
Thursday, March 4, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Miami Heat
	10:30 p.m.		Utah Jazz @ Phoenix Suns
Thursday, March 11, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ Orlando Magic
	10:30 p.m.		Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors
Thursday, March 18, 2010
	7 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Miami Heat
	9:30 p.m.		New Orleans Hornets @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, March 25, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
	10:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, April 1, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Dallas Mavericks
	10:30 p.m.		Portland Trail Blazers @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, April 8, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Cleveland Cavaliers @ Chicago Bulls
	10:30 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Denver Nuggets
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
	8:00 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls
	10:30 p.m.		Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns

NBA on TNT Returns Oct. 27 with Doubleheader Featuring Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics, Followed by Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Network Hits the Hardwood After Back-to-Back Years of Viewership Growth in Regular Season and Playoffs

TNT, which is looking to build on back-to-back solid viewership and demographic growth in both the regular season and the playoffs, will air 53 regular season NBA games, including 10 appearances each by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic, and nine by the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. All 53 games will appear in primetime, with 44 being part of TNT’s Thursday night exclusive doubleheaders, including Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. TNT also plans a tripleheader on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.



TNT’s coverage begins Tuesday, Oct. 27, with a special half-hour preview show, NBA Tip-Off ’09 presented by Autotrader.com at 7 p.m. (ET), followed at 7:30 p.m. (ET) with an exclusive opening night doubleheader. The first game will feature LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the L.A. Lakers will be presented with their championship rings prior to taking on 2009 NBA Draft #1 overall selection Blake Griffin, Baron Davis and the L. A. Clippers at 10:30 p.m. (ET). Opening Week continues on TNT on Thursday, Oct. 29, with a point guard battle when Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs take on Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls at 8 p.m. (ET), followed by Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets visiting Brandon Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:30 p.m. (ET).



“The continued growth of the NBA on TNT over the past two years has reinforced both the strength of the property and our great partnership with the NBA,” said David Levy, president of ad sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “Our increased viewership for the regular season and the playoffs is proof of the enduring popularity of the NBA.”



The NBA on TNT has enjoyed growth in households, total viewers and key demos over the past two seasons for both the regular season and the playoffs, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Some highlights include:

* During the 2008-09 season, the NBA on TNT experienced Household growth of 5% (1,296,000 vs. 1,230,000), coming off of a 15% increase the previous year.
* During the 2009 playoffs, the network experienced Household growth of 19% (3,515,000 vs. 2,946,000), off a 15% increase for the 2008 Playoffs.
* During the 2008-09 season, the NBA on TNT experienced total viewer growth of 14% last season (1,711,000 vs. 1,496,000 total viewers), coming off a 14% increase the previous year.
* During the 2009 playoffs, the network experienced a growth of 24% (4,718,000 vs. 3,806,000 total viewers), off a 15% increase for the 2008 Playoffs.
* The NBA on TNT has enjoyed strong double digit growth across all key demos including:
o 2008-2009 Regular season:
+ +13% in A18-34 (543,000 vs. 479,000)
+ +17% A18-49 (981,000 vs. 835,000)
+ +16% A25-54 (882,000 vs. 760,000)
o 2009 Playoffs:
+ +19% A18-34 (1,457,000 vs. 1,218,000)
+ +23% A18-49 (2,684,000 vs. 2,246,000)
+ +23% A25-54 (2,520,000 vs. 2,055,000)



Along with its Opening Week doubleheaders, TNT’s schedule features a number of marquee match-ups, including:

· Nov. 26, 2009 – A Thanksgiving doubleheader features Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic visiting Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks (8 p.m. ET), followed by Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz hosting Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls (10:30 p.m. ET).

· Dec. 31 – TNT rings in the New Year with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat taking on Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs (7 p.m. ET).

· Jan. 18, 2010 – A star-studded MLK Day tripleheader will include Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns taking on Rudy Gay and the Memphis Grizzlies (5:30 p.m. ET), Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics hosting Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks (8 p.m. ET), followed by an 2009 NBA Finals rematch featuring Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic visiting Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).

· Jan. 21 – Former teammates collide when Shaquille O’Neal and the Cleveland Cavaliers host Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers (8 p.m. ET).

· Feb. 11 – TNT features a rematch of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals when Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (8 p.m. ET), followed by Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets hosting Richard Jefferson and the San Antonio Spurs (10:30 p.m. ET).

· Feb. 18 – An old rivalry is renewed when Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers host Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics (10:30 p.m. ET).

· Apr. 8 – A 2008 Western Conference Finals rematch features Pau Gasol and the L.A. Lakers traveling to the Mile High City to face Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m.)



TNT tips off its coverage with two NBA preseason contests, including an outdoor game when the Phoenix Suns take on the Golden State Warriors from Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 9:30 p.m. (ET). The second preseason game will pit the Denver Nuggets against the L.A. Lakers from Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 10 p.m. (ET).

TNT will once again serve as the exclusive home for NBA All-Star 2010, airing all the action on NBA All-Star Friday, NBA All-Star Saturday and the 2010 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 14, from Dallas. The network will also air 40 or more NBA playoff games including, on an exclusive basis, conference semi-finals and the Western Conference Finals.

The NBA on TNT’s marquee roster of NBA announcers include the studio team of two-time Emmy® award-winning host Ernie Johnson, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith, along with select studio appearances by Chris Webber. On-site game announcers will include Marv Albert (play-by-play), Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) Doug Collins (analyst), Mike Fratello (analyst), David Aldridge (reporter), Cheryl Miller (reporter) and Craig Sager (reporter).

TNT is in its 21st consecutive year of NBA coverage. Sister network TBS aired the NBA exclusively for Turner Broadcasting System from 1984-89, with TNT serving as Turner’s sole NBA cable home from 1990-94. Both networks aired NBA games from 1994-2002. Once again, TNT’s entire NBA preseason, regular and postseason telecasts will air in high definition.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass, NBADLeague.com and WNBA.com.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Star Trak. Comparions based upon final Live + 7 day data stream for dates of the 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 NBA Regular Season on TNT and Live telecasts only of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 NBA Playoffs on TNT.