The WNBA on ESPN2
Encyclopedia
The WNBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of Women's National Basketball Association
games on the ESPN
family of networks. Under the title of WNBA Tuesday, games are broadcast throughout the WNBA season on Tuesday nights on ESPN2
.
In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension with ESPN
. The new television deal runs from 2009 to 2016. A minimum of 18 games will be broadcast on ABC
, ESPN
, and ESPN2
each season. Additionally, a minimum of 11 postseason games will be broadcast on any of the three stations.
Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars" will be "dispersed to the league's teams."
Beginning with the 2009 WNBA season
, all nationally broadcast WNBA games are shown in high definition
.
, Mark Jones, Dave Pasch
and Pam Ward
. Generally, game broadcasts include a pair of announcers--alongside those providing play-by-play are the color analysts which have included: Doris Burke
, Nancy Lieberman
, Carolyn Peck
, Rebecca Lobo
.
These broadcasts also commonly include a sideline reporter. Recent sideline reporters have included: Heather Cox
, Holly Rowe
and previously Rebecca Lobo
.
During halftime of the broadcasts, Cindy Brunson
, and more recently Doris Burke
, provide game analysis and other sports updates.
head coach, and former ESPN NBA analyst, Bill Laimbeer
became irritated by ESPN's coverage, quoted by the Detroit Free Press
as saying:
Laimbeer banned ESPN from the Shock locker room for Game 4 of the series, and also refused to wear a live microphone for that game (as had been the custom throughout the regular season and the playoffs).
Connecticut Sun
head coach Mike Thibault
admitted that he does not like having a microphone on during games. He also said that he sometimes finds himself turning the microphone off.
Saturday and Sunday afternoon games are broadcast on ABC
. Tuesday night games are broadcast on ESPN2
. On opening day (May 17, 2008), ABC broadcast the Los Angeles Sparks
and Phoenix Mercury
matchup. The game received a little over 1 million viewers. Average viewership for games broadcast on national television (ABC and ESPN2) was 413,000 (up from 346,000 in 2007).
In 2008, the WNBA finished up in key demographics on ESPN2—Women 18-34 (+71%) and Men 18-34 (+28%) – and on ABC—All Women (+10%) and Women 18-34 (+20%).
Ratings remain poor in comparison to NBA games. WNBA games averaged just 413,000 viewers, compared to 1.46 million viewers for NBA games. However, the WNBA gets more viewers on national television broadcasts than both Major League Soccer
(253,000) and the NHL (310,732).
The 2009 regular season on ESPN2 (13 telecasts) concluded with an average of 269,000 viewers, up 8% vs. 2008 season (248,000 viewers). In addition, regular-season games on ESPN2 saw increases in key demographics, including men 18-34 (+9%), men 18-49 (+14%) and men 23-54 (+23%).
The 2011 season on ESPN2 averaged 270,000 viewers per game, the league's highest since 2005. Viewership for the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game
on ABC
was up 46% from the previous game
.
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
games on the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
family of networks. Under the title of WNBA Tuesday, games are broadcast throughout the WNBA season on Tuesday nights on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
.
In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. The new television deal runs from 2009 to 2016. A minimum of 18 games will be broadcast on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, and ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
each season. Additionally, a minimum of 11 postseason games will be broadcast on any of the three stations.
Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars" will be "dispersed to the league's teams."
Beginning with the 2009 WNBA season
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
, all nationally broadcast WNBA games are shown in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
.
Announcers
Announcers change from year to year, but recent play-by-play personalities have included: Terry GannonTerry Gannon
Terrance Patrick "Terry" Gannon , is a sportscaster for ABC Sports, ESPN and The Golf Channel. Gannon's work has included an extensive variety of sporting events, including college basketball, as well as figure skating, golf, college football, and the WNBA.-College basketball:Gannon began his...
, Mark Jones, Dave Pasch
Dave Pasch
Dave Pasch is an American sportscaster. Pasch works for ESPN, for which he calls play-by-play of college football, college basketball, NBA, WNBA, and Arena football games. He has also been the radio voice for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL since 2002, teaming with Ron Wolfley. In 2007, Pasch...
and Pam Ward
Pam Ward
Pam Ward is an on-air personality for the cable sports television network ESPN.She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in communications....
. Generally, game broadcasts include a pair of announcers--alongside those providing play-by-play are the color analysts which have included: Doris Burke
Doris Burke
Doris Burke is a sideline reporter and color analyst for ESPN college basketball, as well as NBA on ESPN and NBA on ABC games. Burke handles both men's and women's basketball at the college and pro level. She is primarily an analyst on Big East games for men's college basketball, often teaming...
, Nancy Lieberman
Nancy Lieberman
Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman , nicknamed "Lady Magic", is a former professional basketball player who played and coached in the WNBA.Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in women's basketball....
, Carolyn Peck
Carolyn Peck
Carolyn Arlene Peck is an American television sportscaster and former college basketball coach. She was was the head coach for the women's basketball teams of Purdue University and the University of Florida, and also the first head coach-general manager in the history of the WNBA's Orlando Miracle...
, Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin is an American television basketball analyst and a former player in the professional Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 2003...
.
These broadcasts also commonly include a sideline reporter. Recent sideline reporters have included: Heather Cox
Heather Cox
Heather Cox is an American Sportscaster who is a sideline reporter for WNBA, NBA, college basketball and college football games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports. As Heather Schoeny, she played college volleyball at University of the Pacific...
, Holly Rowe
Holly Rowe
Holly Rowe is a sports telecaster currently working for the sports television network, ESPN. Rowe is best known as a sideline reporter for college football games which are telecast on ESPN.- History with ESPN :...
and previously Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin is an American television basketball analyst and a former player in the professional Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 2003...
.
During halftime of the broadcasts, Cindy Brunson
Cindy Brunson
-Biography:Brunson graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast communications.-Broadcasting career:Cindy Brunson joined ESPN as an ESPNEWS anchor in September 1999. Until recently, Brunson served as co-host alongside David Lloyd on the network's weekend...
, and more recently Doris Burke
Doris Burke
Doris Burke is a sideline reporter and color analyst for ESPN college basketball, as well as NBA on ESPN and NBA on ABC games. Burke handles both men's and women's basketball at the college and pro level. She is primarily an analyst on Big East games for men's college basketball, often teaming...
, provide game analysis and other sports updates.
Wired
One unique aspect of WNBA coverage on the ESPN family of networks is that many of the participants wear live microphones. Starting with the 2003 WNBA All Star Game (which aired on ABC), most games televised have involved coaches, players and referees being wired for sound. On some occasions, the sound of players and coaches talking will overlap with commentary; also, on several occasions, ESPN has had to mute the sound because of expletives.Controversy
During the 2006 WNBA Finals, Detroit ShockDetroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
head coach, and former ESPN NBA analyst, Bill Laimbeer
Bill Laimbeer
William "Bill" Laimbeer, Jr. is a retired National Basketball Association player for the Detroit Pistons. Playing at center, the 6'11" Laimbeer was a four-time All-Star and integral part of the Pistons teams that won two championships...
became irritated by ESPN's coverage, quoted by the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
as saying:
Laimbeer banned ESPN from the Shock locker room for Game 4 of the series, and also refused to wear a live microphone for that game (as had been the custom throughout the regular season and the playoffs).
Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
head coach Mike Thibault
Mike Thibault
Mike Francis Thibault is an American basketball head coach, most recently of the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA.-Career:Upon his graduation from Saint Martin's University in 1979, Thibault entered into the employ of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, for whom he worked...
admitted that he does not like having a microphone on during games. He also said that he sometimes finds himself turning the microphone off.
Viewership
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
. Tuesday night games are broadcast on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
. On opening day (May 17, 2008), ABC broadcast the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
and Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
matchup. The game received a little over 1 million viewers. Average viewership for games broadcast on national television (ABC and ESPN2) was 413,000 (up from 346,000 in 2007).
In 2008, the WNBA finished up in key demographics on ESPN2—Women 18-34 (+71%) and Men 18-34 (+28%) – and on ABC—All Women (+10%) and Women 18-34 (+20%).
Ratings remain poor in comparison to NBA games. WNBA games averaged just 413,000 viewers, compared to 1.46 million viewers for NBA games. However, the WNBA gets more viewers on national television broadcasts than both Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(253,000) and the NHL (310,732).
The 2009 regular season on ESPN2 (13 telecasts) concluded with an average of 269,000 viewers, up 8% vs. 2008 season (248,000 viewers). In addition, regular-season games on ESPN2 saw increases in key demographics, including men 18-34 (+9%), men 18-49 (+14%) and men 23-54 (+23%).
The 2011 season on ESPN2 averaged 270,000 viewers per game, the league's highest since 2005. Viewership for the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game
2011 WNBA All-Star Game
The 2011 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 23, 2011 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, home of the San Antonio Silver Stars. The game was the 10th WNBA All-Star Game, which has been held annually since 1999 except in 2004, 2008, and 2010...
on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
was up 46% from the previous game
2009 WNBA All-Star Game
The 2009 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 25, 2009 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, home of the Connecticut Sun. The game was the 9th annual WNBA All-Star Game...
.