WNBA on Lifetime
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
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| image = WNBAonLifetime.png
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| genre = WNBA basketball telecasts
| creator =
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| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| director = Lisa Seltzer{{cite news |last=Kent|first=Milton|date=July 2, 1998|title=WNBA on Lifetime takes shot at hooking casual female fans|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1998-07-02-1998183126-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun}}
| creative_director =
| presenter =
| starring = Christine Brennan
Maura Driscoll
Camille Duvall-Hero
Fran Harris
Ann Meyers
Reggie Miller
Mary Murphy
Meghan Pattyson
Summer Sanders
Michele Tafoya
Suzyn Waldman
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| voices =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
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| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 4
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| executive_producer = Brian Donlon{{cite web |url=http://www.mauradriscolltvhost.com/?page_id=12|title=Recognition|website=MauraDriscollTVHost.com}}{{cite news |last=Gustkey|first=Earl|date=July 14, 1999|title=STAYING OR GOING?|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-14-sp-55858-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}
| producer = Denise Cavanaugh{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-cavanaugh-1360b219|title=Denise Cavanaugh - Producer - CNN|website=LinkedIn}}
Amy Rosenfeld
| news_editor =
| location =
| cinematography =
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| camera = Multi-camera
| runtime = 120 minutes+
| company = Lifetime Sports
ESPN
| budget =
| network = Lifetime
| released =
| first_aired = {{start date|1997|06|27}}{{cite news |last=Winslow|first=Harriet|date=July 26, 1997|title=WOMEN GET A SPORTING CHANCE ON LIFETIME|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1997/07/27/women-get-a-sporting-chance-on-lifetime/05db304a-7488-4512-9f1b-243b479e4fdf/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=May 13, 2024}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2000|08|24}}
| related = WNBA on ESPN
WNBA on NBC
}}
The WNBA on Lifetime refers to the presentation of Women's National Basketball Association games on the Lifetime{{cite news |last=Collins|first=Lisa M.|date=June 15, 1997|title=Eight-Team WNBA Opens This Week|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-15-sp-3803-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/schedule/lifetime/index.html|title=THE WNBA ON Lifetime: 1999 Game Schedule|website=WNBA.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990224172437/http://www.wnba.com/schedule/lifetime/index.html|archive-date=1999-02-24}} television network.
Coverage
From its inaugural season in 1997{{cite web |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/amy-rosenfeld/|title=Amy Rosenfeld|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.}} to 2000,{{cite news |last=Brockinton|first=Langdon|date=December 18, 2000|title=Lifetime shifts its WNBA games to ESPN2|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2000/12/18/No-Topic-Name/Lifetime-Shifts-Its-WNBA-Games-To-ESPN2.aspx|work=Sports Business Daily}} Lifetime was one of three broadcasters of the WNBA, alongside NBC{{cite book |last=Raney, Bryant|first=Arthur A., Jennings|date= 4 March 2009|title=Handbook of Sports and Media|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WlCOAgAAQBAJ&q=WNBA+on+NBC+halftime+report&pg=PT365|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135257330}}{{cite news |last=Shaprio|first=Leonard|date=June 18, 1998|title=WNBA Has All the Angles Covered|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/mystics/longterm/preview98/articles/waves.htm|newspaper=Washington Post}} and ESPN.{{cite magazine |last=Wolff|first=Alexander|date=September 8, 1997|title=WON FOR ALL CYNTHIA COOPER LED HOUSTON TO THE WNBA TITLE, CAPPING A TRIUMPHANT SUMMER FOR THE WOMEN'S GAME|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/09/08/won-for-all-cynthia-cooper-led-houston-to-the-wnba-title-capping-a-triumphant-summer-for-the-womens-game|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} Lifetime as well as NBC and ESPN didn't pay the WNBA in rights fees.{{cite news |last=Gustkey|first=Earl|date=May 29, 2000|title=Salary Doesn't Pay in WNBA|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-29-sp-35297-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}
By 1999, Lifetime was broadcasting 11 regular-season games{{cite web |url=http://www.lifetimetv.com/sports/index.html |title=Lifetime's 1998 WNBA Game Schedule |last= |first= |date=May 28, 1998 |website=lifetimetv.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219192914fw_/http://www.lifetimetv.com/sports/index.html |archive-date=19 February 1999 |url-status=dead}} on Friday nights,{{cite news |last=Blain, Bernstein|first=Neil, Alina|date= 6 December 2012|title=Sport, Media, Culture: Global and Local Dimensions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kIosBgAAQBAJ&q=WNBA+Lifetime+Friday&pg=PA191|work=Routledge|isbn=9781136344848}} the All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden and three playoff{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=60+minutes&p=62&item=T:76489|title=WNBA PLAYOFFS, 1998: CLEVELAND ROCKERS VS. MERCURY, GAME ONE (TV)|website=The Paley Center for Media}} dates.
In 2000, Lifetime phased out its live broadcasts and replaced them with an original series documenting the lives of WNBA players. The network stated that it wanted to focus on "stories" rather than event coverage; Lifetime transferred its package of games to ESPN2.{{cite web|title=Lifetime shifts its WNBA games to ESPN2|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2000/12/20001218/No-Topic-Name/Lifetime-Shifts-Its-WNBA-Games-To-ESPN2.aspx?hl=Lifetime%20Television&sc=0|website=Sports Business Daily|access-date=3 February 2017}}{{cite web|title=WNBA coverage on Lifetime|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/07/11/wnba-coverage-on-lifetime-womens-professional-basketball/|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=3 February 2017}}
Lifetime's final live WNBA broadcast was Game 1 of the 2000 WNBA Championship on August 24. Lifetime also broadcast Game 1 of the WNBA Championship from the year prior.{{cite news |last=Lewis|first=Jon|date= |title=WNBA Finals opens with most-watched Game 1 since 2000|url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/10/wnba-finals-ratings-game-1-liberty-aces-viewership-abc/|work=Sports Media Watch|location= |access-date=May 13, 2024}}
=Ratings=
At the conclusion of the first WNBA season in 1997, Lifetime Television registered a 0.5 household rating,{{cite news |last=Donlon|first=Brian|date=July 28, 2002 |title=History Will Judge WNBA on Lifetime|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/history-will-judge-wnba-lifetime-137738|work=Multichannel News}} while ESPN scored a 0.8. Ratings{{cite news |last=Rose|first=Shannon|date=July 17, 2000|title=SPOTLIGHT ON THE WNBA|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2000-07-17-0007170289-story.html|work=Orlando Sentinel}} were up 20 percent on Lifetime and 16 percent on ESPN from 1998 to 1999. However by 2000, Lifetime's WNBA ratings were down by 20 percent, and ESPN dropped by 29 percent.
Lifetime had created a problem in that being a specialty channel aimed at women,{{cite news |last=Hirsley|first=Michael|date=July 31, 1998 |title=WNBA TELECASTS GETTING MORE THAN A WOMAN'S TOUCH|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-07-31-9807310011-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune}} whenever a WNBA game aired on the network, the chances were that they were neglecting male viewers who would otherwise not watch cable channels marketed towards women.{{cite book |last=McWhorter|first=Kathleen T.|date= 6 December 2010|title=Successful College Writing Brief with 2009 MLA and 2010 APA Update|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2q4TpUGZ7SAC&q=WNBA+Lifetime+Friday&pg=PA73|page=73|publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780312619169}}
Commentators
{{see also|List of WNBA Finals broadcasters}}
- Christine Brennan (color commentator)
- Persefone Contos{{cite news |last=Buckler|first=Matt|date=June 14, 2000|title=Dooley rock solid as Rock Cat voice|url=https://www.journalinquirer.com/archives/dooley-rock-solid-as-rock-cat-voice/article_78c1d5e5-5681-574f-b669-9ea4774b6046.html|work=Journal Inquirer}} (studio host)
- Maura Driscoll{{cite news |date=June 11, 1999|title=OH WHAT A NIGHT! WNBA OPENS TO LARGE GATE AND STAR APPEAL|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1999/06/11/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/OH-WHAT-A-NIGHT-WNBA-OPENS-TO-LARGE-GATE-AND-STAR-APPEAL.aspx?_ga=2.127544206.242788997.1587535968-929001139.1587114361|work=Sports Business Daily}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mauradriscolltvhost.com/?page_id=4|title=Biography|website=MauraDriscollTVHost.com|date=19 February 2019 }} (studio host)
- Camille Duvall-Hero{{cite news |last=Robb|first=Sharon|date=July 4, 1999|title=EASY SALE FOR ACKERMAN|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-07-04-9907040143-story.html|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel}} (studio host)
- Fran Harris{{cite book |last=Halper|first=Donna|date= 11 February 2015|title=Invisible Stars: A Social History of Women in American Broadcasting|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8UGhBgAAQBAJ&q=WNBA+Lifetime+michele+tafoya&pg=PT362|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317520177}} (color commentator)
- Ann Meyers (sideline reporter)
- Reggie Miller{{cite news |date=June 19, 1997|title=Lifetime Network Names WNBA Voices|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/lifetime-network-names-wnba-voices/|work=SwimmingWorld.com}}{{cite news |last=Knapp|first=Gwen|date=August 19, 1997|title=Diapers Or Defense|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/aug/19/diapers-or-defense/|work=San Francisco Examiner}}{{cite news |last=Garrett|first=Joanne |date=August 15, 1997|title=Reggie Miller: Lifetime Of Explaining|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970815&slug=2554870|work=Seattle Times}} (color commentator)
- Mary Murphy{{cite news |last=Gustkey|first=Earl|date=April 29, 1998|title=WNBA Signings Are Suddenly Obscuring Those of the ABL|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-29-sp-44229-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}
{{cite book |last=Harris|first=Fran|date= March 2001|title=Summer Madness: Inside the Wild, Wacky, Wonderful World of the WNBA|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfQkZ3emLjgC&q=WNBA+Lifetime+Mary+Murphy&pg=PA73|publisher=iUniverse|page=73|isbn=9780595160303}} (color commentator)
- Meghan Pattyson{{cite news |last=Slusser|first=Susan|date=June 10, 1998|title=Lifetime to Make a Story Out of WNBA|url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Lifetime-to-Make-a-Story-Out-of-WNBA-3004667.php|work=SF Gate}} (color commentator)
- Summer Sanders{{cite news |last=Johnson|first=Steve|date=July 11, 1997|title=WNBA coverage on Lifetime: Women's professional basketball?...|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-07-11-9707110348-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune}}{{YouTube|title=WNBA Washington Mystics, May 1998 Opening Night Intros. Lifetime Sports|id=sPeSeZDOvgA}} (sideline reporter)
- Michele Tafoya{{cite news |last=King|first=Susan|date=July 11, 1998|title=The Big Names Return for New 'Comic Relief'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jun-11-ca-58624-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}} (play-by-play)
- Suzyn Waldman{{cite news |last=Finder|first=Chuck|date=June 10, 1999|title=Female announcer blazes another trail|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/tv/19990610thebig.asp|work= Post-Gazette}} (play-by-play)
Michelle Tafoya served as the lead play-by-play announcer for Lifetime,{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 20, 1999|title=Michele Tafoya|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michele-tafoya-20-02-1999/|work=CBS News|location= |access-date=May 13, 2024}} working alongside Meghan Pattyson{{cite news |last= |first= |date=August 15, 1997|title=Reggie Miller: Lifetime Of Explaining|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970815&slug=2554870|work=The Seattle Times|location= |access-date=May 13, 2024}} and Reggie Miller on color commentary{{cite news |last=Shapiro|first=Leonard|date=June 18, 1998|title=WNBA Has All the Angles Covered|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/mystics/longterm/preview98/articles/waves.htm|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=May 13, 2024}} including Lifetime's coverage of the WNBA Championship in 1999 and 2000.
In 1997, the American Women in Radio and Television honored Tafoya with a Gracie Award{{cite news |last=Brennan|first=Patricia|date=June 7, 1998|title=WASHINGTON GETS IN THE GAME|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1998/06/07/washington-gets-in-the-game/eec21ddc-08be-4cef-93cc-8ed117bcb815/|newspaper=The Washington Post}} for "Outstanding Achievement by an Individual On-Air TV Personality" for her play-by-play{{cite news |date=January 6, 2000|title=Michele Tafoya joins ESPN|url=http://www.espn.com/espninc/pressreleases/000106tafoya.html|work=ESPN.com}} calling of WNBA games on Lifetime Television.
Upon being let go by the Sacramento Monarchs, Mary Murphy was hired by Brian Donlon,{{cite news |last=Ostrowski|first=Jeff|date=October 12, 1998|title=Up close-and-personal approach pays off|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/1998/10/12/No-Topic-Name/Up-Close-And-Personal-Approach-Pays-Off.aspx|work=Sports Business Daily}} Lifetime Television's vice president of sports and executive producer, to be part of its WNBA broadcast team along with Michele Tafoya and Reggie Miller. Murphy started with her own halftime feature, "Murphy's Law" before joining Miller and Tafoya as a game analyst. When Lifetime ended its WNBA broadcasts in 2000, Murphy moved to ESPN for women's NCAA tournament games and WNBA broadcasts while Fox would bring her on board to call the Pac-12 women's games on FSN in the early 2000s.
In the league's inaugural season, Fran Harris was a member of the Houston Comets. She started one game for the Comets but played in 25 games coming off he bench, scoring a total of 104 points on the season as the Comets won the first-ever WNBA Championship.Basketball-reference.com, [https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/HOU/1997.html 1997 Houston Comets Statistics] Retrieved 2011-03-19.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/features/franharris_070619.html|title=WNBA.com: Fran Harris: A True Champion|website=www.wnba.com|access-date=2016-05-03}} The next season, she was a starter for the Utah Starzz. At the end of the season, she was waived from the team's roster, and chose to retire and begin her career in broadcasting with TV partner, Lifetime.
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20001209070000/http://lifetimetv.com/shows/sports/wnba2000/index.html}}
{{WNBA}}
{{Women's National Basketball Association on television}}
{{Lifetime Shows}}
Category:Lifetime (TV channel) original programming
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:1997 American television series debuts
Category:2000 American television series endings