WNBA on NBC
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
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| genre = WNBA basketball telecasts
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| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Bruce Beck
- Mike Breen
- Tom Hammond
- Dan Hicks
- Marion Jones
- Andrea Joyce
- Ann Meyers
- Lisa Malosky
- Ahmad Rashad
- Beth Ruyak
- Summer Sanders
- Hannah Storm
- Paul Sunderland
- Chris Wragge
}}
| judges =
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| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = John Tesh
| opentheme = "Roundball Rock"
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| num_seasons = 6
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| executive_producer = Dick Ebersol{{cite news |last=Kent|first=Milton|date=June 28, 1996|title=Deal to televise Women's NBA shows NBC as bold yet pragmatic|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-06-28-1996180021-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun}}
| producer = Molly Solomon{{cite web |url=http://www.golfchats.com/2015/03/19/women-at-the-helm-1-molly-solomon-makes-golf-history/|title=WOMEN AT THE HELM. #1 MOLLY SOLOMON MAKES GOLF HISTORY.|last=Sole|first=Mel|date=March 19, 2015|website=Golf Chats}}
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| camera = Multi-camera
| runtime = 120 minutes+
| company = NBC Sports
| budget =
| network = NBC
| first_aired = {{Start date|1997|06|21}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2002|08|31}}
| related = {{Plainlist|
}}
}}
WNBA on NBC is an American television sports presentation show broadcast by NBC. It aired from June 21, 1997 to August 31, 2002. It consists of branding used for the presentation of Women's National Basketball Association games.
NBC showed Women's National Basketball Association games from 1997 to 2002 as part of their NBA on NBC
{{cite book |last=Swayne, Dodds|first=Linda E., Mark|date= August 8, 2011|title=Encyclopedia of Sports Management and Marketing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gDp1AwAAQBAJ&q=WNBA+on+NBC+2002&pg=PA1662|publisher=SAGE Publications|page=1662|isbn=9781452266480}}{{cite web |url=https://la84.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/tv2000.pdf|title=Gender in Televised Sports: 1989, 1993 and 1999|website=la84.org}} coverage before the league transferred the rights{{cite news |last=Penner|first=Mike|date=December 18, 2001|title=NBC Exit Strategy Begins NBA Spin|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-dec-18-sp-15805-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}} to ABC/ESPN.{{cite book |last= Miller, Shales|first=James Andrew, Tom|date= May 24, 2011|title=Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SkYN5eMreOUC&q=WNBA+on+NBC+dick+ebersol&pg=PT352|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=9780316125765}}{{cite news |last=Reynolds|first=Mike|date=June 16, 2002|title=ESPN's Come a Long Way, WNBA|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/espns-come-long-way-wnba-153211|work=Multichannel News}}{{cite news |date=June 5, 2002|title=Stern Talks Smack With Rome: TV Deal And WNBA Profitability|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2002/06/05/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/Stern-Talks-Smack-With-Rome-TV-Deal-And-WNBA-Profitability.aspx|work=Sports Business Daily}} Coverage of the WNBA on NBC is set to return in 2026 following along with the return of the NBA on NBC.{{cite web |title=Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4705822-comcast-corporation-cmcsa-q2-2024-earnings-call-transcript |website=seekingalpha.com |publisher=SA Transcripts |access-date=23 July 2024}}{{cite web |author1=Awful Announcing Staff |title=NBC reveals NBA schedule highlights, new WNBA Finals agreement |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbc-reveals-nba-schedule-highlights-wnba-finals-agreement.html |website=awfulannouncing.com |publisher=Awful Announcing |access-date=23 July 2024}}
History
On June 27, 1996, NBC Sports was announced as the WNBA's first national broadcaster.{{cite web |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/history/makingthewnba_timeline.html|title=The Formation of the WNBA|last=Araton|first=Harvey|date=May 13, 2016|website=WNBA.com}} The WNBA soon also had television deals in place with the Walt Disney Company and Hearst Corporation joint venture channels, ESPN and Lifetime Television Network, respectively. At the time, NBC didn't pay television rights fees{{cite web |url=https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/we-got-next|title=We Got Next!|date=October 1, 2018|website=National Women's History Museum}}{{cite news |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}} to the league's teams. A more rock-oriented variant{{YouTube|title=The WNBA on NBC Theme Song|id=WkWaxH1r8Pk}} of John Tesh's theme, "Roundball Rock" introduced by NBC to coincide with the debut of the WNBA.
NBC{{cite news |last=Gustkey|first=Earl|date=May 29, 2000|title=As W.N.B.A. Opens Its 20th Season, Key Figures Recall the First Game|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/sports/basketball/wnba-opens-its-20th-season-recall-los-angeles-sparks.html|work=The New York Times}} nationally televised the first{{cite news |last=Voepel|first=Mechelle |date=June 16, 2016|title=Twenty seasons later, a look back at the WNBA's first game|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/16256278/twenty-years-later-look-back-wnba-first-game|work=ESPN}} WNBA game on June 21, 1997. The game featured the New York Liberty facing the Los Angeles Sparks{{cite magazine |last=Lopez|first=Steve|date=June 30, 1997|title=THEY GOT NEXT TIPPING OFF TO LARGE CROWDS AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS, THE HYPER-HYPED WNBA FELL SHORT ONLY ON THE COURT|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/06/30/they-got-next-tipping-off-to-large-crowds-and-great-expectations-the-hyper-hyped-wnba-fell-short-only-on-the-court|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} in Los Angeles. For NBC's final season with the WNBA in 2002,{{cite news |last=Robbins|first=Lenn|date=May 24, 2002|title=LIBERTY TIP OFF THEIR SEASON ON LONG, WINDING ROAD|url=https://nypost.com/2002/05/24/liberty-tip-off-their-season-on-long-winding-road/|work=New York Post}} they again began their season's worth of coverage on Memorial Day weekend{{cite news |date=April 26, 2002 |title=Three Former Longhorn Basketball Players Assigned to WNBA Teams|url=https://big12sports.com/news/2002/4/26/1517141.aspx|work=Big 12 Sports}} with the Liberty{{cite news |last=Howell|first=John|date=March 29, 2002|title=LIEBERMAN SEES A WNBA TOWN|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-03-29-0203292016-story.html|work=Hartford Courant}} and Sparks.{{cite news |date=February 1, 2002|title=Starzz release schedule|url=https://www.deseret.com/2002/2/1/19634665/starzz-release-schedule|work= Deseret News}} NBC would proceed to televise WNBA games on Saturday{{cite news |last=Johnson|first=L.C.|date=July 23, 2001|title=HARRISON IS NOT THE ONLY WNBA BEAUTY|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-07-23-0107230233-story.html|work=The Orlando Sentinel}}{{cite news |last=Robb|first=Sharon|date=June 18, 1998|title=A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1998-06-10-9806090379-story.html|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel}}{{cite news |last=Levin|first=Gary|date=June 27, 1997|title=WNBA scores big in ratings|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/wnba-scores-big-in-ratings-1117342836/|work=Variety}} and Sunday{{YouTube|title=WNBA on NBC Promos / 1998 & 2001|id=DFpIX_-lyeI}} afternoons culminating in the Championship game on August 30.{{cite news |last=Burris|first=Joe|date=June 19, 1997|title=Lobo center of WNBA's attention|url=http://archive.boston.com/globe/packages/year_in_review/sports/wnba.htm|work=Boston Globe}}{{cite news |last=Gustkey|first=Earl|date=June 18, 1997|title=Ball Is in Their Court : WNBA Takes Its Turn on Basketball Stage Starting Saturday|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-18-sp-4417-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}
On July 23, 2024, NBC parent company Comcast confirmed in a conference call with its investors that NBC Sports had secured an agreement with the WNBA on an 11-year media rights deal beginning in the 2026 season, marking the WNBA's return to NBC after a 24-year absence. An official announcement of the agreement was released by the NBA and NBC the following day, alongside other deals with incumbents ABC/ESPN and Amazon.{{cite web |title=NBA signs new 11-year media agreements with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video through 2035-36 season |url=https://pr.nba.com/nba-walt-disney-company-nbcuniversal-amazon-prime-video-media-agreements/ |website=pr.nba.com |publisher=NBA Communications |date=24 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=THE NBA AND WNBA RETURN TO NBCUNIVERSAL WITH 11-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR REGULAR SEASON AND PLAYOFF BASKETBALL ON NBC, PEACOCK, USA NETWORK, SKY SPORTS, AND TELEMUNDO |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/the-nba-and-wnba-return-to-nbcuniversal-with-11-year-agreement-for-regular-season-and-playoff-basketball-on-nbc-peacock-usa-network-sky-sports-and-telemundo |website=nbcsports.com |publisher=NBC Sports |date=24 July 2024}} The agreement will see games broadcast on NBC, USA Network and streamed on Peacock.{{cite web |author1=Flint, Joe |author2=Sharma, Amol |author3=Simonetti, Isabella |date=5 June 2024 |title=NBA Nears $76 Billion TV Deal In Defining Moment for Media |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/nba-nears-76-billion-tv-deal-a-defining-moment-for-media-and-sports-4e8d762c |website=wsj.com |publisher=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite web |last1=Marchand |first1=Andrew |date=10 July 2024 |title=NBA finalizes TV deals with ESPN, NBC, Amazon, but TNT could still match: Sources |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5629508/2024/07/10/nba-tv-deal-espn-nbc-amazon-tnt/ |website=The Athletic |publisher=The New York Times Company}} NBC will also gain exclusive broadcast rights to seven WNBA semifinals series and three WNBA Finals series.
Ratings
NBC Sports' broadcast of the inaugural WNBA game between the Liberty and Sparks received a 3.8 overnight national rating.{{cite news |date=June 23, 1997|title=NOW WHO WOULD'VE GUESSED THIS? WNBA TIP-OFF GETS 3.8 RATING|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1997/06/23/Sports-Media/NOW-WHO-WOULDVE-GUESSED-THIS-WNBA-TIP-OFF-GETS-38-RATING.aspx|work=Sports Business Daily}} This would also serve as NBC's highest rated WNBA game.{{cite news |last=Lewis|first=Jon|date=May 12, 2024|title=The 10 most-watched WNBA games|url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2024/05/wnba-most-watched-games-caitlin-clark-comets-liberty-sparks/|work=Sports Media Watch|location= |access-date=May 13, 2024}} Although NBC's end-of-season average{{cite news |last=Lopiano|first=Dean|date=December 13, 1999|title=WNBA's remarkable 1999 blows the vultures out of the sky|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/1999/12/13/No-Topic-Name/Wnba146s-Remarkable-1999-Blows-The-Vultures-Out-Of-The-Sky.aspx|work=Sports Business Daily}} for 1999 was even with 1998's average, viewership had actually increased from 1,540,000 households in 1998{{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}} to 1,607,000 in 1999. On the same token however, Nielsen ratings for NBC broadcasts of WNBA games slipped{{cite news |date=November 29, 1999|title=A Dud of Their Own|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/1129/6413080a.html#350345d1788b|work=Forbes}} from 2 million households reached in 1997—the WNBA's inaugural season—to 1.5 million in 1999.{{cite news |last= Petrecca|first=Laura|date=October 9, 2000|title=HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?|url=https://adage.com/article/news//56669|work=Ad Age}}
The average rating for the first 9 of the 10{{cite news |date=January 16, 1998|title=PLUS: BASKETBALL; W.N.B.A. Releases 1998 Schedule ...|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/16/sports/plus-basketball-wnba-releases-1998-schedule.html|work=The New York Times}} WNBA games NBC carried in the 2001 season{{cite news |last=Isidore|first=Chris|date=August 17, 2001|title=WNBA: lovable money loser|url=https://money.cnn.com/2001/08/17/companies/column_sportsbiz/|work=CNN Money}} was only 1.1, compared to a 2.0 rating its first season.{{cite news |date=August 12, 1997|title=Catching On If Nothing Else, Wnba Is A Hit With Its TV Exposure|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/aug/12/catching-on-if-nothing-else-wnba-is-a-hit-with/|work=The Spokesman-Review}}
WNBA Finals coverage
{{see also|List of WNBA Finals broadcasters}}
The first WNBA season concluded with what was at the time, a single championship game. The following year, the finale series into a best-of-three games series, with NBC airing the first two games and ESPN airing the decisive third game. In 1999, ESPN aired the first game of the championship series while NBC covered the following two. Come the year 2000, Lifetime temporarily assumed ESPN's role as the WNBA's cable outlet for the WNBA Championship. Like the year prior, Lifetime broadcast the first game while NBC covered the second and ultimately decisive game between the Houston Comets and New York Liberty. This marked Houston's fourth consecutive WNBA Championship.
ESPN returned to the fold in the year 2001, broadcasting the first game with NBC airing the second and decisive game between the Los Angeles Sparks and Charlotte Sting. For NBC's final year of coverage in 2002, ESPN2 this time, broadcast the first game with NBC again covering what would become the second and ultimately decisive game, which would be NBC's last WNBA telecast to date until 2026. NBC will gain exclusive broadcast rights to three WNBA Finals series in 2026, 2030, and 2034.
Announcers
{{see also|List of current Women's National Basketball Association broadcasters}}
During the WNBA's first season on NBC, the primary announcing team consisted of Hannah Storm{{YouTube|title=The Inaugural WNBA Game|id=z8OhBRrmplk}} calling the play-by-play{{cite news |last=Gill|first=Suzanne|date=June 15, 1997|title=HANNAH STORM CALLS THE SHOTS|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1997/06/15/hannah-storm-calls-the-shots/cfdebde6-e9ad-40c5-a639-c3343c85a078/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=October 6, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Siegal |first=Rachel|date=June 21, 2011|title=Storm hails WNBA's first 15 years|url=https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2011/06/storm-hails-wnbas-15-years/|work=ESPN Front Row|location= |access-date=October 6, 2023}} with Ann Meyers doing the color commentary and Lisa Malosky assuming the role as sideline reporter.{{cite news |date=June 20, 1997|title=Women at Liberty to play basketball on TV|url=https://www.postbulletin.com/women-at-liberty-to-play-basketball-on-tv/article_a70ef0f0-dcea-570d-8fd3-26e1599ffba4.html|work=Post Bulletin}} The following year, Storm receded her lead play-by-play duties to Tom Hammond,{{YouTube|title=2000 WNBA WCF GM 2 COMETS @ SPARKS HIGHLIGHTS|id=f29D601ubq4}} who would call NBC's coverage of the WNBA Finals with Ann Meyers in 1998{{cite web |url=https://www.radiodiscussions.com/showthread.php?623720-Retro-Western-Washington-Sat-Aug-29th-1998|title=Retro: Western Washington, Sat. Aug 29th, 1998|date=April 7, 2012|website=Radio Discussions}}{{YouTube|title=1998 WNBA Championship Game-2|id=DLvD6t8trqs}} and in 2000. For the 1999 season and 2001 seasons, NBC used Mike Breen{{YouTube|title=1999 WNBA Finals Game 2 - Liberty at Comets|id=cy_pVjzo6Dc}} as their primary play-by-play announcer. For the WNBA's final season in 2002, Paul Sunderland worked with Meyers for their coverage of the WNBA Finals.
- Bruce Beck{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/about-us/bruce_beck/1845253/|title=Bruce Beck|date=October 21, 2008|website=NBC New York}} (sideline reporter)
- Mike Breen{{cite web |url=https://brandonsteiner.com/blogs/unplugged/episode-124-mike-breen|title=Episode #124: Mike Breen|date=July 24, 2018|website=Brandon Steiner}}{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=June 5, 2016|title=Mike Breen Becomes N.B.A. Finals Play-by-Play Fixture|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/06/sports/basketball/mike-breen-becomes-nba-finals-play-by-play-fixture.html|work=The New York Times}} (play-by-play)
- Tom Hammond (play-by-play)
- Dan Hicks{{cite book |last=Brown, O'Rourke|first=Robert S., Daniel J.|title=Case Studies in Sport Communication|year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7TqZvCphyDIC&q=WNBA+dan+hicks&pg=PA30|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|page=30|isbn=9780275975302}} (studio host)
- Marion Jones{{cite news |last=Schlosser|first=Joe|date=June 6, 2001|title=Marion Jones on NBC's WNBA team|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/marion-jones-nbcs-wnba-team-88600|work=Broadcasting & Cable}}{{cite news |last=Johnson|first=L.C.|date=June 8, 2001|title=DAVIS' DOUBLE DUTY DRAWS BIGGER PROFILE|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-06-08-0106080258-story.html|work=Orlando Sentinel}} (sideline reporter)
- Andrea Joyce{{cite web |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/andrea-joyce/|title=ANDREA JOYCE|website=NBC Sports Pressbox}} (sideline reporter)
- Ann Meyers{{cite book |last=Meyers Drysdale|first=Ann|date= May 15, 2012|title=You Let Some Girl Beat You?: The Story of Ann Meyers Drysdale|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TuliTNUju-sC&q=WNBA+on+NBC+mike+breen&pg=PT207|publisher= Behler Publications|isbn=9781933016870}}
(color commentary)
- Lisa Malosky (sideline reporter)
- Ahmad Rashad{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/ahmad-rashad-of-nbc-speaks-during-game-two-of-the-2000-wnba-news-photo/1055211916|title=2000 WNBA Finals - Game Two: New York Liberty v Houston Comets|date=August 26, 2000|website=Getty Images}} (studio host)
- Summer Sanders{{cite web |url=http://archive.nba.com/inside_stuff/summer_bio.html|title=Summer Sanders - Beg, Borrow & Deal 2|website=NBA.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/eoe/bbd2/summer_bio.html|title=Summer Sanders|website=ESPN}} (sideline reporter)
- Beth Ruyak{{cite news |last=Johnson|first=L.C.|date=June 30, 2001|title=JONES MAY LOOK TO WNBA FOR FUTURE|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-07-30-0107300130-story.html|work=The Orlando Sentinel}} (studio host)
- Hannah Storm{{cite news |last=Kaplan|first=Don|date=August 3, 1999|title=STORM BREWING – WILL NBC SPORTSCASTER FIT GUMBEL'S GLASS SLIPPER?|url=https://nypost.com/1999/08/03/storm-brewing-will-nbc-sportscaster-fit-gumbels-glass-slipper/|work=New York Post}} (play-by-play,{{cite news |last=Hirsley|first=Michael|date=November 26, 1997|title=NBC'S NEW NO. 1 TEAM IS COSTAS, THOMAS|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-11-26-9711260244-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune}}{{cite news |date=May 15, 1997|title=NBC's Storm to Work the W.N.B.A.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/15/sports/nbc-s-storm-to-work-the-wnba.html|work=The New York Times}} studio host)
- Paul Sunderland{{cite news |last=Hoffarth|first=Tom|date=February 2, 2012|title=TOM HOFFARTH on MEDIA: Sunderland pushes forward in post-Laker career|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2012/02/02/tom-hoffarth-on-media-sunderland-pushes-forward-in-post-laker-career/|work=Los Angeles Daily News}}{{cite news |last=Stickney Jr.|first=W.H.|date=June 16, 2001|title=Notebook: After slow break-in, Johnson getting the hang of pro game|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Notebook-After-slow-break-in-Johnson-getting-2032044.php|work=Houston Chronicle}} (play-by-play)
- Al Trautwig{{cite news |last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=June 19, 1997|title=Olbermann Remark Was No Conn Job Anchor Leaving ESPN to Live in New York|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1997/06/19/olbermann-remark-was-no-conn-job-anchor-leaving-espn-to-live-in-new-york/62310883007/|work=The Oklahoman|location= |access-date=October 7, 2023}} (sideline reporter)
- Chris Wragge{{cite news |last=Barron|first=David|date=June 3, 2001|title=TV/Radio Notebook: No surprise as Comets draw national exposure|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/barron/article/TV-Radio-Notebook-No-surprise-as-Comets-draw-2031873.php|work=Houston Chronicle}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chris-wragge/|title=Chris Wragge|date=February 20, 2008|website=CBS News}} (sideline reporter, studio host)
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.nbcsports.com/wnba}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box|before=League created|title=WNBA network broadcast partner|years=1997–2002|after=ABC}}
{{s-end}}
{{NBA on NBC}}
{{NBC Sports}}
{{NBCNetwork Shows (current and upcoming)}}
{{USA Network Shows}}
{{Women's National Basketball Association on television}}
Category:1997 American television series debuts
Category:2002 American television series endings
Category:1990s American sports television series
Category:2000s American sports television series