\n<\/p>\n
Bulls fans have at least one thing going for them this season: They should have no problem finding the team\u2019s games.<\/p>\n
After Chicago Sports Network\u2019s first season carrying the Bulls was blacked out on Comcast, the regional sports network has full distribution in the market. What\u2019s more, because the Bulls don\u2019t whet the appetite of the national networks, all but two of their games this season will air on CHSN.<\/p>\n
This year marks the first of the NBA\u2019s 11-year media-rights deal, which will spread games across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video. Barring unforeseen flex scheduling, Bulls fans won\u2019t have to pull out a map to find the games. (Does anyone even pull out a map anymore? I digress.)<\/p>\n
The Bulls\u2019 middling ways have them appearing only on Peacock (Dec. 1 at Orlando) and Prime (Feb. 5 at Toronto). CHSN will carry the other 80, though one will coexist on ESPN (Jan. 16 at Brooklyn).<\/p>\n
Imagine being as successful as the Knicks, Lakers, Thunder or Warriors. They\u2019re tied for the most national-TV appearances with 34. Who wants that? The Bulls\u2019 three appearances are tied with the Hornets for the second-fewest. That\u2019s way more convenient.<\/p>\n
But NBA fans have much to learn about this new media landscape that no longer includes TNT, though its beloved studio show, \u201cInside the NBA,\u201d will live on with ESPN. Here\u2019s a breakdown of each NBA partner\u2019s plans for the season, which begins Tuesday.<\/p>\n
NBC\u2019s coverage will tug at Bulls fans\u2019 heartstrings considering the network was the national outlet for the team\u2019s dynasty years. It\u2019s bringing back the theme song \u201cRoundball Rock\u201d and recreating voiceover artist Jim Fagan\u2019s voice using AI. NBC also hired Michael Jordan as a special contributor, and he\u2019s expected to appear during opening-night coverage.<\/p>\n
The network\u2019s first NBA game in 23 years will be the first game on the league\u2019s schedule, when the Thunder host the Rockets on Tuesday after raising their championship banner. The network\u2019s top crew of Mike Tirico, analysts Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford and reporter Zora Stephenson will call it. Other game announcers include Noah Eagle, Michael Grady and Terry Gannon, and other analysts include Grant Hill, Brad Dougherty and Derek Fisher.<\/p>\n
For \u201cPeacock NBA Monday\u201d broadcasts, NBC will embed an analyst with each team, away from the play-by-play voice, a production element it calls \u201cOn the Bench.\u201d Robbie Hummel and Austin Rivers will be the first such analysts for the Cavaliers-Pistons game Oct. 27. Peacock viewers also will have access to \u201cCatch Up\u201d and \u201cCan\u2019t Miss\u201d videos and different viewing modes. NBC and Peacock total 100 regular-season games.<\/p>\n
After its \u201cSunday Night Football\u201d schedule, NBC will launch \u201cSunday Night Basketball\u201d on Feb. 1. It will be a heck of a month for NBC, which will air the Super Bowl, the NBA All-Star Game and the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
The lone incumbent of the NBA\u2019s media partners will air 80 games, generally on Wednesdays (ESPN) and Saturdays and Sundays (ABC). It also will air the first Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader, in addition to its traditional five-game slate on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
The network\u2019s biggest change is at the broadcast table, where Tim Legler replaces Doris Burke as an analyst on the No. 1 crew. Play-by-play voice Mike Breen, analyst Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters return. Legler is an underrated analyst who\u2019s excellent with X\u2019s and O\u2019s. Burke will continue to call a full slate of games, working regularly with Dave Pasch.<\/p>\n
The biggest addition to ESPN\u2019s coverage is \u201cInside the NBA,\u201d which still will be produced by TNT and serve as the pregame, halftime and postgame show for 20 regular-season dates and throughout the postseason. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O\u2019Neal and Kenny Smith make their ESPN debut Wednesday, when the network begins its schedule with Cavaliers-Knicks.<\/p>\n
Having already latched on to the NFL, the Amazon platform now turns to the NBA, which granted an unprecedented portfolio for a streamer. Prime has exclusivity for the NBA Cup knockout rounds, the play-in tournament, first- and second-round playoff games and a conference final in six of the next 11 years. It also will add to its Black Friday NFL game with an NBA doubleheader.<\/p>\n
Prime will carry 67 regular-season games, starting with Celtics-Knicks on Friday, and infuse the broadcasts with its typical bells and whistles. \u201cKey Moments\u201d curates impactful plays, \u201cRapid Recap\u201d brings late-arriving fans up to speed and \u201cStats\u201d show game numbers on overlays. And, of course, viewers can shop while they watch.<\/p>\n
Several former TNT broadcasters landed at Prime, including play-by-play voices Ian Eagle and Kevin Harlan and analyst Stan Van Gundy. Michael Grady and Eric Collins also will call games, and Brent Barry and Dell Curry will serve as analysts. Evanston native Cassidy Hubbarth is among Prime\u2019s reporters.<\/p>\n
Noah Eagle<\/b>, Todd Blackledge<\/b> and reporter Kathryn Tappen<\/b> will call the USC-Notre Dame game Saturday night on NBC 5.<\/p>\n
Kevin Kugler<\/b>, Daryl \u201cMoose\u201d Johnston<\/b> and reporter Allison Williams<\/b> will call the Saints-Bears game Sunday on Fox 32.<\/p>\n
The Chicago Marathon announced an extension of its media deal with NBC 5 and Telemundo through 2028.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n