The WNBA on Oxygen refers to the presentation of Women's National Basketball Association games on the Oxygen[2] pay television channel. Prior to 2005,[3] the channel carried a limited schedule of regular season WNBA games produced by NBA TV. Oxygen had de facto picked up the games that previously aired on Lifetime.[4][5] Oxygen's first WNBA telecast was on June 4, 2002.[6]

Coverage

Oxygen's relationship with the WNBA began with a two-year agreement[7] that called for them to televise a minimum of 11 games on Tuesday[8] nights during the 2002 season and weekly games[9] as well as playoff action during the 2003 season. Oxygen joined NBC,[10][11][12] ESPN[13] and ESPN2[14] in televising WNBA games for the 2002 season. The deal called for NBA Productions[15] to produce the games, and the league would sell the ad time.[16][17] Oxygen meanwhile, would get promotional spots during the games. Oxygen however, would provide the announcers[18] and handle the halftime on-air duties themselves. Oxygen's halftime reports were sponsored by AIG VALIC.

For the 2003 season, Oxygen averaged a 0.2 rating[19] for its 13-game regular-season WNBA schedule. They were also expected to air at least two playoff games (such as Game 3s[20] of the WNBA conference semifinals[21][22]), with the possibility of airing up to four. By 2004,[23] Oxygen's ratings dropped to a 0.1 from a 0.2, though only five games aired on the network that year compared with 13 from 2003.[24][25]

Commentators

See also

References

  1. ^ "2008 Alumni Hall of Fame Honoree". Lew Klien Awards.
  2. ^ Principles and Practice of Sport Management. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 17 January 2008. ISBN 9780763762230.
  3. ^ "Eleven years later, the WNBA arrives". Herald Tribune. July 17, 2007.
  4. ^ Dixit, Rajkumar (June 12, 2002). "ESPN2, ABC Grab WNBA TV Rights". Multichannel News.
  5. ^ Branded Faith: Contextualizing the Gospel in a Post-Christian Era. Wipf and Stock Publishers. 7 June 2010. p. 34. ISBN 9781608995592.
  6. ^ Dempsey, John (June 4, 2002). "Oxygen net nabs WNBA". Variety.
  7. ^ Stewart, Larry (June 13, 2002). "Mystics Full of Surprises". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ Fuller, Jim (August 28, 2003). "WNBA NOTEBOOK Consolation prize is chance to draft Taurasi". New Haven Register.
  9. ^ Villano, Matt (October 9, 2006). "Eye of the Storm". Seattle Weekly.
  10. ^ Encyclopedia of Sports Management and Marketing. SAGE Publications. 8 August 2011. p. 1662. ISBN 9781452266480.
  11. ^ Swayne, Dodds, Linda E., Mark (June 13, 2002). "Women's NBA in New TV Deal with ABC and ESPN". Sportcal.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Lopez, John P. (August 31, 2005). "Lopez: WNBA fails to capitalize on strengths". Houston Chronicle.
  13. ^ Brown, Justin (July 19, 2002). "Women's pro basketball wins fans all its own". The Christian Science Monitor.
  14. ^ "2004 WNBA Finals game two plays to full house". Out Sports Central. October 10, 2004.
  15. ^ Romano, Allison (June 4, 2002). "Oxygen nets WNBA games". Broadcasting and Cable.
  16. ^ "Southwest Airlines now official NBA, WNBA airline". Biz Journals. March 6, 2003.
  17. ^ "P&G ADDS TAMPAX TO WNBA PARTNERSHIP". Chief Marketer. May 18, 2004.
  18. ^ Umstead, R. Thomas (June 3, 2002). "Oxygen Gets WNBA Games". Multichannel News.
  19. ^ Umstead, R. Thomas (August 21, 2003). "WNBA Losing Oxygen?". Multichannel.
  20. ^ Utah Starzz at Houston Comets, 2002 WNBA playoffs first round game 3 on YouTube
  21. ^ Anthony, Mike (September 7, 2003). "EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: SUN AT SHOCK". The Hartford Courant.
  22. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (August 22, 2003). "Nothing's ever as simple as it seems". ESPN.com.
  23. ^ Lee, Jennifer (September 27, 2004). "WNBA looks past attendance drop, flat TV". Sports Business Daily.
  24. ^ Terry, Mike (February 10, 2003). "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ^ "League, players hail free agency". The Sacramento Bee. May 21, 2003.
  26. ^ "WNBA Gets A Breath Of Fresh Air With Oxygen Game Of The Week". Sports Business Daily. June 4, 2002.
  27. ^ Bracht, Mel (June 6, 2002). "Handicappers make their picks for Belmont". The Oklahoman.
  28. ^ "Mark Morgan - Host - Sirius XM Radio Inc". LinkedIn.
  29. ^ "Oxygen Media to Televise WNBA Games in 2002-03". WNBA.com. June 3, 2002.
  30. ^ "July 12th, 2003: WNBA All-Star Game". GAME NOTES OF DOOM. January 14, 2008.
  31. ^ "Sports Agency News". Sports Business Daily. June 30, 2003.
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