NBA on CBS
Format	Sports
Starring	See the broadcasters section below
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	150 minutes+
Broadcast
Original channel	CBS (1973-1990)
Original run	1973 – June 14, 1990
External links
Official website

The NBA on CBS was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on CBS Sports. Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively The NBA on CBS was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on CBS Sports. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association. CBS Sports is a division of CBS which airs many of the sports telecasts in the United States. The NBA on CBS ran from the 1973-1974 NBA season (when CBS succeeded ABC Sports as the official, over-the-air, nationally televised American broadcaster of the NBA) until the 1989-1990 NBA season (when CBS was succeeded by NBC Sports). The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. ABC's Coverage of the NBA, known as NBA Sunday on ABC since 2007, is a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association. The NBA on NBC was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on the National Broadcasting Company television network from

Early presentation

The NBA on CBS opening sequence circa 1973-1976. The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association.

During CBS' first few years at covering the NBA, CBS was accused of mishandling their NBA telecasts^[1][2]. Among the criticisms included CBS playing too much loud music, the lack of stability with the announcers,^[3] regionalizing telecasts (thus fragmenting the ratings even further), billing games as being between star players^[4] instead of teams, and devoting too much attention to the slam dunk in instant replays. A slam dunk (or simply a dunk) is a type of Basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket For other uses of the term "Instant replay" see Instant replay (disambiguation. Regular features included a pregame show that consisted of mini-teams of celebrities and active and former NBA players competing against each other, and a halftime show called Horse. Variations of basketball are games or activities based on or similar to the game of Basketball, in which the player utilizes common basketball skills

The NBA eventually took notice of the criticisms and managed to persuade CBS to eliminate its original halftime show. In its place, came human-interest shows about the players (similar to the ones seen on the NFL Today program on CBS). The NFL Today is also the name of the Radio show that corresponds with the television show There also was a possibility that CBS would start televising a single national game on Sunday afternoons.

Other adjustments that CBS made in hopes of improving their coverage included hiring reporter Sonny Hill to cover the league on a full-time basis. CBS also put microphones and cameras on team huddles to allow viewers to see and hear coaches at work. Finally, CBS introduced a halftime segment called Red Auerbach on Roundball, featuring the Hall of Fame Boston Celtics coach. Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20 1917 &ndash October 28 2006 was a Basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in downtown Springfield Massachusetts, honors players who have shown exceptional skill at Basketball The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The segment intended to not only educate CBS' viewers about the complexities of the pro game, but also to teach young players how to improve their skills. They also subtly introduced audiences to an all-star team based on Auerbach's criteria such as screening and passing. The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951.

Slam dunk contest

During the 1976-77 season, the NBA's first after merging with the ABA, CBS held a slam dunk contest that ran during halftime of the Game of the Week telecasts. The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National The Slam Dunk Contest is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. Don Criqui was the host of this particular competition. Don Criqui is an American Sportscaster, currently employed as a Play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports and ESPN. The final, which pitted Larry McNeill of the Golden State Warriors against eventual winner Darnell "Dr. Dunk" Hillman of the Indiana Pacers, took place during the 1977 NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. Darnell “Dr Dunk” Hillman (born August 29, 1949 in Sacramento, California) is a former professional Basketball player The 1977 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1976-77 NBA season. CBS, anxious for star power, gave big names of that era (Julius Erving, George Gervin, and David Thompson) the opportunity to be eliminated three times. Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22 1950 and raised in Roosevelt New York) commonly known by the nickname Dr George "The Iceman" Gervin (born April 27 1952 in Detroit Michigan) is a retired American professional Basketball player a Shooting guard David O'Neil Thompson (born July 13, 1954 in Shelby North Carolina) is a former American professional Basketball star with the ^[5][6]

Tape delay and playoff scheduling

From 1975-1979 CBS aired all NBA Finals games live (usually during the afternoon). The 1974–75 NBA season was the 29th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1978–79 NBA season was the 33rd season of the National Basketball Association. The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June "Live TV" redirects here For the British TV station formerly known by this name see L!VE TV. Starting in 1982, CBS resumed live coverage of all NBA Finals games. The 1981–82 NBA Season was the 36th season of the National Basketball Association. During this era, CBS aired weeknight playoff games from earlier rounds on tape delay at 11:30 p. m. Eastern Time (airing games live when the game site was in the Pacific Time Zone). The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America The Pacific Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-8) CBS continued this practice until at least the mid-1980s.

CBS didn't want sportscasters to give the final score on the 11 p. m. /10 p. m. newscasts. They preferred the games to not be over by that time if they were going to be aired on tape later that night. Most CBS games were either 8:30 p. m. or 9 p. m. local starts. For instance, CBS aired Games 1-3 of the 1981 Western Conference Finals (between the Houston Rockets and Kansas City Kings). The 1981 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament follow National Basketball Association 's 1980-1981 season. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California. Ironically, CBS featured both Western teams finished the regular season with a record 40-42 instead of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers (both teams finished with a 60-22 record). The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1986 was the last year that CBS ever aired an NBA playoff game on tape delay. The 1986 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1985-86 season. It was Game 3 (on Friday, May 16) of the playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. The game aired at 11:30 p. m. after having a 9:30 p. m. tip.

Scheduling

1976

The 1976 NBA Finals had three straight off days between Sunday afternoon opener and Thursday night second game due to CBS' concern with low ratings for professional basketball. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. The 1976 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round for the 1975-76 NBA season. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television At that time, ratings ended after Wednesday, May 26 (with weekend afternoon games not factored into the ratings). Events 451 - The Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place Accordingly, CBS allowed Game 1 to be played on Sunday afternoon, since the ratings would not count, but would not permit Game 2 to be played live in prime time unless the NBA waited until Thursday evening. "Live TV" redirects here For the British TV station formerly known by this name see L!VE TV. Prime Time is the major News analysis current affairs and Politics programme broadcast on Radio Telefís Éireann in Ireland

For Game 3 of the Finals, CBS forced the NBA to start the game in Phoenix at 10:30 a. Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, m. local time (1:30 p. m. EDT) on a Sunday morning. This was done in order to accommodate a golf telecast that afternoon. Many local clergymen were outraged, as attendance at Sunday church services was drastically reduced that day.

1977

By 1977, CBS' NBA schedule was composed of six regionalized telecasts on Sundays. The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. Not only that, CBS would run one national game if they felt that match-up itself warranted national coverage. CBS also could stage doubleheaders and switch from a one-sided game to a close one. During this period, CBS stopped doing any pre-NBA Finals prime time games. They, instead started airing several West Coast games at 11:30 p. The " West Coast " " Western Seaboard " or " Pacific Seaboard " are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the Western United States m. ET. The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America

For most of the early years, the NBA tried to assist CBS by allowing the network to choose any game it wanted to broadcast. But too often, it was small market teams like the Portland Trail Blazers that were in the playoffs or won the championship. The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon.

CBS wanted the NBA to start Game 6 of the Finals at 10:30 local time on Sunday morning to accommodate a golf telecast of the Kemper Open (similar to 1976). The 1976 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round for the 1975-76 NBA season. The Booz Allen Classic was a regular Golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1968 to 2006 This time, the NBA refused and CBS agreed to a noon start in Portland. Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the Confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers Despite the fact that this was the Finals' clinching game, CBS cut away from their NBA coverage very quickly after the game ended, skipping the trophy presentation in the Portland locker room to instead televise the golf tournament.

1978

By 1978, NBC aired Saturday afternoon college basketball games, CBS aired NBA doubleheaders on Sunday afternoons, and most independent stations aired local professional and college games. The year 1978 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1978. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's An independent station is Television terminology used to describe a Television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not CBS started to fear that their ratings suffered as a result of too much basketball being on television at once. So as an experiment of sorts, CBS aired the first two games of the Conference Finals at 11:30 p. The 1978 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1977-1978 season. m. Eastern Standard Time.

1979

In 1979, Games 2 and 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals were televised live, while Game 7 was broadcast on tape delay. The 1978–79 NBA season was the 33rd season of the National Basketball Association. Games 3 and 6 of the Western Conference Finals aired live, while Games 2, 5 and 7 were televised via tape delay. Games 6 and 7 of the 1979 NBA Finals would have been televised live (at 3:30 p. The 1979 NBA World Championship Series at the conclusion of the 1978-79 season were won by the Seattle SuperSonics defeating the Washington Bullets 4 games m. on a Sunday and then 9:00 p. m. on the following Tuesday), but were unnecessary.

See also: 1979 NBA Playoffs

1980

CBS' NBA intro circa 1980. The 1979 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1978-1979 season. The 1979–80 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association.

By 1979-1980, CBS' NBA ratings had bottomed. The 1979–80 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television In 1980, CBS' regular season rating was a 6. The year 1980 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1980. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television 4. By this time, they had eliminated their regional coverage and only used two play-by-play men (Brent Musburger and Gary Bender) and three color commentators (Bill Russell and Rod Hundley, who teamed with Musburger and Rick Barry, who teamed with Bender) CBS felt that wasn't worth it to them to pre-empt their Friday night lineup (the smash hit Dallas in particular) during May sweeps to show an NBA Finals game. Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Rodney Clark Hundley (born October 26, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former professional Basketball player and television Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Dallas is a highly popular long-running American prime-time television Soap opera that originally ran from 1978 to 1991 Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television The consensus was that a basketball game in prime time would have drawn fewer viewers. Prime Time is the major News analysis current affairs and Politics programme broadcast on Radio Telefís Éireann in Ireland As a result, CBS used to regularly run NBA games in the 11:30 p.m. time slot (then occupied by The CBS Late Movie). The CBS Late Movie is a CBS Television series (later known as CBS Late Night) from the 1970s and 1980s that ran in most American television For the 1980 and 1981 NBA Finals, CBS scheduled Games 3 and 4 on back-to-back days (Saturday and Sunday) to avoid an extra tape delay game. The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1979-80 NBA season. The 1981 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1980-81 NBA season, pitting the Boston Celtics

When it came time for CBS to broadcast Game 6 (on Friday, May 16) of the 1980 Finals, they gave their affiliates (in fact, WAGA-TV^[19] in Atlanta didn't carry the NBA on CBS for numerous years) the option of either airing the game live or on tape delay. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. WAGA channel 5 is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation -owned FOX Television Network and based in Atlanta Georgia If the affiliate choice to air the game later that night, then prime time viewing would consist of reruns of The Incredible Hulk, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Dallas. Prime Time is the major News analysis current affairs and Politics programme broadcast on Radio Telefís Éireann in Ireland The Incredible Hulk is an American Television series based on the Marvel Comic book character of the same name. The Dukes of Hazzard is an American Television series that originally aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985. Game 6 (the clincher) of the 1980 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers was most notably, aired live in the Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle markets. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Otherwise, most CBS affiliates chose to air Game 6 on tape delay.

1981

The 1980-1981 season was arguably the rock bottom point of the tape delay era for CBS. The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. CBS aired four of the six Finals games on tape delay and six of nine during the Conference Finals. The 1981 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1980-81 NBA season, pitting the Boston Celtics The National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern conference and Western conference Championship series of the NBA. Just like the previous year, CBS scheduled Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals without an off day to avoid yet another tape delay game. CBS wanted the Pacific teams to advance in the playoffs so that they could show live games at 11:30 p. The Pacific Division is a division in the Western Conference of the NBA. The 1981 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament follow National Basketball Association 's 1980-1981 season. m. on the East Coast; however, the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers were upset in Round 1, while the Phoenix Suns were upset in Round 2. The East Coast of the United States, also known as the "Eastern Seaboard" or "Atlantic Seaboard" refers to the easternmost coastal states in the central and northern The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Phoenix Suns are a professional Basketball team based in Phoenix Arizona. This left two teams playing in the Central Time Zone--the Houston Rockets and Kansas City Kings in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California.

See also: 1981 NBA Playoffs

Later years

CBS' time/score graphic^[20] during a late-eighties regular season game between the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. The 1981 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament follow National Basketball Association 's 1980-1981 season. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern

The NBA responded to CBS' actions by stretching out the regular season, resulting in the NBA Finals ending after sweeps. The NBA had experimented in 1979-1980 and 1980-1981 with ending the regular season at the end of March, thereby ensuring that the Finals were played in early to mid-May; starting in 1981-1982, a late April regular season finale was held, resulting in the finals starting in late May and stretching into June. The 1979–80 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1981–82 NBA Season was the 36th season of the National Basketball Association.

While CBS would stop using tape delay after the 1981 NBA Finals, many first round playoff games were not nationally televised (a practice that didn't begin until 1995). The 1981 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1980-81 NBA season, pitting the Boston Celtics The 1995 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1994-1995 season. During this era, CBS typically provided regional coverage of two games in a late Sunday afternoon time slot during the first three weekends of the playoffs. In 1986, CBS provided regional coverage of the Eastern Conferences Finals and Western Conference Finals games on May 18. The 1986 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1985-86 season. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. This would be the last time that any NBA Conference Finals game was not nationally televised.

1982-83

CBS' opening sequence circa the 1982 NBA Finals. The 1982 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1981-82 NBA season, the top level of competition in

In the 1982-83 season, CBS greatly reduced the number of regular season broadcasts from 18 to four. The 1982–83 NBA season was the 37th season of the National Basketball Association. The rationale was that cable television (namely, the USA Network and ESPN) was carrying a large number of regular season games (at least 40 each). The NBA on USA is the De facto name is for the USA Network 's National Basketball Association television coverage The NBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of National Basketball Association (NBA games on the ESPN family of networks In return, CBS executives believed that the public was being oversaturated with NBA coverage.

1983-84

A clean version of the NBA on CBS opening sequence that was used from the start of the 1983 Finals through the start of the 1989 Finals. The 1983 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1982-83 NBA season. The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988-89 NBA season.

For the 1983-84 season, CBS would televise just ten (out of 170 nationally) regular season games. The 1983–84 NBA season was the 38th season of the National Basketball Association. Meanwhile, CBS televised about 16 playoff games. The 1984 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1983-84 season.

1984-85

On May 12, 1985, during halftime of the Boston Celtics/Philadelphia 76ers playoff game, CBS televised the first ever NBA Draft Lottery. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. The year 1985 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1985. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The 1985 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1984-85 season. The NBA Draft Lottery is an annual event held by the National Basketball Association (NBA to determine the order of the NBA Draft for that year

1985-86

1986 was the last time CBS ever aired an NBA playoff game on tape delay. The year 1986 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1986. The 1986 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1985-86 season. It was on May 16, 1986, Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. The game aired on 11:30 p. m. following a 9:30 p. m. tip. Also in 1986, CBS provided regional coverage of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Finals games on May 18. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. As previously mentioned, this was the last time that any NBA Conference Finals game was not nationally televised.

1986-87

In 1987, CBS provided prime time coverage for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The 1987 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1986-1987 season. This marked CBS' first pre-Finals prime time playoff telecast since 1976. The 1976 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1975-1976 season.

1988-89

CBS' updated intro beginning with the 1989 Finals and lasting through the 1989-1990 season (their last with the NBA to date). The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988-89 NBA season. The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association. This intro is from Game 4 of the 1989 Finals between the Pistons and Lakers. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California.

By the late 1980s, CBS was telecasting 15-16 regular season games a year. In 1989 alone, only 13 of the 24 playoff games (Games 1-3 to be exact) in Round 1 appeared on TBS or CBS. The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1988-1989 season. The NBA on TBS debuted in the 1984-1985 season (replacing the USA Network as the National Basketball Association 's national Cable television CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. For example, none of the four games from the Seattle-Houston first round series appeared on national television. The Seattle SuperSonics (also called the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional Basketball team based in Seattle Washington that played The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas.

Another interesting fact is that Game 5 of the 1989 playoff series between Chicago and Cleveland (featuring Michael Jordan's now famous game winning, last second shot over Craig Ehlo) wasn't nationally televised. The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1988-1989 season. The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman The Shot is a game-winning basket made by Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls in the fifth game of the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs against Joel Craig Ehlo, referred to as just Craig Ehlo (born August 11 1961, in Lubbock Texas) is a retired American National Basketball For instance, CBS affiliates in Virginia elected to show the first game of a second round series between Seattle and the Lakers. This is a list of broadcast television stations serving cities in the U The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California.

Meanwhile, many CBS affiliates on the West Coast such as Los Angeles and San Francisco got a chance to see at least a portion of the Chicago-Cleveland game. The " West Coast " " Western Seaboard " or " Pacific Seaboard " are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the Western United States KCBS-TV, channel 2 is an owned-and-operated station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles California. KPIX-TV (Channel 5 is the CBS Owned and operated Television station in San Francisco California. In Los Angeles, the hometown Lakers finished their game (started at the same time as the Chicago-Cleveland game) just in time for CBS to switch to Chicago-Cleveland, where as it happened Jordan made his game winner. The Portland Oregonian criticized CBS for its decision to show the Game 1 of the second round Seattle-Lakers series in Portland rather than that game. The Oregonian is the major daily Newspaper in Portland Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. KOIN ("KOIN Local 6" is the CBS television affiliate serving the Portland metropolitan area. Further, CBS only broadcast the fifth game of the first round series between Atlanta and Milwaukee nationally. The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia. The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The nationally televised Atlanta-Milwaukee game went on the air at 1:00 p. m. Eastern Time while the regionally televised Chicago-Cleveland and Seattle/L. A. Lakers games went on the air at 3:30 p. m. Eastern Time.

Perhaps even more confusing, both Game 5 sites (Chicago at Cleveland and Milwaukee at Atlanta) were in the Eastern Time Zone, so differing local start times were not a factor. } The Coliseum at Richfield (also known as Richfield Coliseum) was an Arena located in Richfield Township in Summit County, Ohio The Omni Coliseum, usually called The Omni, from the Latin for "all" or "every" was an indoor arena located in Atlanta, Georgia } The Coliseum at Richfield (also known as Richfield Coliseum) was an Arena located in Richfield Township in Summit County, Ohio Previously, CBS aired Game 2 of the Chicago-Cleveland series nationally while relegating Game 2 of the Atlanta-Milwaukee series to TBS. CBS used its number one announcing team, Dick Stockton and Hubie Brown to call that game. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball

The closing credits following CBS' coverage of Game 7 of the 1990 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1989-1990 season.

During the 1980s, CBS showed a mixture of NBA and college basketball during the regular season. College basketball most often refers to the American Basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Each March, CBS would essentially put their NBA coverage on hold during the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single elimination Tournament held each spring featuring 65 College basketball teams in the CBS typically showed a few regular season NBA games in the weeks after the NFL season ended, before March Madness, and several weekends leading into the playoffs. The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League 's American Football Conference The NBA Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament between sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference (called Divisions

Resurgence of the NBA

Popular belief holds that the peak era of the NBA on CBS occurred from 1984 to 1987. The 1983–84 NBA season was the 38th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1986–87 NBA season was the 41st season of the National Basketball Association. During this period, CBS' NBA coverage was the beneficiary of a new era in the league that would forever link two of the game's greatest players, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7 1956 is a retired American NBA Basketball player widely considered as one of the best players of all time and one of the top Bird and Johnson entered the NBA (coming off of playing against each other in the highest rated NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship of all time), playing for the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers and Celtics, two iconic teams in large television markets, rose to prominence during the period; many credit the theatrics of Bird and Johnson to boosting the overall popularity of the NBA (especially during the tape delay era of NBA telecasts). The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Within three years of Johnson and Bird entering the league, the NBA had a weekly Game of the Week on CBS, and ratings for Finals games approached World Series levels. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation.

Prior to the Bird/Magic era, CBS used to televise approximately five to seven games regionally per week in a doubleheader format (1:45 p. m. and 4 p. m. ET) on Sundays. The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America ratings for regional were far outdrawn by NBC's college basketball coverage and ABC's Superstars program. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television NBC Sports is the brand used for sports programming on NBC, responsible for the televising of many Sports events on the network College basketball most often refers to the American Basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a After ratings bottomed out in 1980 and 1981, coinciding with CBS airing tape delayed coverage, the network decided to scrap the regional telecasts. The 1979–80 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. In its place CBS sold the marquee players and teams (i. e. Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers, Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers, etc. Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22 1950 and raised in Roosevelt New York) commonly known by the nickname Dr The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Larry Joe Bird (born December 7 1956 is a retired American NBA Basketball player widely considered as one of the best players of all time and one of the top The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. ) for a "Game of the Week" broadcast.

The end of The NBA on CBS

On November 9, 1989, the NBA and NBC reached an agreement on a four-year, $600 million contract (beginning in the 1990-1991 season). Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all The year 1989 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1989. The NBA on NBC was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on the National Broadcasting Company television network from The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The 1990–91 NBA season was the 45th season of the National Basketball Association. From 1986 to its final year in 1990, CBS paid about $47 million per year for their NBA coverage. The 1986–87 NBA season was the 41st season of the National Basketball Association. The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The final NBA game that CBS televised to date occurred on June 14, 1990. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the The year 1990 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1990. It was Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers. The 1990 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1989-90 NBA season. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Pistons won the game 92-90 to clinch their second consecutive World Championship. The Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy is a trophy awarded to the National Basketball Association (NBA team that wins the NBA Finals at the conclusion of As the soundtrack for their goodbye montage, CBS used Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" from the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. Marvin Pentz Gay Jr, known as Marvin Gaye ( April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Singer-songwriter " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America The 1982–83 NBA season was the 37th season of the National Basketball Association. The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. So after 17 years, an era at CBS Sports as well as the National Basketball Association had come to an end. CBS Sports is a division of CBS which airs many of the sports telecasts in the United States. While the network broadcast every Larry Bird-Magic Johnson Finals (with the exception of 1991, which was Magic Johnson's last and the first to be broadcast by NBC), it never broadcast any Final involving Michael Jordan. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7 1956 is a retired American NBA Basketball player widely considered as one of the best players of all time and one of the top The 1991 NBA Finals was the Championship round of the 1990-91 NBA season. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman

Future

In May 2007, the NBA renewed its television contract with ESPN, making ABC the broadcast home of the NBA through 2016. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to 2016 ( MMXVI) will be a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. A number of fans have expressed disappointment with the NBA for renewing ABC's contract, citing poor ratings (6. 2 for the 2007 NBA Finals featuring the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers), lowered fan interest and ABC's poorly received choices in theme music and program content. The 2007 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006-07 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio.

See also: NBA on ABC and NBA on ESPN

Announcers

Brent Musburger

Musburger was involved in every NBA Final (either as a play-by-play man or as a host) from 1975 to 1989, and was the lead voice for NBA games on CBS for much of that period. ABC's Coverage of the NBA, known as NBA Sunday on ABC since 2007, is a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association The NBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of National Basketball Association (NBA games on the ESPN family of networks The 1975 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1974-75 NBA season of the National Basketball Association. The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988-89 NBA season. From 1975 to 1980, Musburger worked with a variety of analysts for regular season games (including Billy Cunningham, Mendy Rudolph, Rod Hundley, Oscar Robertson, Steve Jones, Tom Heinsohn, and Rick Barry). The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1979–80 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association. A color commentator, sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the Broadcasting team for a sporting event who assists the Play-by-play William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the Marvin "Mendy" Rudolph (March 8 1926 &ndash July 4 1979 was a Professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA Rodney Clark Hundley (born October 26, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former professional Basketball player and television Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24 1938 in Charlotte Tennessee) nicknamed " The Big O " is a former American NBA player with Stephen (Steve Howard "Snapper" Jones (born October 17 1942, in Alexandria Louisiana) is one of the most esteemed and watched National Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Musburger called Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals, with Rick Barry and sideline reporters Mendy Rudolph and Sonny Hill. The 1976 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round for the 1975-76 NBA season. Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Marvin "Mendy" Rudolph (March 8 1926 &ndash July 4 1979 was a Professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA In 1989, he and Bill Raftery were the number two team on playoff games, working the Western Conference Final games that were broadcast on CBS. The 1988–89 NBA season was the 43rd season of the National Basketball Association. Bill Raftery (born April 19, 1943) is an American Basketball analyst and former college basketball coach The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1988-1989 season. The National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern conference and Western conference Championship series of the NBA. In 2004, Musburger and Raftery worked NBA playoff games on ESPN. The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association 's 2003-04 season. The NBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of National Basketball Association (NBA games on the ESPN family of networks

Dick Stockton

Dick Stockton^[21] was the lead voice of the NBA on CBS from 1981 to 1990. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. The 1981–82 NBA Season was the 36th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association. After CBS failed in an attempt to compete with the NBC college basketball announcing team of Dick Enberg, Billy Packer and Al McGuire with Gary Bender (who was subsequently "promoted" to a play-by-play position on CBS' newly acquired college basketball package), Rick Barry and Bill Russell, Stockton became the voice of the NBA. NBC Sports is the brand used for sports programming on NBC, responsible for the televising of many Sports events on the network College basketball most often refers to the American Basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Richard Alan "Dick" Enberg (born January 9, 1935) is an American Sportscaster. Billy Packer (born February 25, 1940 in Wellsville New York) is a former American Sportscaster for CBS Sports and a published Al McGuire ( September 7 1928 in New York City - January 26, 2001 in Milwaukee Wisconsin) coached the Marquette University Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Working with Tom Heinsohn (who was criticized^[22] by the media and viewers for being too biased to the Boston Celtics, a team he once played for and later coached) from 1983 to 1987, Stockton called some of the most memorable NBA Finals in league history. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The 1983–84 NBA season was the 38th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1986–87 NBA season was the 41st season of the National Basketball Association. In 1984, 1985 and 1987, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics played each other in the NBA Finals, and Stockton's broadcasts became the then-highest rated in NBA history. The 1984 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1983-84 NBA season. The 1985 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1984-85 NBA season. The 1987 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1986-87 NBA season. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television Stockton would call the NBA Finals through the rest of the 1980s and in 1990 as well, working the 1988 NBA Finals with Billy Cunningham and the 1989 and 1990 NBA Finals with Hubie Brown (after Cunningham left CBS Sports to accept a management job with the new Miami Heat). The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The 1990 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1989-90 NBA season. The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1987-88 NBA season. William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988-89 NBA season. The 1990 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1989-90 NBA season. Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball CBS Sports is a division of CBS which airs many of the sports telecasts in the United States. The Miami Heat (often referred to simply as the Heat, including in some official team publications with HEAT in all capital letters are a professional Basketball

Other personalities

CBS employed many NBA greats during its seventeen years as the lead network carrier; Bill Russell was an analyst for several years, mainly in the 1970s and early 1980s. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Elgin Baylor was an analyst during CBS' inaugural year in 1973-1974, and was fired during that year's playoffs due to what CBS considered a lackluster performance. Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16 1934 in Washington DC) is a retired American basketball player who played The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. He was replaced by another NBA great, Rick Barry^[23], who held a fairly consistent role with CBS through the 1970s and early 1980s, including calling several NBA Finals. Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Steve "Snapper" Jones, best known from the NBA on NBC, was part of CBS' broadcast teams, partnering with Don Criqui in 1975-1976 and 1976-1977. Stephen (Steve Howard "Snapper" Jones (born October 17 1942, in Alexandria Louisiana) is one of the most esteemed and watched National The NBA on NBC was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on the National Broadcasting Company television network from Don Criqui is an American Sportscaster, currently employed as a Play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports and ESPN. The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association.

During Game 5 of the 1981 NBA Finals, CBS analyst Rick Barry made this comment when CBS posted an old photo of colleague Bill Russell's on the 1956 Olympic team:

Barry's comments were considered to be racially insensitive (Bill Russell is Black) and CBS did not renew Barry for the subsequent season. The 1981 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1980-81 NBA season, pitting the Boston Celtics Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Basketball at the 1956 Summer Olympics was the fourth appearance of the sport in Olympic competition African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa The 1981–82 NBA Season was the 36th season of the National Basketball Association.

CBS often used the same analysts for both the NBA Playoffs and NCAA Tournament. The NBA Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament between sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference (called Divisions The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single elimination Tournament held each spring featuring 65 College basketball teams in the Tom Heinsohn, Billy Cunningham, and Hubie Brown all worked NCAA Regionals during years when also serving as the lead NBA analyst for CBS. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Billy Packer worked NBA playoff games in 1987 and 1988 while he was the CBS' lead college basketball analyst. Billy Packer (born February 25, 1940 in Wellsville New York) is a former American Sportscaster for CBS Sports and a published The 1987 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1986-1987 season. The 1988 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1987-1988 season.

While Brent Musburger did host most of CBS' NBA Finals pregame and halftime programs, Pat O'Brien hosted a pregame show during the earlier rounds of the playoffs called The Basketball Show. Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Pat O'Brien (born February 14, 1948 in Sioux Falls South Dakota) is the former host of The Insider, a spin-off of Entertainment O'Brien, working with analyst Bill Raftery, also hosted the The Prudential At The Half. Bill Raftery (born April 19, 1943) is an American Basketball analyst and former college basketball coach Prudential Financial, Inc ( is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide Insurance, Investment management, and When Musburger left CBS Sports in April 1990, O'Brien took over the NBA Finals (the last that CBS did) hosting duties full-time. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The 1990 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1989-90 NBA season. In 1988 and 1989, Pat O'Brien filled-in for Brent Musburger (who was busy covering the College World Series for CBS) as the NBA Finals anchor for Game 2. The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1987-88 NBA season. The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988-89 NBA season. From 1988 - 2002, CBS Sports televised a portion of the annual College World Series.

List of broadcasters

For more details on this topic, see List of NBA Finals broadcasters. The following is a list of the Television networks and announcers that have broadcast NBA Finals games over the years

Brent Musburger, prior to Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals between the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers. Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1987-88 NBA season. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California.

Announcing teams

Theme music

Main article: National Basketball Association music#CBS

Through the 1973-1976 seasons, the theme music for the NBA on CBS actually had lyrics. Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16 1934 in Washington DC) is a retired American basketball player who played Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Tim Brant (born February 26, 1949 in Washington DC) is an American Sportscaster and Vice President and director of sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball James Brown (born February 25, 1951) commonly called " JB William Quinn Buckner, commonly known as Quinn Buckner (born August 20 1954 in Phoenix Illinois) is a former American professional Paul Douglas Collins (born July 28, 1951 in Christopher Illinois) is a former four-time NBA Basketball All-Star Robert Quinlan "Bob" Costas (born March 22, 1952) is a Sportscaster, on the air for the NBC network since the early 1980s Don Criqui is an American Sportscaster, currently employed as a Play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports and ESPN. Irvin Acie "Irv" Cross (b July 27 1939, Hammond Indiana) is a former professional American football Cornerback and William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the Terry Gilbert Dischinger (born November 14 1940 in Terre Haute Indiana) is a retired American Basketball player in the NBA. Leonard J Elmore (born March 28 1952 in New York City, New York) is an American Sportscaster, Lawyer and former Keith Raymond Erickson (born 19 April 1944 in San Francisco California) is a former American Basketball player Frank John Glieber (April 5 1934 in Milwaukee Wisconsin – May 1 1985 in Dallas Texas) was an American Sportscaster. Jim Gray is an American Sportscaster. He has previously worked as a reporter with NBC Sports and CBS Sports. Greg Gumbel (born May 3, 1946) is an American Television Sportscaster. John J Havlicek (born April 8 1940 in Martins Ferry Ohio) is a retired American professional Basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Rodney Clark Hundley (born October 26, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former professional Basketball player and television Gus Johnson ( December 13 1938 &ndash April 29 1987) was a professional Basketball player who spent nine seasons with the NBA Stephen (Steve Howard "Snapper" Jones (born October 17 1942, in Alexandria Louisiana) is one of the most esteemed and watched National Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III (born August 23, 1934) is a former American football Quarterback in the National Football Stuart (Stu Burrell Lantz (born July 13 1946, in Uniontown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a retired American Basketball Kevin Michael Loughery (born March 28, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American former professional Basketball player and coach Verne Lundquist (born July 17, 1940) is an American Sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television Peter Press Maravich (June 22 1947 &ndash January 5 1988 was an American Basketball player known for his dazzling ballhandling, incredible shooting Jon P McGlocklin (born June 10, 1943 in Franklin Indiana) is an American former professional Basketball player John Richard "Dick" Motta (born September 3, 1931 in Midvale Utah) is a former Basketball coach whose career in the National Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN James William Nantz III (born May 17, 1959 in Charlotte North Carolina) is an American Sportscaster, known primarily for his Pat O'Brien (born February 14, 1948 in Sioux Falls South Dakota) is the former host of The Insider, a spin-off of Entertainment Billy Packer (born February 25, 1940 in Wellsville New York) is a former American Sportscaster for CBS Sports and a published Bill Raftery (born April 19, 1943) is an American Basketball analyst and former college basketball coach Calvin Ramsey (born July 13, 1937 in Selma Alabama) was a National Basketball Association player from 1960 to 1961 for the St Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24 1938 in Charlotte Tennessee) nicknamed " The Big O " is a former American NBA player with Marvin "Mendy" Rudolph (March 8 1926 &ndash July 4 1979 was a Professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Cazzie Lee Russell (born June 7, 1944 in Chicago Illinois) is a former pro Basketball player and coach Tim Ryan (Born May 16, 1939) is an American sportscaster After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Ryan took a job the newly formed Larry Nelson Steele (born May 5, 1949, in Greencastle Indiana) is a former professional Basketball player best known for being on the Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. George Allen "Pat" Summerall (born May 10, 1930 in Lake City, Florida) is a former American football player and well-known Lesley Visser (born September 11, 1953 in Quincy Massachusetts) is an American Sportscaster Jerry Alan West (born May 28 1938 is a retired American Basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Leonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens (born October 28 1937 in Brooklyn, New York U Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Kevin Michael Loughery (born March 28, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American former professional Basketball player and coach Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Rodney Clark Hundley (born October 26, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former professional Basketball player and television William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Rodney Clark Hundley (born October 26, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former professional Basketball player and television Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player John J Havlicek (born April 8 1940 in Martins Ferry Ohio) is a retired American professional Basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Stephen (Steve Howard "Snapper" Jones (born October 17 1942, in Alexandria Louisiana) is one of the most esteemed and watched National Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Marvin "Mendy" Rudolph (March 8 1926 &ndash July 4 1979 was a Professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24 1938 in Charlotte Tennessee) nicknamed " The Big O " is a former American NBA player with George Allen "Pat" Summerall (born May 10, 1930 in Lake City, Florida) is a former American football player and well-known Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Rodney Clark Hundley (born October 26, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former professional Basketball player and television The 1983–84 NBA season was the 38th season of the National Basketball Association. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Kevin Michael Loughery (born March 28, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American former professional Basketball player and coach Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Paul Douglas Collins (born July 28, 1951 in Christopher Illinois) is a former four-time NBA Basketball All-Star Frank John Glieber (April 5 1934 in Milwaukee Wisconsin – May 1 1985 in Dallas Texas) was an American Sportscaster. James Brown (born February 25, 1951) commonly called " JB The 1984–85 NBA season was the 39th season of the National Basketball Association. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Paul Douglas Collins (born July 28, 1951 in Christopher Illinois) is a former four-time NBA Basketball All-Star Frank John Glieber (April 5 1934 in Milwaukee Wisconsin – May 1 1985 in Dallas Texas) was an American Sportscaster. James Brown (born February 25, 1951) commonly called " JB The 1985–86 NBA season was the 40th season of the National Basketball Association. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball James William Nantz III (born May 17, 1959 in Charlotte North Carolina) is an American Sportscaster, known primarily for his Paul Douglas Collins (born July 28, 1951 in Christopher Illinois) is a former four-time NBA Basketball All-Star The 1986–87 NBA season was the 41st season of the National Basketball Association. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the Verne Lundquist (born July 17, 1940) is an American Sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Tim Brant (born February 26, 1949 in Washington DC) is an American Sportscaster and Vice President and director of sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV Billy Packer (born February 25, 1940 in Wellsville New York) is a former American Sportscaster for CBS Sports and a published The 1987–88 NBA season was the 42nd season of the National Basketball Association. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Verne Lundquist (born July 17, 1940) is an American Sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Tim Brant (born February 26, 1949 in Washington DC) is an American Sportscaster and Vice President and director of sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV Billy Packer (born February 25, 1940 in Wellsville New York) is a former American Sportscaster for CBS Sports and a published The 1988–89 NBA season was the 43rd season of the National Basketball Association. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Brent Woody Musburger (born May 26, 1939, in Portland Oregon) is an American Sportscaster for the ABC and ESPN Bill Raftery (born April 19, 1943) is an American Basketball analyst and former college basketball coach Verne Lundquist (born July 17, 1940) is an American Sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Greg Gumbel (born May 3, 1946) is an American Television Sportscaster. William Quinn Buckner, commonly known as Quinn Buckner (born August 20 1954 in Phoenix Illinois) is a former American professional The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association. Dick Stockton (born in 1942 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Sportscaster. Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown (born September 25, 1933 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Basketball Verne Lundquist (born July 17, 1940) is an American Sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television Leonard J Elmore (born March 28 1952 in New York City, New York) is an American Sportscaster, Lawyer and former James Brown (born February 25, 1951) commonly called " JB Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player known for his time as a player on the Greg Gumbel (born May 3, 1946) is an American Television Sportscaster. William Quinn Buckner, commonly known as Quinn Buckner (born August 20 1954 in Phoenix Illinois) is a former American professional The National Basketball Association has links to hip hop music and has also had its own famous anthem in Roundball Rock. The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association. The phrase theme music usually refers to that of a radio program, Television program, or Movie. By the 1983 NBA Finals, the opening sequence was set in a primitive, computer-generated montage of basketball action set inside a virtual arena. The 1983 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1982-83 NBA season. The sequence, created by Bill Feigenbaum, is generally considered to be the most familiar theme music that the NBA on CBS used. ^[28] The theme was revamped for the 1989 NBA Finals and was used until the end of CBS' coverage in 1990^[29]

Memorable moments

For more details on this topic, see Notable National Basketball Association games televised by CBS. The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988-89 NBA season. The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season of the National Basketball Association.

During its tenure as NBA network partner, CBS aired notable Finals series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, as well as both championships won by the "Bad Boy" era Detroit Pistons. Lakers-Celtics Rivalry or Celtics-Lakers Rivalry is a rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, two of the most storied Basketball The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area

Ratings

For more details on this topic, see National Basketball Association Nielsen ratings. The National Basketball Association has achieved a rapid rise and fall in television ratings since the 1997-1998 NBA season, when ratings for the NBA

Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals was highest rated game in the history of the NBA on CBS. The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1987-88 NBA season. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television

In 1976, CBS' regular season ratings earned an abysmal 26 share on Sunday afternoons. The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association. In 1978, the deciding game of the NBA Finals ranked 442nd out of 730 shows from September 1, 1977 to August 31, 1978. The year 1978 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1978. Series Summary Game 1 The Bullets behind Kevin Grevey 's 27 and Elvin Hayes 's 21 points held a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter at the Seattle Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. The year 1977 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1977. Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne The year 1978 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1978. The next highest rated playoff game in prime time only ranked 619th. The 1978 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1977-1978 season. Prime Time is the major News analysis current affairs and Politics programme broadcast on Radio Telefís Éireann in Ireland

CBS' NBA ratings were also extremely low during the early part of the eighties. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. In 1980, the 26 share from 1976 had fallen to 18 percent. The 1979–80 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association. Ratings fell to a level where, as mentioned before, CBS began airing games in tape delay. The 1981 NBA Finals set the standard for futility, with a 6. The 1981 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1980-81 NBA season, pitting the Boston Celtics 7 average rating. The mark was the lowest in NBA history, until the 2003 NBA Finals averaged a 6. The 2003 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2002-03 NBA season. 5 on ABC. ABC's Coverage of the NBA, known as NBA Sunday on ABC since 2007, is a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association

With the rebirth of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, ratings improved, especially in the three NBA Finals the two teams played in. Lakers-Celtics Rivalry or Celtics-Lakers Rivalry is a rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, two of the most storied Basketball In-between 1981-1983 CBS' ratings rose 12 percent. The 1981–82 NBA Season was the 36th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1982–83 NBA season was the 37th season of the National Basketball Association. CBS' highest rated NBA game (and the only NBA game that scored a 20 plus rating for the network) was Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons. The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1987-88 NBA season. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area By the end of its coverage, CBS' NBA ratings had been mostly respectable, with the lowest rated Final after 1982 scoring a 12. The 1982 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1981-82 NBA season, the top level of competition in 3 (three times). That mark is higher than any NBA Final since 1998. The 1998 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1997-98 National Basketball Association season.

Statistics

See also

• NBA on ABC
• NBA on NBC
• NBA on TNT
• NBA on TBS
• NBA on USA
• NBA on ESPN
  • NBA Wednesday
  • NBA Friday
• List of NBA Eastern Conference Final broadcasters
• List of NBA Western Conference Final broadcasters
• List of NBA Finals broadcasters
• Lakers-Celtics rivalry

References

External links

• NBA - CBS SportsLine.com
• CBS NBA Basketball (1982, Video) - No voice over.
  • CBS NBA Basketball (1982, Video) - With voice over provided by Brent Musburger.
• CBS TV Spot: NBA Playoffs
• CBS NBA 1985 Montage
• The NBA on Network Television: A Historical Analysis