Hall of Famer McHale joins NBA TV as analyst

NBA Digital -- a partnership of the NBA and Turner Sports -- today announced extensive programming plans for the 2009-10 regular season, including 96 live games, exclusive studio shows, unique video content, news reporting and extensive online content. This season, fans will have complete access to more content than ever, including six days a week of live studio programming on NBA TV, original online content and more games than any other national network.

Three-time NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Kevin McHale will join NBA TV's acclaimed Fan Night on Tuesday nights. Each week, McHale will be part of a team that features Emmy award-winning studio host Ernie Johnson and returning studio analyst Chris Webber. They will provide analysis and insight during live studio coverage around weekly match-up(s) that fans select through a vote on NBA.com. This season's Tuesday Fan Night slate will also include select doubleheaders during the year.

Every Tuesday on NBA.com, The Jump on NBA.com, a new, live interactive show hosted by Kyle Montgomery and former Orlando Magic sharp-shooter Dennis Scott, will allow fans to sound-off about their favorite teams via texts and videos posted to NBA.com. The show will air select submissions, and announcers will respond to fans. NBA TV's other signature nights include a new Wednesday lineup, which will feature veteran host Ahmad Rashad with a new show where he takes viewers behind the scenes of some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. Thursday night programming will offer unique retrospectives at some of the greatest players, eras and moments in NBA history.

NBA TV's GameTime will return as the live studio show filled with highlights, analysis, commentary and live look-ins at games being played across the league, airing six nights a week. Hosts Rick Kamla, Andre Aldridge and Marc Fein will anchor the network's live studio coverage, alongside analysts Steve Smith and Eric Snow. Kamla, NBA TV's fantasy expert, will team up with Scott to continue the weekly fantasy show NBA.com Fantasy Insider on NBA TV and NBA.com. Fein will host The Beat, a 30-minute weekly show that covers news and storylines across the league with regular contributors David Aldridge and SLAM's Lang Whitaker, as well as reporters from across the country. TNT announcers Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Doug Collins, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello, Craig Sager, Cheryl Miller, Marv Albert and Kevin Harlan will contribute to NBA TV and NBA.com throughout the season.

NBA.com is also unveiling a high-caliber roster of writers who have a combined 100 years covering NBA action in their previous positions at highly regarded news organizations across the country, including Shaun Powell (Newsday), Steve Aschburner (Minneapolis Star-Tribune), Scott Howard-Cooper (Sacramento Bee), Fran Blinebury (Houston Chronicle) and Art Garcia (Fort Worth Star-Telegram). In addition, statistical guru John Schuhmann handles the site's popular Power Rankings and the weekly Numbers Game column and TNT and NBA TV Insider David Aldridge returns to serve as a writer/reporter with breaking news, trades updates and in-depth interviews. Along with these featured writers, fans will have access to a stable of reporters based in NBA cities across the country who will file game stories exclusively to the site.

NBA.com will also offer a new customizable option on its homepage in which fans can select their favorite team and each time they log on to NBA.com the headlines, news and videos pertaining to their team will be featured, giving them instant access to the content they most want.

"NBA Digital's industry-leading talent roster drives our ability to create the best content regardless of platform," said Bryan Perez, senior vice president and general manager of NBA Digital. "We're excited to add Hall of Fame member Kevin McHale and these legendary NBA editorial veterans to our team. From online to on-air to on-the-go mobile, our talent will provide fans the best analysis, insight and more ways to follow NBA action than ever before."

NBA TV will take the court on the first night of the NBA season on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. (ET) with a live, two-hour studio show featuring contributions from NBA TV announcers. The show will start with Johnson, McHale and Webber and will lead into TNT's Opening Night coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) with a special one-hour preview show, NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com. At 7:30 p.m. (ET), TNT will air the Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. (ET) followed by NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. (ET).

NBA Digital is the NBA's extensive cross-platform portfolio of digital assets jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports. This robust offering includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass, NBADLeague.com and WNBA.com.