The Detroit Pistons announced today that its 2013-14 local television schedule will include 80 of the team’s regular-season games being televised by FOX Sports Detroit and FOX Sports Plus. Including two ESPN broadcasts as part of the NBA’s national television schedule, all 82 of the club’s regular-season games will be available on television.
FOX Sports Detroit, beginning its 17th season of broadcasting Pistons games, is the exclusive local television provider for Detroit Basketball. The network will televise 80 regular-season games and two preseason contests including match-ups against Washington (October 22) and Minnesota (October 24). All Pistons games this season on FOX Sports Detroit and FOX Sports Plus will be televised in high-definition.
“We are excited to begin another season of continued partnership with FOX Sports Detroit and pleased that 82 games will be broadcast locally this season,” said Dennis Mannion, CEO of Palace Sports & Entertainment. “FOX Sports Detroit’s award winning broadcast production will once again deliver the most complete coverage of Detroit Basketball both on and off the court.”
Highlights of the regular-season broadcast schedule include four games against LeBron James and the NBA Champion Miami HEAT (December 3, December 8, February 3, March 28), four meetings with Derrick Rose, and the Chicago Bulls (November 27, December 7, March 5, April 11) and four games featuring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Deron Williams and the Brooklyn Nets (November 24, December 13, February 7, April 4). FSD will also air two games featuring Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers (January 20, March 22), Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers (November 27, November 29) and two games featuring Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (November 8, April 16).
“With a record 80 regular-season telecasts for a second straight season and our comprehensive pre- and postgame coverage on PISTONS LIVE, our commitment and passion for the Pistons is greater than ever. Fans are going to have fun with this squad, this is a really engaging team,” said Greg Hammaren, Senior Vice President/General Manager, FOX Sports Detroit. “Led by a pair of Michigan Sports Hall of Famers in George Blaha and Greg Kelser, our announcers, reporters and production team are devoted to delivering Pistons fans some of the best coverage throughout the NBA – all in illustrious high-definition.”
Twelve Pistons games will air on FOX Sports Plus, occurring on nights when coinciding Detroit Red Wings games are slated for broadcast on FOX Sports Detroit. FOX Sports Detroit and FOX Sports Plus channel numbers by video provider can be found at www.foxsportsdetroit.com.
Accompanying the telecasts is PISTONS LIVE, providing exclusive and extensive pre- and post-game coverage originating from the arena and the network’s high-definition studio. The popular “State of the Pistons” weekly feature program will continue to air each week on FOX Sports Detroit.
FOX Sports Detroit’s coverage of the Pistons is available to 3.2 million cable and satellite households throughout Michigan and portions of Northwest Ohio.
The Pistons also announced their radio broadcast schedule which includes coverage of all games and a special “Pistons Tonight” broadcast each week of the NBA season on-air and online at www.971theticket.com. The station will broadcast 79 regular-season games on the Pistons’ flagship station 97.1 FM The Ticket and three games will be carried on WWJ 950 AM. All radio broadcasts will include exclusive pre- and postgame coverage. Mark Champion continues as the voice of Pistons radio broadcasts with Pistons legend Rick Mahorn adding color commentary and analysis.
“We are pleased to begin another year with 97.1 FM The Ticket serving as our radio flagship,” said Mannion. “We appreciate their commitment to broadcast each regular-season game while keeping our fans informed with the most up-to-date Pistons basketball news and information.”
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