TV Deal Announcement Wednesday?

[CNC]

Has anyone heard anything about this? I can't find anything about it online, but I heard someone on the sports animal talking about an announcement for TV rights tomorrow.

[JWil]

I haven't heard a thing on that but it is getting into that time frame for an announcement in that area. We should know really soon for sure.

[KDisNotNice]

Bob Barry Jr. said something about it at 10pm on KFOR. I think he added at the end we wouldn't know the network tomorrow but at least the announcers. I may have heard that not exactly right but I assume we will know more on Wednesday for sure!

[Betts]

I'm a lot more interested in the network than the announcers. Hopefully it will be FSN, but I wonder when we'll know.

[Betts]

Sounds like it will be the play by play person announced today, not the network involved:

By Jenni Carlson
The Oklahoman

http://newsok.com/okc-thunder-tv-bro...?tm=1221647183
Oklahoma City's NBA team has a name and a color scheme, a logo and a theme song, even a group of dancing girls.

Now, the Thunder has a voice.

Brian Davis is expected to be introduced as the team's television play-by-play man at a press conference this afternoon. He was the host of Sonics' television broadcasts for the past few years and is also Washington State's play-by-play announcer. He takes over for Kevin Calabro, the longtime play-by-play man who decided to stay in Seattle instead of move to Oklahoma City.

With the exception of the team name, this is the biggest decision to be made in the branding of this franchise. Thousands, if not millions, of folks will come to know this team through Davis and his broadcast partner, who is expected to also be introduced today. Sure, thousands will pack the Ford Center each time the Thunder plays. With every season ticket already claimed, every game could be a sellout. Having 19,000-plus in the house every night would put the Thunder among the best in the NBA. But TV types would consider that audience small. The game broadcasts will reach 150 or 175 times more people than the Ford Center will seat. Heck, the reach might be even bigger than that, depending on what network lands the television rights.

That television audience will tune in to watch the team. People will come to know the Thunder, however, through the announcers' prism. Kevin Durant is the face of the franchise, but Brian Davis will be the voice. More than Clay Bennett, Sam Presti, P.J. Carlesimo or anyone else in the Thunder's employ, Davis and his sidekick will carry the message to the masses.

Whatever their insight, their tone and their style, it will go a long ways in establishing this team's identity. For a relocated franchise trying to make a new start and claim a new niche, that character is important.No doubt Matt Pinto will be part of that process, too. The Thunder's radio voice will become a familiar voice to fans, but as much as yours truly is a fan of radio, that medium is trumped these days by television. More people want to watch the game on television than listen to it on radio.

The days of Jack Buck and Ernie Harwell have given way to the likes of Joe Buck and Marv Albert. But whether from television or radio, everyone has voices that are linked to their favorite team..........