TNT Launches Full-Court Press Marketing Campaign for ‘40 Games in 40 Nights’ of NBA Playoffs Coverage
TNT promos featuring actor Jeremy Piven to run on-air and online

TNT, home of ‘40 Games in 40 Nights’ of NBA Playoffs coverage, announced today its multimedia marketing campaign to promote the network’s upcoming basketball postseason coverage. The cornerstone of the campaign includes multiple television promos featuring actor Jeremy Piven, best known for his role as Ari Gold on HBO’s Entourage, who is integrated into NBA action footage featuring superstars LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns). TNT’s Playoff coverage tips off on Sunday, April 22 and includes home market exclusivity for its conference semifinals coverage and exclusive coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The cutting-edge promos featuring Piven show the star walking out onto the basketball court as the game takes place around him. As Piven talks about the drama and excitement of the Playoffs, the action freezes, leaving players hanging in mid-air, showcasing their acrobatic moves. The unique spots serve as the centerpiece of the network’s full-court press of messaging on television, radio, print and online outlets. Beginning the week of April 2 the spots will rollout on Turner Broadcasting’s family of networks, which includes TNT, TBS, CNN, CNN Airport Network, Cartoon Network and CourTV. The promos will also be available online exclusively on TNT OverTime on NBA.com and the NBA’s YouTube channel.

“Our new NBA Playoffs promos featuring Jeremy Piven are distinctive because they marry three powerful elements: a dynamic star, the athleticism of the game and progressive technology to create a unique and impressive visual experience,” said Jennifer Storms, senior vice president of marketing and programming for Turner Sports. “The innovative spots, partnered with our compelling online and print ads, are a great vehicle for drawing fans to the drama and excitement of upcoming NBA playoff games as they unfold on TNT.”

TNT’s TV campaign is supported by a comprehensive mix of advertising in point-of-decision media designed to resonate messages with fans over the network’s extensive playoffs coverage. In addition to the TV advertising, specific campaign outreaches also include heavy spot rotation by local cable operators in 27 key markets, radio traffic sponsorships and DJ endorsements in 15 target markets, an on-air partnership with the nationally syndicated 2 Live Stews radio program and select print advertising in multiple national publications. The campaign also features a concentrated online component, with TNT ‘40 Games in 40 Nights’ banner advertisements running on popular Web sites, including MySpace, SI.com, NBA.com and Yahoo!Sports.

Turner Sports has been nominated for nine 2006 Sports Emmy® Awards for outstanding sports coverage, including nominations for announcers Charles Barkley, Marv Albert and Ernie Johnson, nominations for it’s NASCAR and NBA coverage, including a sixth consecutive nomination for Inside the NBA (the show won the award last year), and multiple nominations for features on its innovative broadband channel, TNT OverTime on NBA.com.

Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming.  With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ line-up includes the NBA, NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, Major League Baseball, college football, professional golf, PGATour.com, PGA.com and ACC Select.

Turner Network Television (TNT), television’s destination for drama and one of cable’s top-rated networks, offers original movies and series, including the acclaimed detective drama The Closer, starring Emmy^®, Golden Globe^® and Screen Actors Guild Awards^® nominee Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, a daring new drama starring Oscar^®-winner Holly Hunter; Heartland, a powerful medical drama with Treat Williams and Kari Matchett; and this summer’s eagerly anticipated television event The Company, executive-produced by Ridley Scott and starring Chris O’Donnell, Michael Keaton and Alfred Molina.  TNT is also home to powerful one-hour dramas, such as Without a Trace, Law & Order, Las Vegas, Cold Case, ER, Charmed and Judging Amy; broadcast premiere movies; compelling prime-time specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards^®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA.  TNT is also available in high-definition.