The WNBA on Oxygen refers to the presentation of Women's National Basketball Association games on the Oxygen^[2] pay television channel. Prior to 2005,^[3] the channel carried a limited schedule of regular season WNBA games produced by NBA TV. Oxygen had de facto picked up the games that previously aired on Lifetime.^[4][5] Oxygen's first WNBA telecast was on June 4, 2002.^[6]

Coverage

Oxygen's relationship with the WNBA began with a two-year agreement^[7] that called for them to televise a minimum of 11 games on Tuesday^[8] nights during the 2002 season and weekly games^[9] as well as playoff action during the 2003 season. Oxygen joined NBC,^[10][11][12] ESPN^[13] and ESPN2^[14] in televising WNBA games for the 2002 season. The deal called for NBA Productions^[15] to produce the games, and the league would sell the ad time.^[16][17] Oxygen meanwhile, would get promotional spots during the games. Oxygen however, would provide the announcers^[18] and handle the halftime on-air duties themselves. Oxygen's halftime reports were sponsored by AIG VALIC.

For the 2003 season, Oxygen averaged a 0.2 rating^[19] for its 13-game regular-season WNBA schedule. They were also expected to air at least two playoff games (such as Game 3s^[20] of the WNBA conference semifinals^[21][22]), with the possibility of airing up to four. By 2004,^[23] Oxygen's ratings dropped to a 0.1 from a 0.2, though only five games aired on the network that year compared with 13 from 2003.^[24][25]

Commentators

• Debbie Antonelli^[26][27] (color commentary)
• Krista Blunk (color commentary)
• Swin Cash (studio analyst)
• Heather Cox (color commentary)
• Eric Frede (play-by-play)
• Mark Morgan^[28] (studio host)
• Beth Mowins^[29] (play-by-play)
• Sue Wicks^[30][31] (studio analyst)

See also

• Women's National Basketball Association#Media coverage

References