ESPN is continuing to drive its expanded 3D coverage of sporting events, announcing that ESPN 3D would broadcast the 2011 NBA Championships in 3D. The first game is scheduled to air at 9 p.m., Thursday, June 2. ESPN 3D will carry the entire best-of-seven series that's scheduled to run through Thursday, June 16.
ESPN launched its 3D network in June on a limited basis and began 24-hour broadcasting of 3D content in February. The broadcaster says it plans to broadcast at least 100 live events this year in 3D.
The network televised its first NBA game in 3D in December when the Miami Heat played the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It's shown an additional six games since then.
In addition to the finals, ESPN said its 3D channel would air four more NBA regular season games this year, and several playoff and conference finals leading up to the championship round, including:
- 8 p.m., Fri., Feb. 25: Oklahoma City at Orlando
- 7 p.m., Fri., March 4: Chicago at Orlando
- 8 p.m., Wed., March 16: Oklahoma City at Miami
- 8 p.m., Fri., April: Boston at Atlanta
- NBA Playoffs (First Round, time and teams TBD) - Game 1
- NBA Playoffs (First Round, time and teams TBD) - Game 4
- NBA Playoffs (Conference Semifinals, time and teams TBD) - Game 2
- Western Conference Finals - Game 1 (time and teams TBD)
- Western Conference Finals - Game 2 (time and teams TBD)
- Western Conference Finals - Game 4 (time and teams TBD)
ESPN 3D is available to some 62.5 million households AT&T's U-verse, Comcast, DirecTV and Time Warner Cable. It's planning a 2011 rollout on Verizon's FiOS TV.
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