The NBA signed a three-year deal with Telemundo last summer in what is believed to be the first of its kind between one of the big four U.S. sports properties and a domestic Spanish-language broadcaster. Telemundo is slated to broadcast 15 regular-season NBA and WNBA games this season, with the first being Sunday's Hornets-Knicks matchup. Jessi Losada and Edgar Lopez will call the game along with sideline reporter John Sutcliffe, while Andres Cantor will serve as studio host. Advertisers for the first telecast include McDonald's, Gatorade, A-B, Reebok, GM and Universal Pictures. During the NBA season, the Raptors will be featured in a league-high four telecasts on Telemundo. The 76ers, Clippers, Suns and T'Wolves will be featured three times each. In addition, Telemundo is producing an original program called "NBA Max," which will air Saturdays at 1:00pm ET. "NBA Max," a youth-oriented half-hour news magazine show, will launch tomorrow and will be hosted by Losada and Claudia Trejos. The first show will feature a Clippers G Corey Maggette's tour of Mexico this past summer where he visited hospitals and schools and conducted clinics in Mexico City and Queretaro, Guadalajara. NBA Latin America Managing Dir Arturo Nunez: "The games on Telemundo add a new dimension to our relationship with Hispanic fans in the U.S. For the first time, Latin fans across the country will be able to tune in and see the game in their language, with on-air talent with whom they are familiar. It is a landmark achievement for the NBA and Telemundo." Meanwhile, Telemundo Network Senior VP/Sports Jorge Hidalgo said, "Our team of producers, reporters and talent has been very aggressively seeking out original stories that are relevant to our audience, including special features with Spanish-speaking players, following players on tour in the off-season, taking part in the NBA's pre-season game in the Dominican Republic, among others. Our sports team represents Telemundo's commitment to broadcast the best of sports" (THE DAILY).
