ESPN’s digital program "Hoop Streams," in just its second year -- and its first full season -- has "become an important and welcome part of the NBA media landscape," according to Chad Finn of the BOSTON GLOBE. The show can be "found on the ESPN app as well as ESPN’s main Twitter and YouTube channels." Its fundamental purpose is to "serve as the digital on-site half-hour pregame show for ESPN’s televised NBA coverage, and it does air ahead of all of the primary ESPN and ABC broadcasts." The show will "expand to an hour during the playoffs and NBA Finals." The shows day-to-day purpose is for it to be a "fun way for NBA fans -- especially a younger demographic that is naturally drawn to digital content -- to enjoy the league." In that regard, it "already is a great success" because of a cast that "genuinely seems to enjoy each other’s company." Cassidy Hubbarth worked with Amin Elhassan in the past on ESPN's NBA programming. Like Hubbarth, Gary Striewski had "found his niche on ESPN’s digital side," but former player Kendrick Perkins was the "wild card when the show was put together last fall." The NBA has "taken a hit in its television ratings this season." Yet, “Hoop Streams” has "gained steam, averaging 1.6 million streams per show, including a high of 2.4 million on Feb. 3" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/29).
