TNT Sports Launches Chat, Data Altcasts for NBA, NHL Playoffs

TNT Sports will debut a new way to watch the NBA playoffs Wednesday night, followed by another experiment for NHL fans Thursday, as broadcasters continue exploring the potential of alternate viewing options.

The NBA-focused Western Conference Finals Altcast, airing on truTV and streaming on Max, will feature Vince Carter, Adam Lefkoe and Chris Haynes—along with Jordan Cornette and Bomani Jones—in a chat-heavy show that will also use QR code technology to allow fans to interact with the hosts via TNT Sports’ Bleacher Report app. The show will air during each game of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Dallas Mavericks’ series and include numerous guest appearances.

Thursday will bring the first NHL DataCast on the same networks, covering Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars matchups. Broadcaster Steve Mears, former NHL player Colby Armstrong and analytics expert Mike Kelly will call the game using a variety of stats, including faceoff win probabilities, real-time shift lengths and “ice tilt” momentum figures.

“We looked at the data possibilities and how that data could be integrated in real time, and we started to feel like, wow, this is a really interesting offering for a fan base who might be extremely hardcore,” Turner Sports chief content officer Craig Barry said. “The great things about altcasts is you can experiment. … It’s a great sandbox to play in.”

The shows follow a number of altcast tests from TNT and others, often falling into the categories of “chat” (such as Monday Night Football with Peyton & Eli, which on Tuesday won a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Series) or “stat” (Amazon’s Next Gen Stats feed, for instance, helped the company win the Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Experience). The other popular altcast genre has been kid-focused versions, from Nickelodeon’s NFL coverage to a recent truTV/Max presentation of an NHL game featuring characters ranging from Bugs Bunny to Superman.

In general, the shows rarely provide a massive ratings boost—often topping out at around 10% of the overall audience. However, Barry said, networks (and their league partners) see value in attracting incremental viewers. The shows also present increased branding opportunities—AWS is sponsoring the NHL DataCast, while AT&T signed on for the NBA altcast. ESPN brought back Kevin Hart for his own stream of Tuesday’s Pacers-Celtics game on ESPN2. It was sponsored by Microsoft Copilot. 

At their best, the programs can live on beyond their live windows. TNT saw that firsthand, when Charles Barkley and Draymond Green’s barbs during this year’s All-Star Game went viral, with roughly 1 million views on YouTube. 

If a presentation offers an accessible, casual vibe sprinkled with unparalleled insight, it can gather a wide spectrum of viewers, including those who might switch between broadcasts over the course of the night.

“I think it will be clever for casual fans to watch, and it will be really engaging for hardcore fans to interact with,” Barry said of the NBA offering. “Depending on the type of fan you are, I think you’ll get something different out of it.”

Barry added that the company has been extra focused on alternate, interactive opportunities as its footprint has expanded on Max. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports added a Bleacher Report Sports tier to its streaming service in September, with plans to eventually charge extra for access to the live events. Fans viewing via Max will still have the option to watch the traditional broadcast, featuring Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce.

Social media has long played a role in TNT shows such as Inside the NBA. The new setup, however, will allow for more commenting and question-asking functionality. 

“When you talk direct-to-consumer, you have a more direct relationship with your fan, so you’re trying to create a more dynamic experience,” Barry said. “I think the platform is more conducive to multiple, parallel experiences than your traditional set-top box.”