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