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Sportsnet, TSN set aside differences -- for a weekend, anyway -- to share NBA all-star coverage

TNBA great Steve Nash  says he hopes the NBA all-star game will inspire the next generation of Canadian basketball players -- and so do Canada's sports networks.
TNBA great Steve Nash says he hopes the NBA all-star game will inspire the next generation of Canadian basketball players -- and so do Canada's sports networks.

Imagine the Hatfields and McCoys going on a picnic together or Stephen Harper inviting the Trudeaus over for dinner.

Or, TSN and Sportsnet working together in harmony while both carry a major television event -- and nobody getting hurt.

That's exactly what's happening this weekend as the two rivals (the word bitter is understood) team up to broadcast the first NBA all-star game ever played outside the United States.

On one hand, it's all sort of logical. Both own a chunk of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors. Both are NBA rights holders.

On the other, these guys aren't in the habit of playing nice.

At the very least, the NBA probably would have had to take the role of King Solomon in deciding which of the two would get to carry the weekend festivities.

You can be pretty certain nobody wanted to go through that.

So we have the kind of hybrid simulcast we haven't seen since the days that CBC and CTV teamed up to carry the Grey Cup game.

``This is obviously an important initiative for the Raptors and for the NBA, as well as basketball in general in Canada," said Sportsnet president Scott Moore. ``We talked to the NBA about a number of different ways of making it as big as possible."

Moore says TSN and Sportsnet considered having one network carry the Saturday competition and the other Sunday's game, but decided that would have been too confusing for viewers. The wrestling match over who got what might have been a better made-for-TV event than the game, though.

``We came to the conclusion that simulcasting was the best for all parties," he said.

``We've learned from NHL that the more channels you put it on, the higher your ratings are.

``It's an odd arrangement, but I think it's the right thing for the viewers and basketball."

The rivals are so into this that they're actually promoting each other, something that's usually taboo in the TV business. When they mention the weekend coverage, both tell viewers that both channels are carrying the festivities.

``It's against the grain to a certain extent, but for an event that comes to Canada so rarely it's worth doing," said Moore.

It won't be a 1970s Grey Cup situation, with Don Wittman calling the first half and Johnny Esaw the second. The game rights belong to TNT, so TSN and Sportsnet will be limited to pre-game and post-game coverage with the usual suspects.

``There's plenty of opportunity for us to put our brands out there," Moore said, ``but this is more important than just getting our brand out there. It's about getting the maximum ratings and promoting the game."

Ratings for the all-star game have typically been so-so. Last year's averaged 373,000 on TSN, substantially below the NHL version but more than the average Raptors game. The fact it will be on two channels should help, but the biggest push should come from the fact it's being held in Canada.

All the publicity surrounding the game is sure to pique viewers' interest.

There will be plenty of other opportunities to promote the game, including the fact that this will be Kobe Bryant's last appearance.

Having the TNT crew here won't hurt, either. Analyst Charles Barkley is always a big draw and, as a fan of Toronto, he'll be promoting the city throughout the broadcasts. Canadians love to hear that kind of stuff.

Hard-core fans will be happy to hear that sideline reporter Craig Sager will be making his first playoff of all-star game appearance since he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Technology will also be part of TNT's arsenal. Viewers will get a look at new replay technology that gives a 360-degree view of plays.

Coverage starts Friday with celebrity game (5 p.m. ET), followed by the Rising Stars Challenge at 9. Saturday night coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET with the game going at 8 p.m. Sunday.

All coverage is on TSN and Sportsnet One.

TSN is using its multiple feeds to air everything from Friday's media conference to Saturday's practice. Radio is also carrying the big events.