NEW YORK – Time Warner’s Turner Sports has struck a multi-year agreement with four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal to serve as an analyst across its portfolio of NBA programming, including as full-time analyst for TNT’s studio show beginning with the 2011/2012 season.
The deal also extends beyond Turner Sports though and includes a development deal with Turner’s entertainment and animation networks given O’Neal’s previous film and TV credits.
On the Turner Sports side, the basketball star who retired after 19 seasons will also be part of the network’s NBA All-Star weekend and NBA Playoffs coverage and contribute to NBA TV and NBA.com.
“I can’t wait to begin my new career with Turner,” O’Neal said. “Over the past several years the team at Turner has taken the NBA and entertainment, in general, to a whole new level. I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the amazing team at Inside the NBA and I hope I can further the fans’ experience on a regular basis.”
Said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting System: “His unique insights, perspective as one of the league’s all-time great players and personality will be the perfect complement to our award-winning studio team of Ernie, Kenny and Charles, as well as to our programming on NBA TV and NBA.com.”
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Twitter: @georgszalai
