MIAMI -- FOX Sports Sun, the exclusive regional television partner of the Miami HEAT, begins their extensive coverage of the 2016-17 season with the opening game Wednesday night as the HEAT travel to Orlando to take on the Magic. Coverage kicks off with a half hour edition of HEAT Live beginning at 6:30 p.m. The game is the first of a record 80 regular-season telecasts that will air on the network.
The veteran announce team of Eric Reid, Tony Fiorentino and Jason Jackson begin their 13th season together. Reid and Fiorentino are true HEAT Lifers, having both been with the club since its inception. A three-time Emmy award recipient in the field of play-by-play, Reid begins his 29th season of broadcasting HEAT games. Fiorentino, who spent most of his first 16 seasons with the club as a coach and scout, is the longest tenured analyst in team history. The multi-talented Jackson, who remains one of the game's most entertaining and energetic hosts will once again anchor pre, half and post-game coverage for all home games from the Biscayne Bayside studios.
Joining the HEAT's talented trio of game broadcasters on the FOX Sports Sun telecasts are a host of experienced studio analysts, hosts and reporters. Ron Rothstein, the original HEAT Head Coach, returns for his third season as a halftime and post-game studio analyst for home games and fans can look forward to "Ron's Rewinds." Former HEAT point guard John Crotty, who enters his 13th season as a broadcaster with the team, will continue his dual role as both a television and radio analyst. Crotty will join Jackson and Will Manso throughout the season providing insights and his popular "Crotty's Cuts" during pre and post-game editions of HEAT Live. Manso, who enters his fourth season as a member of the FOX Sports Sun HEAT broadcast team, will continue to host the majority of road pre-, half- and post-game shows from the FOX studios in Ft. Lauderdale. Kristen Hewitt returns for her 7th season andalong with Manso will contribute as a reporter during the broadcast of several home games.
HEAT fans will continue to enjoy extensive live content before and after every game with expert analysis, post-game press conferences, player interviews and more during HEAT Live. A half hour edition of the show will air before each of the regular season games with an extended post-game edition to return immediately following every broadcast. A special one-hour pre-game will precede the home opener on Friday vs. Charlotte, with coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Several popular initiatives that have become staples of the award winning Miami HEAT broadcasts on FOX Sports Sun will continue this season including: "Social Saturdays," "Hot Seconds with Jax," a month-long tribute to Black History, "My Hometown" and the Ninth Annual Kids' Day special, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 4th when the HEAT host the Philadelphia 76ers.
Highlights of the 2016-17 FOX Sports Sun schedule include:
** Each of the 4 meetings with LeBron James and the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
** Two of the three pairings vs. Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls.
** Both meetings vs. the two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry and the new-look Golden State Warriors.
** Both games vs. Western Conference contenders San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers.
** Each and every matchup vs. Eastern Conference playoff contenders in Boston, Indiana, Toronto, New York and Atlanta.
The entire regular season will once again be delivered to fans in high definition. FOX Sports Sun HD gameswill be available to fans in South Florida with HD service from cable and satellite systems offering FOX Sports Sun HD. All regular season games scheduled to be televised on FOX Sports Sun will also be streamed live on the FOX Sports GO app and FoxSportsGo.com. For a complete listing of channel locations for FOX Sports Sun in your area, please visit FOXSportsFlorida.com.
Spanish-language audio for the games on FOX Sports Sun will be available via secondary audio programming (SAP).
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.