NETWORKS PLAN LOTS OF KOBE, LOTS OF SHAQ.

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH The Media

Under ABC's Christmas tree, Kobe and Shaq await. Batteries not included, or needed.

In what the network plans to use as a springboard toward a third year of increased NBA ratings, the Dec. 25 game between the Lakers and Miami Heat from Staples Center serves as the yuletide log on the fire that was already lit in the offseason.

``You can't ask for a better matchup, a Christmas gift to everyone,'' said ABC Sports director of programming Tag Garson. ``It's something that's been talked about since the summer, and we anticipate the momentum right up until tipoff. We think this will help us come very strong out of the box.''

Because of the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal split, the Lakers and Heat already are tabbed as the league's marquee TV teams, making the maximum five appearances during the regular season on ABC. (Houston also makes five appearances.)

During TNT's 52-game schedule, the Lakers' Nov. 2 game against Denver is on the back end of a opening-night doubleheader. TNT has the Lakers' rematch against the Heat in Miami on March 17, and the Lakers and Heat will each make nine appearances on the network.

The Lakers (against Utah) and Heat (against New Jersey) are featured Nov. 3, the first night of ESPN's coverage. The Lakers and Heat play nine times on ESPN and ESPN2's 72-game NBA schedule. (Only the defending champion Detroit Pistons, with 10 appearances, will be seen more often.)

ABC has the Sunday afternoon TV windows, and ESPN will show games primarily on Wednesday nights, on Friday night doubleheaders and on five Sunday evening games during the second half of the season.

ABC increased its number of games from 14 in 2002-03 and 18 last season to 23 this season. The added contests are possible because there are more regional-telecast windows - five, versus two last year.

``Across the board, all the networks that carry the NBA are all up in ratings from the previous season, and we're optimistic about that trend continuing,'' said Garson.

``When we started the contract three years ago, we had the feeling a 'game-of-the-week' approach was the right way. The next year, we had the same strategy with some regional games, but we added more telecasts anyway to continue the growth and awareness.

``Coming off the finals, I think people know the NBA is on ABC, so the regional growth going into this year makes more sense.''

The Lakers-Pistons five-game finals series last season gave ABC an average 11.5 rating and 20 share, which was 77 percent better than the 2003 Nets-Spurs six-game finals (6.5/12) and 13 percent better than the 2002 Lakers-Nets four-game finals (10.2/19).

The five-game average in 2004 brought in the most total viewers (17.94 million) since the 2001 finals.

ABC plans to bring back Al Michaels in the play-by-play role, but a new analyst - with Doc Rivers leaving to coach the Boston Celtics - has not yet been determined. Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he's not a candidate to fill the spot.

``We feel that the addition of Al last year was a major move,'' said Mike Pearl, ABC Sports' executive producer. ``This season, we look forward to teaming up with another great partner. We are always looking at new ways to massage our telecast, keeping up with the latest technologies and bringing viewers the best coverage possible.''

In addition to coverage on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and TNT, the NBA's own channel, NBA TV, will show 96 regular-season games starting Nov. 6. Up to 50 of them will be in high definition. The channel, which launched in 1999, is available in 66 million homes.