TNT Gets Chatty for NBA Playoffs With KnockNok

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - May 21, 2008) - Basketball fans visiting TNT.tv andTNT's broadband channel TNT OverTime on NBA.com during the 2008 NBA Playoffs will find a new interactive feature: KnockNok chat. TNT has partnered with Los Angeles-based KnockNok to host a new live, interactive chat technology on the Web sites. A new vision for chat technologies, KnockNok hosts dynamically topical micro-chat rooms for major sports and entertainment events, giving fans the chance to rile one another and share commentary in real-time.

Going after major players, KnockNok debuted its chat technology on TNT OverTime for the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend and followed with the 2008 Augusta Masters Tournament in a partnership with Turner Sports' run www.majorchampionships.com. Leveraging the popularity of blog commentary and discussion forums, KnockNok gives sports fans and web users real-time interactivity to make web coverage of live events truly engaging.

"It's refreshingly simple: you log on to the site, and all the fans are already logged into the chat. Topics change as the fans' interests do, so you can always find just the right room for what's hot," said Dan Bates, CEO of KnockNok. "The simplicity of the interface has proven to be our strongest selling point, tying a chat room to high-profile events drives the traffic seamlessly, and web users can discuss the event live."

KnockNok's topic-adjusting platform follows conversation threads to identify the most popular discussion subjects and changes the top featured chatrooms, accordingly. For simple monetization, display ads next to the chat window give advertisers space to communicate with fans, and media buyers working with the event can utilize this space to deliver incredibly relevant sponsor messages.

"Turner Sports offers an all-access pass to the excitement of the NBA's Western Conference Finals with unprecedented online coverage and content," said Peter Scott, executive interactive producer, Turner Sports. "By reviving the popular chat feature and offering it during live television and online coverage, fans can further interact in real time during the series, allowing them to cheer, debate and discuss all the action as it's happening."

KnockNok has signed major deals with other major media companies, which will be announced shortly.

About KnockNok

Based in Los Angeles, CA, KnockNok was founded in 2007 by serial entrepreneur and technologist Dan Bates. The KnockNok platform delivers live chatrooms with streaming topics and self-moderation technology to add interactivity to web coverage of major sporting, entertainment and news events. Dan is a Former President and Founder of Avant Interactive, an industry-leading video advertising company, Mindfire Entertainment, a producer of Feature Films and Television and Extreme Audio Reality the first interactive audio company for PC and console gaming.

About Turner Sports

Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Jessica Hasson Terpin Communications (323) 710-3556 Megan Weems Turner Sports 404-827-0297