Behind the Mic: NHL on TNT Signs Wayne Gretzky for Studio Analysis; NBC Sports Rolls Out Massive List for Coverage of Tokyo Summer Olympics

Behind the Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, NHL on TNT grabs The Great One, NBC Sports names their on-air talent for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and more.

“The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, Kenny Albert & Eddie Olczyk Join the Turner Sports NHL Team

The NHL is coming to Turner Sports’ networks and platforms later this year and the first additions to the roster of studio and game commentators are in place. Turner Sports and Wayne Gretzky have reached a multi-year agreement for “The Great One” to offer studio analysis during key moments of the NHL regular season and throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Additionally, veteran play-by-play commentator Kenny Albert and analyst Eddie Olczyk will call live games for Turner Sports throughout the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs, airing on TNT and TBS.

“The world’s best hockey league is coming to Turner Sports later this year and the exciting additions of Wayne, Kenny and Eddie will jumpstart our NHL coverage with some of the best and biggest talents in the sport,” says Tara August, Senior Vice President of Talent Relations and Special Projects, Turner Sports. “Their incomparable experiences within the game and unparalleled depth of knowledge will bring a distinct dimension to our game and studio coverage. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Turner Sports family.”

Gretzky, considered the greatest to ever play hockey, will contribute in-depth studio analysis during key moments of the NHL regular season and throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs on TNT and TBS. “The Great One” played 20 seasons in the NHL, including winning four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, and is the NHL’s all-time leading scorer with the most goals and assists in a career. He won a record nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player in the NHL, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame immediately following his retirement in 1999.

“I’ve long admired Turner Sports’ coverage of the NBA, among other sports, and I’m thrilled to be joining the studio team in their inaugural NHL season,” says Gretzky. “This is an exciting opportunity to share my experiences and perspectives on the game I will always cherish, while hopefully informing and entertaining fans along the way.”

Albert will bring his more than 30 years in sports broadcasting to Turner Sports as lead play-by-play commentator for its NHL telecasts. He is considered one of the most versatile broadcasters in sports and is the only national play-by-play broadcaster who calls hockey, football, basketball, baseball, and boxing. Albert has also served as the radio play-by-play voice of the New York Rangers since 1995. His hockey broadcasting career began in 1990 as play-by-play commentator for the Baltimore Skipjacks of the American Hockey League, eventually leading to calling NHL games for the Washington Capitals and nationally for Fox and NBC. He has called seven Stanley Cup Finals on national radio, more than 400 NFL games on Fox including five Divisional Playoff games, five MLB Divisional Series and the New York Knicks. The two-time national Emmy Award nominee has also served as play-by-play announcer for men’s and women’s ice hockey at five Winter Olympic Games for NBC.

“Calling the NHL’s biggest games – including the Stanley Cup Final – has been a lifelong dream since I was five years old,” says Albert. “I look forward to this tremendous opportunity with Turner Sports and can’t wait for the puck to drop on the 2021-22 season! Becoming a teammate of ‘The Great One’ and sharing the broadcast booth with Eddie Olczyk – one of the best analysts in all of sports and a long-time friend and colleague of mine – is the icing on the cake!”

Olczyk will be lead analyst for Turner Sports’ coverage of the NHL throughout the regular season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final. Olczyk played 16 seasons in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994. Following his playing career, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins game broadcasts for Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh and provided analysis for ESPN, ESPN2 and NHL Radio. Olczyk was head coach of the Penguins from 2003-05, before returning to the broadcast booth in 2006 with NBC and the Chicago Blackhawks as lead hockey analyst for both, respectively, the last 15 years. A stage III colon cancer survivor, he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Turner Sports family and its coverage of the NHL,” says Olczyk. “I’m equally thrilled to be on the same team with ‘The Great One’ for the first time in my career; that’s just tremendously tremendous! Thanks to everyone at Turner Sports for all of their efforts in assembling this amazing team.” (Turner Sports)

NBC Olympics Names Soccer Commentators

NBC Olympics today named its soccer announce team for the Tokyo Olympics, which opens competition on Wednesday, July 21 on the networks of NBCUniversal. Following is a look at NBC Olympics’ soccer commentating team for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics:

Arlo White returns to NBC Olympics coverage to handle play-by-play for U.S. Women’s games, as well as the women’s gold medal match and men’s gold medal match in Tokyo. White called soccer for NBC Olympics at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. He has served as the lead play-by-play voice for NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage since the network acquired the exclusive U.S. media rights beginning with the 2013-14 season.

Julie Foudy will serve as an analyst for U.S. Women’s games and the women’s gold medal match in Tokyo. Foudy, who worked as an NBC Olympics reporter at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games, won two Olympic gold medals as a midfielder on the U.S. Women’s National Team (1996 and 2004) and a silver in 2000, and captured two FIFA World Cup championships (1991, 1999). She is currently a soccer commentator for ESPN.

Marisa Pilla makes her NBC Olympics debut as a reporter for U.S. Women’s games and the women’s gold medal match in Tokyo. Pilla currently serves as a sideline reporter covering MLS for Fox Sports and the NWSL for CBS Sports.

Handling men’s and women’s soccer play-by-play from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, CT, will be Lisa Byington, Mark Followill, Jenn Hildreth, and Derek Rae.

Byington, who makes her NBC Olympics debut, serves as a play-by-play announcer and reporter for the Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, CBS and Turner Sports. This past March, she became the first female play-by-play announcer to call the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. She has also handled play-by-play for NBA games. In August 2018, Byington was part of the first all-female broadcast team to call an MLS match. A soccer and basketball player at Northwestern University, she also called 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup games for Fox Sports.

Followill returns for his second NBC Olympics assignment handling soccer play-by-play, after calling Rio 2016 matches. Followill currently handles play-by-play for FOX Sports’ soccer coverage, including MLS and CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, and worked the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He is also the play-by-play voice for the Dallas Mavericks and FC Dallas.

Hildreth, who makes her NBC Olympics debut, is a play-by-play announcer at ESPN for various sports, including college soccer, and has called the last five NCAA Women’s College Cup championships. She is also a play-by-play announcer for the NWSL on CBS Sports after serving in the same capacity previously for ESPN, Lifetime and FS1. Hildreth, who played college soccer at Emory, also called 2019 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches for FOX Sports.

Rae makes his NBC Olympics debut this summer. He currently serves as ESPN’s lead play-by-play announcer for Bundesliga coverage and has called multiple FIFA World Cups (men’s and women’s) and UEFA Champions League competitions. Previously, Rae called matches and hosted studio coverage of the Premier League for NBC Sports and in the U.K.

Soccer analysts based in NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford include Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, Tim Howard, Angela Hucles, Lori Lindsey, and Danielle Slaton.

Earle joined NBC Sports as a Premier League analyst in August 2013 and worked on NBC Olympics’ soccer coverage for Rio 2016. A former Jamaica National Team and Premier League player, Earle previously worked as an analyst on NBC Sports’ Major League Soccer coverage and as an analyst for BBC, ITV, Sky, Portland Timbers and ESPN. He scored Jamaica’s first-ever World Cup goal, at the 1998 tournament in France.

Mustoe joined NBC Sports as a Premier League analyst in August 2013 and worked on NBC Olympics’ soccer coverage for Rio 2016. A former Premier League midfielder, he previously worked as an analyst on NBC Sports’ MLS coverage. In 2010, Mustoe served as a match analyst on ESPN’s presentation of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Mustoe spent the majority of his playing career with English club Middlesbrough, for whom he made more than 450 appearances.

Howard re-joined NBC Sports as an analyst in August 2020, and makes his NBC Olympics debut this summer. In a two decade career as a goalkeeper, Howard played for Manchester United (2003-06) and Everton (2006-16) in the Premier League, as well as for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. The U.S. Men’s National Team’s most-capped goalkeeper with 121 appearances, he set a FIFA World Cup record with 16 saves in the United States’ 2-1 loss to Belgium in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16. In 2000, Howard made the U.S. Olympic Team for the Sydney Games.

Hucles returns for her third NBC Olympics assignment as a soccer analyst. In the prior two Olympics – 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing – she was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s team, scoring a team-high four goals in 2008. A USWNT midfielder from 2002-09, Hucles also served as an analyst for Fox Sports’ coverage of the 2019 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup for FOX, and as an NWSL analyst for ESPN.

Lindsey makes her NBC Olympics debut this summer. Currently an NWSL analyst for CBS Sports, she made 31 career appearances as a midfielder for the USWNT from 2005-13, who helped the team to a 2012 London Olympics gold, and earned a silver medal in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Slaton, who was a member of the U.S. women’s team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, returns as an NBC Olympics analyst after serving in the same role for Rio 2016. Currently an MLS match analyst for FOX Sports, Slaton has spent more than a decade in broadcasting, previously working for the Big Ten Network, Pac-12 Networks and NBC Sports Chicago. (NBC Sports)

NBC Olympics Names Track & Field Commentators

Leigh Diffey, a versatile talent known for his enthusiastic play-by-play commentary on ‘speed sports,’ has been named the play-by-play voice of NBC Olympics’ track & field coverage for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, it was announced today.

The track & field role marks Diffey’s fourth NBC Olympics assignment. Previously, he called the fastest events at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics – bobsled, skeleton, and luge – and handled rowing at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In addition, he has called track & field events for NBC Sports since 2013, including the 2019 World Track & Field Championships, as well as U.S. National Championships, Prefontaine Classics, and Diamond League events.

Diffey, who joined NBC Sports in 2013, is one of the prolific voices in motorsports as the lead play-by-play commentator for INDYCAR, IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, MotoGP and Supercross coverage. He has also called NASCAR for NBC Sports. This Sunday, May 30 at 11 a.m. ET on NBC, Diffey calls the Indianapolis 500 for the third time.

Joining Diffey on NBC Olympics’ track & field coverage this summer in Tokyo is an impressive roster that has totaled 10 Olympic medals:

Ato Boldon is NBC Sports Group’s lead track & field analyst, and returns for his sixth NBC Olympics assignment. He made his Olympic broadcast debut as a track & field analyst at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a role he continued for the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics. Boldon also served as a correspondent at the last two Winter Olympics. In 1992, he represented Trinidad and Tobago in the 100m and 200m competitions at the Barcelona Olympics. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Boldon won bronze medals in the 100m and 200m events. Four years later, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 100m, and a bronze in the 200m.

Kara Goucher, who competed in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics as a long-distance runner, makes her NBC Olympics debut as a distance analyst. Goucher joined the NBC Sports team earlier this spring on coverage of the Drake Relays and Oregon Relays. Goucher competed in both the 5000m and 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympics, and the marathon at the 2012 Games. In addition, she won a silver medal in the 10,000 at the 2007 World Track & Field Championships and placed third at both the 2008 New York City Marathon and 2009 Boston Marathon.

Trey Hardee, a two-time Olympic decathlete who won a silver medal at the 2012 London Games, serves as an NBC Olympics analyst for the second time after serving in the same capacity in Rio in 2016. A two-time world outdoor gold medalist, Hardee ranks number four all time among American decathletes – behind only Ashton Eaton, Dan O’ Brien and Bryan Clay – with a personal best of 8,790, which he set in Berlin in 2009.

In his 11th NBC Olympics assignment, Lewis Johnson reprises his role as a track & field reporter after serving in the same capacity for the prior three Summer Olympics. Johnson has been a part of NBC Olympics’ track & field coverage since 2000, serving as an analyst for the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics. At the past two Winter Games, he was a bobsled/luge/skeleton reporter. Johnson, who joined NBC Sports in 1999, was an 800m track & field All-American and competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1988 and 1992 during his seven-year international professional career. He holds an Honorary Doctorate of Letters Degree from the University of Cincinnati, honoring his athletic and broadcasting achievements. Following this summer’s Olympics, Johnson will serve in the same capacity at the Tokyo Paralympics, marking his fifth consecutive Paralympic assignment.

Sanya Richards-Ross, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, serves as an NBC Olympics track & field analyst for the second time after joining Team NBC at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Long-ranked the world’s best 400m runner, Richards-Ross won individual 400m Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games and three 4x400m relay golds for Team USA in 2004, 2008, and 2012. In addition, she was a six-time world champion, earning two individual 400m titles and four as a member of winning 4x400m relay teams. Considered one of the world’s fastest women, she is the American record-holder in the 400m and posted eight of the top 10 times in U.S. history in the event. Earlier this month, Richards-Ross served as a fashion and lifestyle correspondent in her first Kentucky Derby assignment with NBC Sports.

Paul Swangard makes his NBC Olympics debut, calling field events including the high jump, shot put and pole vault. The voice of the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, Swangard has called multiple track & field competitions since joining NBC Sports in 2015, including the Millrose Games, Boston Marathon, and Diamond League events. He served as the in-stadium English-language announcer for track & field at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Track & field at the Tokyo Olympics will be produced by Betsy Riley and directed by Charlie Dammeyer. Scott Karpen is a co-producer. In her eighth NBC Olympics assignment, Riley becomes the first woman to serve as the lead producer of Olympic track & field. (NBC Sports)

Rebecca Lowe To Host NBC Daytime Coverage of Tokyo Olympics

Rebecca Lowe will serve as the daytime host for NBC’s coverage of the Tokyo Olympics, it was announced today. This summer’s assignment is her fourth as an NBC Olympics host.

Previously, Lowe served as an NBCSN host for Sochi 2014, before anchoring daytime coverage on NBC in Rio in 2016 and in PyeongChang in 2018. (NBC Sports)

Telemundo Deportes Introduces Commentary Team for Exclusive Spanish-Language Coverage of the Tokyo Olympics

Telemundo Deportes has introduced its team of experts and Olympic athletes who will present the exclusive Spanish-language multimedia coverage of the Tokyo Olympics. This summer, Telemundo Deportes will be presenting the most extensive Spanish-language coverage ever with over 300 hours of Olympic content beginning with the kickoff of the soccer competitions on Wednesday, July 21.

Telemundo Deportes’ extensive soccer coverage will be led by the voice of soccer in the U.S. and six-time Emmy Award-winning commentator Andres Cantor who will be calling the action of select matches from Japan, alongside former Olympian and analyst Manuel Sol. In addition, legendary Mexican goal scorer Carlos Hermosillo and renowned commentators Copan Alvarez, Sammy Sadovnik, and Eduardo Biscayart will also be part of the team calling and analyzing the soccer action.

Emmy Award-nominee Ana Jurka and Emmy-award winner Miguel Gurwitz will host Telemundo Network’s live coverage from Tokyo throughout the Olympic Games, bringing the latest from the host city and anchoring the network’s live coverage every evening throughout the duration of the Games. Tokyo will be Jurka’s second Olympic Games with Telemundo; she has also served as co-host of the FIFA Men’s World Cup from Russia in 2018 and led the Women’s FIFA World Cup from Paris in 2019. Gurwitz has covered Summer Olympics since 2000 and served as the lead studio host for Telemundo Deportes’ coverage of the Rio Olympics in 2016 & the FIFA Men’s World Cup from Russia in 2018.

Telemundo’s recap show that will air every weekday at 1 p.m. ET/PT will be anchored by Al Rojo Vivo’s Jessica Carrillo alongside Telemundo Deportes’ host of Boxeo Telemundo and TYM, Karim Mendiburu, bringing the latest highlights and best Olympic stories of the day live from Telemundo Center. This will be Mendiburu’s fourth consecutive Olympic Games with Telemundo while Carrillo returns to join the Sports team after co-hosting Rio 2016’s coverage.

Telemundo Deportes’ team of on-air talent will be complemented by an unmatched team of experienced Olympic journalists and former athletes and Olympians to enhance the coverage with wide expertise across all sports disciplines. The diverse team of experts include:

• Walter Herrmann – The Argentinean former professional basketball player and Olympic gold medalist will serve as analyst for Telemundo’s coverage around basketball. Herrmann was a key member of the men’s Argentine national basketball team that won the gold medal during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
• Raul Marquez – Mexican-American professional boxer, IBF champion and former Olympian who represented U.S. at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Marquez will serve as boxing analyst during the Olympics.
• Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez – Olympic gold-medalist and one of the greatest Cuban baseball pitchers to ever play in the Major Leagues will be providing analysis for all baseball coverage during Tokyo 2020. Throughout his career, Hernandez was an integral part of 4 World Series Championship teams. Prior to joining the MLB, El Duque had a successful baseball career in Cuba and was part of the gold-winning Olympic team at the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona.
• Amelia Valverde – As the current head coach of the Costa Rica Women’s National Team, Valverde will bring her expertise and experience in the field to the Olympic’s women soccer coverage contributing as game and studio analyst. She returns to the Telemundo Deportes team of experts following her contributions during the Spanish-language coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
• Natalia Astrain – Astrain joins Telemundo Deportes’ on-air team to serve as soccer analyst for the Women’s soccer competition. She is a well-respected soccer coach from Pamplona, Spain who most recently joined NWSL’s Kansas City as assistant coach after a long run in Spain with FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid and the Spanish Federation.
• Yendy Cortinas – Cortinas is a former volleyball who represented Mexico in four World Championships, three Central American Games and two Pan American Games. She will serve as game analyst for the volleyball coverage.
• Rene Giraldo – the veteran boxing expert and Florida Boxing Hall of Famer returns to call the boxing matches, marking his fifth Olympic coverage.
• Jessica Rosa Andino – renowned Olympic journalist from Puerto Rico who returns to serve as commentator for beach volleyball and volleyball coverage. She has been part of Telemundo’s team of Olympic commentators since the 2008 Beijing Games.
• Mara Montero – Montero is a veteran Olympic specialist who has covered the Summer Games since Barcelona 1992. This will be her fifth Games with Telemundo covering a variety of sports including gymnastics, diving, track and field and synchronized swimming.
• Jessica Cediel – The Colombian model, host and influencer will be reporting from Tokyo bringing all the color around the host city and the latest around the Games.

NBCUniversal Announces Commentators for Coverage of Tokyo Paralympic Games

With just under 100 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, NBCUniversal announced the 16 commentators who will anchor its record 1,200 hours of coverage this summer. NBCUniversal’s Paralympic Games coverage, which will once again be presented by Toyota, will include more than 200 hours of television programming across NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and the first-ever primetime hours on NBC, as well as 1,000+ hours of streaming coverage.

Ahmed Fareed and Carolyn Manno will serve as hosts of NBCU’s Paralympics coverage. Fareed will make his Paralympics debut this summer while Manno reprises her hosting role for the fourth consecutive Games. Fareed and Manno will be joined by 14 play-by-play commentators, analysts and reporters. In total, Team NBC has won a total of 30 Paralympic medals.

Three Paralympians will make their debut as analysts. Two-time Paralympic swimming gold medalist Michelle Konkoly will join play-by-play commentator Todd Harris, who returns for his fourth straight Paralympic Games, on swimming. 2008 Paralympic gold medalist Mark Zupan will serve as wheelchair rugby analyst with play-by-play voice Ed Cohen, while 2016 sitting volleyball Paralympic gold medalist Kari Miller will join Tanith White as an analyst for sitting volleyball.

13-time Paralympic medalist and Paralympic Hall of Fame member Chris Waddell (track & field), as well as two-time Paralympic medalist Paul Schulte (wheelchair basketball), return as analysts in their respective sports.

Lewis Johnson returns for his fifth consecutive Paralympics assignment as an on-site reporter for track & field. Six-time Paralympic medalist Alana Nichols (wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby) will make her debut as an on-site reporter in Tokyo, while Heather Cox (swimming) returns as a reporter for her second consecutive Paralympic Summer Games.

Bill Spaulding (track & field), Krista Blunk (wheelchair basketball), and White (sitting volleyball) make their play-by-play Paralympic debuts this summer. Cohen returns as the play-by-play commentator for wheelchair rugby. NBC Sports host and reporter Corey Robinson will make his Paralympic Games debut as a studio contributor. (NBC Sports)

Marv Albert Announces His Retirement Following TNT’s Coverage of 2021 NBA Eastern Conference Finals

Hall of Fame broadcaster Marv Albert, the long-time voice of Turner Sports’ NBA live game telecasts, has shared his plans to retire following his call of TNT’s exclusive coverage of the 2021 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. For more than a half century, the iconic Albert has entertained sports fans with his unique style and original catchphrases on both television and radio. He has called 25 NBA All-Star Games, 13 NBA Finals and the Dream Team during the 1992 Olympics, among many significant moments in sports history.

Turner Sports will present a 30-minute tribute to Albert during this year’s NBA Eastern Conference Finals, while also celebrating some of the most memorable calls from his broadcasting career throughout the NBA Playoffs.

Albert has been with Turner Sports for 22 years, including 19 as an NBA play-by-play announcer. In addition to the NBA, his responsibilities have included the NCAA Tournament (2011-15), Wimbledon Championships (2000-02), the 2002 World Championships of Basketball and the 2001 Goodwill Games.

Once a New York Knicks ball boy, Albert began his professional career in 1963 as a protégé of famed radio broadcaster Marty Glickman before taking over for him as the voice of the New York Rangers in 1965 and the Knicks in 1967. He quickly became a fan favorite during the Knicks’ 1968 playoff run after Knicks guard Dick Barnett banked in a jump shot and Albert exclaimed, for the first time on air, his signature call: “Yes!” Albert subsequently took on calling Knicks television broadcasts in 1986 for the Madison Square Garden cable network.

Albert worked for NBC Sports from 1977-97 and 2000-02, serving as the primary play-by-play voice for the NBA on NBC starting in 1990. Renowned as one of the most versatile commentators in sports, he also announced college basketball, boxing, NFL, NHL and MLB events for the network.

Albert also served as play-by-play announcer for the NFL on CBS from 2011-14 and as the voice of Westwood One Radio’s coverage of Monday Night Football from 2002-09. He called eight Super Bowls on national radio. He was also the voice of the New York Rangers for 30 years, calling eight Stanley Cup Finals. (Turner Sports)

CC Sabathia Returns For “MLB Network Showcase: Clubhouse Edition” Featuring Angels vs. Giants on June 1

MLB Network Showcase: Clubhouse Edition – a new, non-traditional game telecast format MLB Network debuted this past April – will return when the Los Angeles Angels visit the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, June 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET. In a format designed to spotlight the organic conversations that take place among a group of former players when they watch a game, All-Stars Sean Casey, CC Sabathia, and new MLB Network analyst Chris Young will join host Stephen Nelson to call the action from a casual setup inside MLB Network’s Studio 21.

Jon Champion-Taylor Twellman and Ian Darke-Stewart Robson Teams Highlight ESPN Commentator Assignments for UEFA EURO 2020

ESPN’s presentation of this summer’s UEFA European Football Championship 2020 will feature some of the most accomplished and familiar voices in the sport, headlined by the announce teams of Jon Champion and Taylor Twellman, and Ian Darke paired with Stewart Robson. ESPN’s talented roster will also include a trio of other veteran broadcaster teams – Derek Rae and Efan Ekoku, Steve Cangialosi with Alejandro Moreno, and Mark Donaldson alongside Matteo Bonetti.

Champion and Twellman, who just kicked off their third Major League Soccer season together, will call their first major international tournament as partners during EURO 2020, beginning with the Italy vs. Turkey opening match to be played in Rome on Friday, June 11.

Darke and Robson, who both live in the UK, will call games together – including a majority of the matches from London’s Wembley Stadium. Darke has been a leading soccer play-by-play voice for ESPN for more than a decade. He called the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as EURO 2012 and 2016 – voicing the Final in three of those events. Darke has also provided the soundtrack for some of the most memorable calls in U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team history.

EURO 2020 reunites Rae and Ekoku, who called select matches together for ESPN during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The lead voice for Bundesliga on ESPN networks, Rae is a veteran of nine FIFA World Cup tournaments (including 2010 and 2014 for ESPN), and the past three European Football Championships (2008, 2012 and 2016). Rae was also ESPN’s lead match voice for the UEFA Champions League from 2003-09. Based in the U.S. for ESPN for many years, Rae relocated to London where he was part of the on-air team for ESPN UK and then BT Sport before returning to the U.S. in 2017.

Cangialosi, the voice of Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls on MSG Network, is working his first major tournament for ESPN. Since 2016, his ESPN assignments have included select MLS, Serie A and International Champions Cup matches.

Moreno, the former Venezuela National Team and Major League Soccer standout, has been a match and studio analyst for ESPN since 2013. A veteran of ESPN’s 2014 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2016 presentations, Moreno regularly calls Major League Soccer and other matches in addition to appearing on the daily soccer news, information and highlights program ESPN FC on ESPN+.

Donaldson and Bonetti have worked together as ESPN’s Serie A match team the past three seasons. Donaldson will be calling his second straight European Championship after debuting in 2016. A versatile play-by-play voice, he has called a variety of soccer events, as well as golf and tennis, since joining ESPN in 2010.

Bonetti, an ESPN soccer analyst since 2018, is covering his first major tournament for ESPN. A leading voice on Italian soccer, he is a regular studio analyst for ESPN FC on ESPN+ in addition to his match commentary. He originally worked as a soccer writer for ESPN.com from 2008-12. (ESPN)

ESPN Assembles an All-Star Roster of Hosts, Analysts and Reporters for UEFA EURO 2020

ESPN has assembled an all-star roster of hosts, analysts and reporters for its upcoming presentation of the UEFA European Football Championship 2020(June 11 – July 11). The lineup of personalities combines current ESPN experts with new faces from across Europe and the United States, including world-class players and coaches – and a referee – who have competed and achieved success at the highest levels of global football.

College GameDay’s Rece Davis and Kelly Cates of Sky Sports and BBC Radio 5 Live in the UK headline the studio hosts for EURO 2020. Davis, a 25-year ESPN veteran, previously anchored soccer coverage during EURO 2008 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Cates, who worked for ESPN in the UK a decade ago, is making her debut on American television. They will be joined by ESPN’s Sebastian Salazar, Kay Murray, and Dalen Cuff.

The group of EURO 2020 analysts – representing England, Germany, Italy, Scotland, Wales and the United States – is as talented as any team ESPN has brought together for a global football event the past decade. England National Team star Steve McManaman, a staple of ESPN soccer coverage since 2010, returns to the studio, as does two-time Women’s World Cup champion Julie Foudy. Newcomers include Italian star forward Alessandro Del Piero, who joined ESPN FC in March; U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard; German National Team midfielder Sami Khedira; Wales coach Chris Coleman, who led his home nation to its first-ever UEFA EURO appearance in 2016; and Premier League center back Nedum Onuoha.

Former U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller and Scotland National Team player Craig Burley, both current ESPN analysts, return for their second straight European Championship. Also, English referee Mark Clattenburg, who refereed the EURO 2016 Final, will serve as ESPN’s officiating and VAR expert.

Four ESPN reporters will be on-site in Europe for EURO 2020, led by global correspondent Sam Borden, who will cover the opening match in Rome and be headquartered in London with visits to key matches and other nations throughout the month. In addition, Martin Ainstein will be based in Spain, Archie Rhind-Tutt will focus on matches in Germany, and Alexis Nunes will report from London. (ESPN)

CBS Sports Sets CONCACAF Men’s Nations League Finals Announcer Lineup

CBS Sports revealed its announce team for live Concacaf Men’s Nations League Finals coverage from Denver, airing June 3-6 across multiple ViacomCBS platforms, with every match on Paramount+ and two out of the four matches on CBS Sports Network.

Analysts Clint Dempsey, Charlie Davies, Oguchi Onyewu, and host Kate Abdo will lead CONCACAF Today, CBS Sports’ live pregame, halftime and postgame studio show, with contributions from Mexico Women’s National Team player Janelly Farias. CONCACAF Todaywill be live on set from inside Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. Nico Cantor and Jenny Chiu will provide reports from the sidelines.

Veteran announcer Maurice Edu will provide match analysis alongside play-by-play partner Andres Cordero for the Honduras vs. United States Semifinal match on June 3; Marcelo Balboa will be the match analyst with play-by-play lead Adrian Garcia-Marquez for the Mexico vs. Costa Rica Semifinal match that same day. Cantor and Chiu will provide sideline coverage across all four matches.

Pete Radovich, CBS Sports’ Senior Creative Director, will be the coordinating producer for CONCACAF Nations League Finals coverage. Jonathan Segal will produce CBS Sports’ coverage alongside Radovich. Harold Bryant is executive producer and senior vice president, production, CBS Sports. (CBS Sports)

Kevin Negandhi to Return as Host of Spelling Bee Semifinals and Finals in Prime Time on ESPN2

Kevin Negandhi will host the Scripps National Spelling Bee when ESPN2 airs the semifinals and finals live in prime time this summer. Negandhi previously hosted the event in 2016 and ‘17. Paul Loeffler, a finalist in 1990 and the voice of Fresno State athletics, will return as expert analyst for a 15th year. In addition, Jen Lada will serve as an interviewer and reporter.

This is the 27th consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bee ESPN has televised (there was no Spelling Bee in 2020). The early rounds will be held virtually while the finals will be held Thursday, July 8 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The 93rd Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee will feature spellers ranging in age from 9 to 15.

The 10 to 12 finalists who will travel to Orlando for the finals will be determined by a series of virtual spelling rounds that will be held in the lead-up to the July 8 finals: the preliminaries and quarterfinals on ESPN3 on June 12 and 15, followed by the semifinals on ESPN2 on Sunday, June 27. Coverage will total more than 20 hours. (ESPN)

MLB All-Star Outfielder Chris Young Joins MLB Network as an On-Air Analyst

Former MLB All-Star outfielder Chris Young has joined MLB Network’s roster of on-air personalities as an analyst appearing across its programming. Young, who spent 13 years in Major League Baseball (2006-18), will make his debut on MLB Tonight on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET alongside host Greg Amsinger and analyst Sean Casey.

Young’s 13-year career began with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2006-12; 2010 National League All-Star), before joining the Oakland Athletics (2013), New York Mets (2014), New York Yankees (2014-15), Boston Red Sox (2016-17) and Los Angeles Angels (2018). Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in Round 16 of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft, Young went on to amass 1,109 hits, 668 runs scored, 590 RBI, 288 doubles, 191 home runs and 142 stolen bases in 1,465 Major League games. In his 2007 season, Young became the first rookie to hit 30 home runs and have 25 stolen bases in Major League history.

Young joins Alanna Rizzo and Yonder Alonso as new on-air personalities that have joined MLB Network this season. (MLB)

Showtime Sets All-Star Announce Team for Mayweather vs. Paul PPV Event

Showtime has set its all-star announce team for the blockbuster event headlined by boxing great Floyd Mayweather and worldwide social media sensation Logan Paul with a mix of International Boxing Hall of Fame talent, sportscasting veterans and entertainers. MAYWEATHER vs. PAUL: BRAGGING RIGHTS is being produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV and will take place Sunday, June 6, live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

SHOWTIME, the longest-tenured network covering the sport of boxing, has tapped veteran sportscaster Brian Custer to host the unique event. He will be joined by the award-winning comedic duo Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, the hosts of Desus & Mero, who will provide their unique and entertaining commentary throughout the event. Calling the action at ringside will be the most versatile voice in combat sports, Mauro Ranallo, alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Also joining the robust team will be former MMA fighter and comedian Brendan Schaub of Shoetime Sports’ digital series Below the Belt, serving as roving reporter. The in-ring announcer will be world-renowned Boxing Hall of Famer Jimmy Lennon Jr.