Behind the Mic: ESPN Set for Network’s First All-Women Baseball Broadcast; Sportsnet’s Jim Hughson Retires After 42-Year Career

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, ESPN gets set for all-women MLB broadcast, Sportsnet’s Jim Hughson retires from broadcasting after 42 Years, and ESPN shakes up their NBA studio programming.

ESPN To Debut First All-Women Baseball Broadcast

Melanie Newman and Jessica Mendoza will be ESPN’s first all-woman broadcast team for a nationally televised Major League Baseball game on September 29. The game will mark the first time ESPN has had an all-woman broadcast team for a MLB, NBA, NFL regular season or playoff game.

Newman was a part of MLB’s first-ever all-female broadcast in July, while Mendoza became the first female analyst to call a nationally televised MLB playoff game in 2015. Mendoza, ESPN’s first regular female MLB analyst, has been with the network since 2007.

“Honestly, each earmark is just another page,” says Newman. “I feel fortunate to be the one handed this chance, it’s our responsibility until there are no more firsts and its just an even playing field of all-qualified professionals who happen to look different.”

Newman, who also made history as the first woman in Orioles history to call a regular-season game in 2020, will provide play-by-play commentary for two ESPN baseball telecasts as the network puts together its “pennant race” stretch of 11 games in 11 days. She also believes that representation is important in growing America’s first professional sport.

“Representation absolutely matters,” Newman said. “The number of younger girls who have felt they couldn’t be a fan of sports in general solely out of not seeing women in front still amazes me.” (CNN Business)

Sportsnet’s Jim Hughson Retires from Broadcasting after 42 Years

Jim Hughson is stepping away from the mic. The Hall of Fame play-by-play commentator has announced his retirement from sports broadcasting, closing out a remarkable 42-year career as one of the iconic voices of hockey in Canada.

“It’s been a fantastic run and I’d like to thank Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada, and all my friends and colleagues over the years for the tremendous support and countless memories,” says Hughson. “This is a decision I made in consultation with my family and I’m very much at peace with it. My only goal in this industry was to work at the highest level and on the last day of the season. I’ve had that opportunity a number of times and will always be grateful for it.”

Calling his first game on radio in 1979, Hughson has done hockey play-by-play spanning the course of six different decades, becoming one of Canada’s most notable voices. Hughson has covered countless NHL, OHL and CHL games and has been the voice of the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and national hockey broadcasts on Hockey Night in Canada. He’s also called a dozen Stanley Cup Finals and the men’s hockey tournament at both the 2006 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

“Jim is one of the best this business has ever seen,” says Rob Corte, VP of Sportsnet and NHL Production. “Whether on TV, radio or in video games, for many he has been their soundtrack of hockey. He’s set the gold standard for broadcasting in this country and has accomplished pretty much everything any broadcaster would set out to do in their career. On top of that, he’s a tremendous teammate and an even better person. I respect his decision to step back and spend more time with family but he is going to be missed by us at Sportsnet, the entire broadcasting industry, his colleagues and his many fans.”

While best known for hockey, Hughson also made a name for himself calling Major League Baseball at times throughout his career – notably being part of the Blue Jays broadcast crew during their championship runs in 1992 and 1993.

“Jim ranks amongst the greatest play-by-play announcers of all-time,” says Bart Yabsley, President of Sportsnet. “His contributions to the sport of hockey in this country have been immense. He has brought tremendous passion, knowledge, grace and care to every single game he’s called, which is a testament to his longevity in this business. He is leaving behind incredibly big shoes to fill after a legendary career.”

In 2019, the Hockey Hall of Fame awarded Hughson the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award to honor his outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. He is also a four-time Canadian Screen Awards winner for Best Sports Play-by-Play Announcer.

“It’s been an honor, privilege, and pleasure to join Canadian hockey fans in watching so many fantastic games over the years,” adds Hughson. “I look forward to continuing watching together, but from the same side of the television.” (Sportsnet)

ESPN Launches New Show, NBA Today, on October 18 

ESPN is launching a new studio show NBA Today, beginning on Monday, October 18, just prior to the October 19 tipoff of the 2021-22 NBA regular season. ESPN NBA journalist Malika Andrews will host NBA Today as part of a new, multi-year contract extension. Andrews will be joined by ESPN NBA analysts Kendrick Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike, Vince Carter, and ESPN Senior Writer Zach Lowe to form the NBA Today panel. Additionally, ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski and ESPN NBA Insider and Senior Writer Ramona Shelburne will be among several top ESPN NBA reporters contributing updates from around the league.

NBA Today will emanate from ESPN’s Los Angeles Production Center and will air Mondays through Fridays from 3-4 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN App. The October 18 debut of the show will air on ESPN2. NBA Today will also travel to marquee NBA events, including the NBA Finals for on-site shows. The show will have a year-round presence on ESPN and exclusive content from NBA Today will be regularly available on ESPN social media platforms.

“NBA Today will provide in-depth, comprehensive daily coverage of all aspects of the NBA,” says David Roberts, ESPN Senior Vice President, NBA and Studio Production. “Malika, who is a phenomenally talented commentator, will run point on a show that will feature a vibrant cast of expert analysts who all offer distinct perspectives on the game. Through the contributions of our wide array of NBA reporters, the show will be both newsy and timely with an eye towards the biggest games around the league that day.”

Andrews joined ESPN prior to the 2018-19 NBA season as a Midwest region reporter, covering the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls. She pivoted to a more national reporting role prior to the 2019-20 season and became a key national voice documenting the “NBA Bubble.” Beyond her NBA Today role, Andrews will continue to serve as a sideline reporter for NBA live event coverage, while providing special reports and conducting exclusive interviews with key players.

“It’s an incredible time to cover the NBA – a league that is full of characters and stories that have resonance far beyond the sports world,” says Andrews. “Our goal every day is to deliver information and analysis to our viewers that can’t be gleaned anywhere else. I’m so excited to showcase the league and the talented reporters, analysts and insiders on our team.”

NBA Today replaces The Jump as ESPN’s daily NBA studio show. The final episode of The Jump is Friday, October 8. (ESPN)