Behind the Mic: NBC Sports Headlines Winter Olympics Commentary Team With Additions of Rebecca Lowe, Scott Hanson; Former ESPNer Elle Duncan Joins Netflix
Story Highlights
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, NBC Sports gets ready for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina with the addition of notable names, Elle Duncan leaves ESPN to join Netflix, and more.
Johnson Wagner Joins CBS Sports as On-Course Golf Reporter & Digital/Social Contributor
CBS Sports has added Johnson Wagner to its golf broadcast team as an on-course reporter for PGA TOUR events on CBS and Paramount+ beginning in January. Wagner also will be a regular contributor to CBS Sports’ digital platforms, providing previews, recaps and original content throughout the week for the network’s industry-leading @GolfonCBS social accounts.
Wagner will work alongside lead on-course reporter Dottie Pepper and on-course reporter Mark Immelman, and be joined by Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman, Frank Nobilo and Colt Knost in the network’s Super Tower, along with reporter/interviewer Amanda Balionis and Andrew Catalon (host, select events).
A three-time PGA TOUR winner, Wagner joins CBS Sports after spending the past few years contributing to NBC Sports’ and Golf Channel’s live tournament and studio coverage. Those contributions include Wagner earning adulation among golf fans for his attempts to reenact pivotal moments from players in contention at golf’s biggest events.
“We are excited to welcome Johnson, whose talent and versatility have made him one of the most dynamic new voices in the sport,” says Harold Bryant, Executive Producer and Executive Vice President Production, CBS Sports. “His engaging interactions with players along with his ability to connect with viewers across multiple platforms will be a tremendous addition to our golf team. The recent changes to our golf team, with Colt moving to our Golf Super Tower and Johnson coming on board, help strengthen CBS Sports’ position as the leaders in televised golf.”
“I am both humbled and honored to be joining the CBS Sports golf team which is rich in excellence and tradition,” says Wagner. “I look forward to not only contributing to Network coverage on the weekends and engaging with players at events throughout the season but also tapping into new ideas and opportunities to connect with golf fans across CBS Sports’ platforms.”
The new look CBS Sports team will debut at Torrey Pines with the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 1, with multiplatform coverage airing on the CBS Television Network and streaming live on Paramount+. The 2026 PGA TOUR season will culminate on CBS and Paramount+, with the Network showcasing third and final round coverage of all three FedExCup Playoffs events in August, including the season-ending TOUR Championship from East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Snoop Dogg Makes NBA Game Analyst Debut On January 5 “Peacock NBA Monday” Featuring Warriors-Clippers on Peacock and NBCSN
Two weeks from today, global megastar Snoop Dogg will make his debut as an NBA game analyst for NBC Sports when Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors (14-15) visit James Harden and the LA Clippers (7-21) from Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Peacock NBA Monday on Monday, Jan. 5, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Peacock and NBCSN.
Snoop, who is returning to NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage for Milan Cortina later in February, will serve as a game analyst alongside Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and Terry Gannon during the second half of Warriors-Clippers. In order to prepare for calling live game action, Snoop will watch game film, watch Clippers and Warriors shootarounds, attend production meetings, and provide fans with his unique perspective on the game sitting courtside. A Los Angeles native, Snoop played basketball at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and is a noted Lakers fan.
“This is a dream come true for me,” says Snoop Dogg. “I’m fired up to be joining Reggie Miller and Terry Gannon on the call for the Clippers-Warriors game on January 5th. I can’t wait to bring a fresh vibe to the analysis while celebrating the skills and strategy these teams bring every night.”
“We are excited to have Snoop bring his unique energy and passion to our NBA coverage,” says Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. “It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch Snoop, Reggie and Terry talk hoops with a side order of fun.”
As previously announced, in February, Snoop will speak with NBC Olympics host Mike Tirico and provide the large U.S. primetime audience with his wintry take on what’s happening in northern Italy during NBCUniversal’s Winter Olympics coverage. Similar to Paris, he’ll explore the region’s iconic landmarks and culture, attend Olympic competitions, and cheer alongside the athletes, their friends, and families. In addition, the popular segment “Snoop’s Greatest Hits” will be back, where he joins Tirico on the primetime set to riff on the day’s biggest stories and most unforgettable moments with his unmistakable rhythm and style.
Snoop made his Olympics debut in Paris last summer with a memorable and universally praised performance, with The New York Times calling him “NBC’s new voice of the people.” Throughout his three weeks in the French capital, Snoop was everywhere at the Games: carrying the Olympic torch ahead of the Opening Ceremony, celebrating with iconic athletes such as gymnast Simone Biles as well as swimmer Caeleb Dressel’s wife Meghan and infant son August after Dressel led Team USA to gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle, and watching equestrian with longtime friend Martha Stewart.
Hailed as “the star of the 2024 Paris Olympics” by the Associated Press, Snoop’s presence in Paris was an immediate and seamless fit for the Olympic stage. He won two Sports Emmys as part of NBCUniversal’s Paris Olympics coverage, including Outstanding Live Special – Championship Event.
Earlier this year, the NBCUniversal Entertainment division under Donna Langley announced an expansive deal with Snoop’s Death Row Pictures across film, television and streaming. The company’s upcoming slate of projects includes the highly anticipated Snoop Dogg biopic, a cinematic portrait of his extraordinary journey and rise to fame, directed by Craig Brewer. The untitled film will star Jonathan Daviss and will be produced by Snoop, Brian Grazer, and Death Row Pictures President Sara Ramaker.
Beyond film, Snoop returned to NBC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series The Voice this Fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. His debut as a coach on season 26 of The Voice ranked as the #1 alternative series of Fall 2024 in total viewers.
NBC Sports Jump Starts 2026 Winter Olympics Commentary Team With Rebecca Lowe as Daytime Host, Lindsey Jacobellis as Analyst, Return of Scott Hanson on Gold Zone
With a little over a month left until the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics is finalizing their production plans for the 17-day-long event. On the commentary front, the network has made recent announcements about who will be guiding fans throughout the myriad of events taking place in northern Italy.
Most notably, Rebecca Lowe will serve for the seventh consecutive Olympics as an NBC daytime host at the XXV Olympic Winter Games in Italy, it was announced today. The Opening Ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games is Feb. 6, 2026, on NBC and Peacock. Lowe, whose seven consecutive Olympic hosting assignments marks the longest hosting streak among current NBC Olympics broadcasters, will also anchor the primetime Milan Cortina Olympic Preview Show on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and Peacock. NBC Olympics’ preview show, one night before the Opening Ceremony, is a one-hour special looking ahead to the biggest storylines of the Games.
“Rebecca is a natural in our daytime window as she seamlessly transitions live from sport to sport while incorporating analysts and conducting entertaining interviews,” says Molly Solomon, Executive Producer, NBC Olympics. “As her streak attests, she has many fans among Olympic viewers, and we are excited she will be hosting our primetime Olympic preview special the night before the Opening Ceremony.”
Lowe’s debut as a daytime Olympic host came on NBCSN at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, followed by hosting roles across NBC and NBCSN for the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and most recently on NBC for the Tokyo Olympics, 2022 Beijing Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics. She won a Sports Emmy as part of NBCUniversal’s coverage in Paris, which was honored as Outstanding Live Special – Championship Event.
Next, the network will reunite its acclaimed Gold Zone team for the show’s highly anticipated Winter Olympics debut. Jac Collinsworth and Matt Iseman return to Gold Zone as hosts along with Scott Hanson and Andrew Siciliano, reprising the group which anchored the popular and critically acclaimed Gold Zone coverage for the 2024 Paris Olympics. New this winter, 2014 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time U.S. Figure Skating champion Ashley Wagner joins as the first-ever Gold Zone analyst, offering insight into the figure skating competition.
Gold Zone, which garnered wide acclaim throughout NBCUniversal’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, guides viewers through the best and most compelling Olympic moments each competition day.
“We can’t wait to bring this group back together to capture the excitement – whip-around style – from the 116 medal events on the ice and snow,” says Amy Rosenfeld, SVP of NBC Olympics Production. “A Winter Games brings with it new challenges – but that presents opportunities to try some new things, while still embracing what viewers enjoyed.”
During the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Gold Zone will stream live on Peacock and NBCSN daily, taking viewers throughout the mountains, slopes, rinks, and podiums to the best live action, medal moments, pageantry, and emotion from Italy. It will be the first time a Winter Games Gold Zone will stream on Peacock.
With up to 40 events happening simultaneously throughout the Paris Olympics last summer, Gold Zone presented viewers with the most comprehensive and all-encompassing live whip-around coverage of any Olympic Games to date.
Lastly, two-time snowboarding gold medalist Lindsey Jacobellis will make her debut as a snowboarding analyst. NBC Sports’ action sports voice Todd Harris, in his seventh consecutive Winter Games with NBC Olympics, returns to handle play-by-play, alongside analysts Todd Richards (sixth NBC Olympics assignment) and Tom Wallisch (second), and reporter Tina Dixon (eigth).
Elle Duncan Joins Netflix to Lead Live Sports Coverage
Netflix Sports has signed a major free agent heading into the new year. Acclaimed ESPN SportsCenter anchor and WNBA host Elle Duncan has joined Netflix as an on-air host across sports and live events. Duncan — who signed a multiyear deal — will make her Netflix debut on Jan. 23 on Skyscraper Live, the two-hour global event where free solo climber Alex Honnold will attempt to scale Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan.
Since 2016, Duncan has been a mainstay at ESPN, where she hosted SportsCenter and held key roles across college and professional basketball, including leading College GameDay and WNBA Countdown broadcasts.
TNT Sports Announces Studio Team for the Second Season of Unrivaled
TNT Sports is ready for the sophomore season of Unrivaled with the launch of extended live programming, a stellar roster of studio and game analysts and more for the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league tipping off on Monday, Jan.5 at 1 p.m./ET.
Coverage begins with the Mist BC vs. Hive BC followed by Vinyl vs. Laces BC and concludes with Lunar vs. Rose at 8 p.m./ET and Phantom BC vs. Breeze BC on opening day.
TNT Sports’ studio coverage will center on three-time WNBA Champion and two-time league MVP Candace Parker, former WNBA All-Star Renee Montgomery, and host Lauren Jbara – with special appearances by four-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA legend Lisa Leslie – as they share pregame insights and analysis as well as postgame highlights throughout the season from TNT studios in Atlanta.
Play-by-play announcer Brendan Glasheen and analysts Lisa Leslie and Sarah Kustok will provide game commentary throughout Unrivaled’s sophomore season, joined by a rotation of veteran reporters including Allie LaForce, Ros Gold-Onwude, Isis Young, and Bridget Howard. Live game coverage will originate from Unrivaled’s facilities in Miami.
This season will feature an exciting fourth night of basketball (as previously announced) providing fans with four consecutive nights of game action, Friday through Monday.
Games scheduled on Fridays and Mondays will air on TNT, truTV and HBO Max, while games scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays will air on truTV and HBO Max. Unrivaled will follow the same doubleheader format as last year, with the second games tipping off shortly after the first on any given game night.
Johnson Wagner Joins CBS Sports as On-Course Golf Reporter and Digital/Social Contributor
CBS Sports has added Johnson Wagner to its golf broadcast team as an on-course reporter for PGA TOUR events on CBS and Paramount+ beginning in January. Wagner also will be a regular contributor to CBS Sports’ digital platforms, providing previews, recaps and original content throughout the week for the network’s @GolfonCBS social accounts.
Wagner will work alongside lead on-course reporter Dottie Pepper and on-course reporter Mark Immelman, and be joined by Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman, Frank Nobilo, and Colt Knost in the network’s Super Tower, along with reporter/interviewer Amanda Balionis and Andrew Catalon (host, select events).
A three-time PGA TOUR winner, Wagner joins CBS Sports after spending the past few years contributing to NBC Sports’ and Golf Channel’s live tournament and studio coverage. Those contributions include Wagner earning adulation among golf fans for his attempts to reenact pivotal moments from players in contention at golf’s biggest events.
The new look CBS Sports team will debut at Torrey Pines with the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 1, with multiplatform coverage airing on the CBS Television Network and streaming live on Paramount+. The 2026 PGA TOUR season will culminate on CBS and Paramount+, with the Network showcasing third and final round coverage of all three FedExCup Playoffs events in August, including the season-ending TOUR Championship from East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
