All articles tagged with #sports broadcasting
ESPN is removing its BottomLine ticker from college football games across ABC and ESPN networks to create a cleaner presentation that keeps the focus on the action on the field, while still providing score alerts and essential on-screen updates to help viewers navigate schedule changes.
Bill Rasmussen, the entrepreneur behind ESPN, died at 93 from Parkinson’s disease. He and his son conceived a 24-hour sports network and launched ESPN in 1979, transforming sports media with innovations like around-the-clock programming and SportsCenter. As ESPN’s first president and chairman, he helped grow the company from a Bristol startup to a global media enterprise, later receiving multiple honors and remaining active in publishing and philanthropy after leaving ESPN in 1980.
Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's NBC Sunday Night Football debut offered moments of candor and humor but mostly came off as scripted, leaving critics to wonder how quickly he’ll loosen up and live up to his broadcasting potential.
A 73-year-old retiree, Lewis Kalb, won the Phillies’ Phanatic Auction for $22,000 to join the radio booth for an inning, delivering a natural, veteran-style call that impressed regulars despite a few slips and turning a bucket-list moment into a viral highlight.
CBS is reportedly looking to end its Tony Romo deal and move on from the Romo brand in response to Romo’s OWI arrest and suspension, weighing the use of a morals clause and considering replacements (e.g., Ian Eagle) while acknowledging any rehire would be a long, complex process.
ESPN is conducting another wave of layoffs, with longtime play-by-play voice Karl Ravech among those cut as the network restructures after integrating NFL assets; other noted departures include Ryan Clark, David Lloyd, and Stephania Bell, with NFL Network also expected to cut staff as part of the broader realignment.
Dana White credited FIFA's World Cup production after the final, calling it a 'grand slam' and noting a botched flyover, while joking that UFC's own production is 'the second worst' in sports broadcasts amid the Paramount deal.
John Sterling, the Yankees’ longtime radio voice who called more than 5,000 consecutive games and helped shape a generation of fans with his signature calls, has died at 87 after eight decades in broadcasting.
YouTube TV is rolling out a fully customizable multiview for NFL Sunday Ticket, allowing subscribers to mix and match four live NFL games with a multiview builder and filters for different content categories; the feature will be available to users over the next few weeks.
Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after a 19-year run as Steelers coach, is set to join NBC’s Football Night in America as a top studio analyst, joining Maria Taylor and Jason Garrett in a revamped pregame show. NBC aims to refresh the program after dismissing Tony Dungy, with Fox also showing interest, as networks renegotiate NFL rights; Tomlin’s move solidifies his status as a premier NFL TV voice and leaves open the possibility he could return to coaching someday.
Streaming has fractured live sports rights into a patchwork of platforms and prices, as MLB and other leagues divvy games across Apple TV, Amazon, Netflix, Roku and more, with blackouts and channel churn for fans. An all-in Yankees viewing could run about $800 across 10 networks; across the industry, exclusivity deals shift between traditional broadcasters and tech platforms, while MLB aims to centralize local rights by 2028 and the NFL remains the richest prize but increasingly sells boutique bundles. The result is higher costs and more ads, aided by data-driven, AI-targeted advertising and the rise of shoppable streaming, pushing toward cheaper, personalized, ad-supported models even as audiences seek simpler, more digestible viewing.
The Yankees’ 2026 season opener will stream exclusively on Netflix, illustrating a fragmented, costly era for watching sports where fans must juggle multiple subscriptions across platforms to see all games, fueling calls for a simpler, unified viewing experience.
Netflix will exclusively stream MLB’s opening day game (Yankees vs. Giants) to a global audience of nearly a billion, with retired stars as commentators and Thing from Wednesday throwing the first pitch. The $60 million-per-year, three-year deal also covers the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game, marking Netflix’s push into live sports and testing appetite for broader MLB rights while aiming to grow casual fans beyond traditional superfans.
Following Lou Holtz’s death, colleagues recall a fierce, charismatic broadcaster who treated on-air debates like fourth-down battles. His spirited exchanges with Mark May on SportsCenter became iconic, while his competitive drive extended to friendships with peers like Rece Davis. Tributes from figures such as Dick Vitale and Ryan Clark underscore a legacy that transcends Notre Dame’s championships, shaping the culture of sports TV and the relationships he built in the studio.
The Braves haven’t landed a TV partner yet as six other MLB teams (Brewers, Marlins, Rays, Royals, Cardinals, Reds) move to MLB Media for the 2026 season; the Cardinals’ move is notable. Tigers and Angels are also not switching, and long‑term rights deals aren’t expected until 2029, so Atlanta’s 2026 broadcast plan remains undetermined.