Behind The Mic: Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning To Join 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Coverage Hosts
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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: Ali Krieger to join ESPN analysts for women’s soccer; CBS Sports and TNT Sports announce NCAA mens basketball championship commentators; and more.
Amina Smith Joins ESPN as SportsCenter Anchor
Emmy award winning television host Amina Smith has joined ESPN as an anchor for SportsCenter, the network’s signature news and information program. She will begin work on April 2.
For the past three years, Smith has been a multi-platform host and on-air talent with NBC Sports Boston, covering the New England Patriots and hosting flagship programming for the Boston Celtics. In 2022, Smith won a New England Emmy for outstanding Sports Programming – Live as the host of Patriots Pregame Live.
Smith’s career began in 2010 while she was a student at the University of South Carolina where she competed as a track athlete. During that time, she worked with SGTV, the school’s student-run station, where she covered football and Women’s basketball. In 2012 she transferred to the University of Miami, and it was there where she worked in various production and on-air roles for networks such as NBC, ESPNU, FOX and her campus station UMTV.
After graduating, she continued in television, starting at 6 News in Lawrence, Kansas, and then moving into sports roles with Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, BET Networks and Stadium Sports. She had prominent on-air roles with college football and NBA coverage, along other duties.
“Joining ESPN is truly a dream come true,” says Smith. “I’m excited for the opportunity to connect with fans blending my knowledge and passion for sports and entertainment to deliver engaging, fun, and thoughtful content.
“As a former athlete and being surrounded by sports my entire life, ESPN has always been in the picture and I’m ecstatic to finally call the network home – a place where I can continue to show up as my authentic self while connecting with viewers from all walks of life,” she said.
Smith will be based at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Ct.
Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning Join Mike Tirico as Hosts of NBCUniversal’s Opening Ceremony Coverage for Olympic Games Paris 2024
Two-Time FIFA World Cup Champion Ali Krieger Joins ESPN to Headline Coverage of Women’s Soccer
Two-time FIFA World Cup champion and former U.S. Women’s National Team star Ali Krieger has joined ESPN to headline the company’s coverage of women’s soccer, including the upcoming NWSL season.
Krieger will serve as studio analyst across all soccer programming on ABC and ESPN platforms, offering her analysis for ESPN’s news and information programs, including SportsCenter, ESPN FC, Fútbol Americas, and digital platforms, espnW and ESPN.com. Krieger served as the lead studio voice for ESPN’s news and information coverage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
She will make her NWSL debut on Saturday, March 16, live on ABC network at 12:30 p.m. ET during the Kansas City-Portland Thorns FC season-opening match. Krieger will be joined by an all-star roster of broadcasters, including Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster Jenn Hildreth, former England Women’s National Team player Lianne Sanderson, ESPN Deportes’ Cristina Alexander, and seasoned soccer coach Natalia Astrain. Hildreth and Sanderson will pair as the English-language commentary team, while Alexander and Astrain will headline Spanish-language match coverage on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ali, Lianne, and Natalia to our NWSL on ESPN team,” says Rodolfo Martinez, Senior Vice President, International and ESPN Deportes Production. “Their fresh off-the-field insight and in-depth knowledge of the sport will inform, entertain, and elevate our coverage of the league. Collectively, their voices will represent our ambition for the NWSL.”
As NWSL commentators across ESPN’s English- and Spanish-language platforms, Krieger, Hildreth, Alexander, Astrain, and Sanderson will play a significant role in how fans experience the top women’s professional soccer league in the region – North and South America. Their first assignment as a team will be in Kansas City, Kansas, on March 16 for the inaugural match at CPKC Stadium, the first purpose-built stadium for a women’s professional sports team. ABC and ESPN platforms will combine to showcase 20 matches during the 2024 NWSL season, the 12th season of the premier women’s professional soccer league. ABC will air four games beginning with the Current-Thorns FC season-opener and three playoff matches. ESPN will televise seven matches, ESPN2 will air nine, and ESPN Deportes will broadcast 13 games in Spanish. All 20 games in the ESPN package will stream live in English and Spanish on ESPN+.
CBS Sports and TNT Sports Announce 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Commentator Teams
TNT Sports and CBS Sports’ combined coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will feature an experienced and deep lineup of announcers.
All 67 games from the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament will be televised across four national television networks — TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV — and via NCAA March Madness Live. Games airing on CBS will also stream live on Paramount+, and games airing on TBS, TNT and truTV will also stream live on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On.
Play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle will call his first Final Four as he joins the lead announce team with Bill Raftery, Grant Hill and reporter Tracy Wolfson for this year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four National Semifinals on Saturday, April 6 and National Championship on Monday, April 8 from Phoenix, airing on TBS.
New and expanded commentator roles for this year’s coverage will include:
- Eagle joining the lead game crew throughout the Tournament, including the Final Four;
- Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas calling games through the Regional Finals;
- Andy Katz serving as reporter through the Regional Finals;
- Robbie Hummel joining as a game analyst for the First and Second Rounds;
- Jamie Erdahl providing game updates.
Ernie Johnson will host studio coverage from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, joined by Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith. Adam Lefkoe will host studio coverage from TNT Sports’ Atlanta studio alongside Jay Wright, Candace Parker and Seth Davis. Adam Zucker will also serve as a host from New York, while Wally Szczerbiak and Wright will also make appearances from the CBS Broadcast Center. Jamie Erdahl will provide game updates. Gene Steratore will serve as rules analyst throughout the Tournament and will be on-site in Phoenix for the Final Four.
Following is the complete list of announcer pairings:
Play-by-Play / Analyst // Reporter
* Regional Weekend Announce Teams
(Remaining pairings listed alphabetically)
Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson*
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce*
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Andy Katz*
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan Washburn*
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith / Robbie Hummel // Lauren Shehadi
Spero Dedes / Jim Spanarkel // Jon Rothstein
Tom McCarthy / Deb Antonelli / Avery Johnson // AJ Ross
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
Kevin Kisner Serves as Analyst, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch Join NBC Sports’ Coverage as Part of 50th Players Championship Celebration
ESPN’s 2024 UFL Kickoff Season Commentators Revealed
ESPN revealed its signature commentator teams for the inaugural season of the UFL on ESPN & ABC platforms.
Key Details:
- Features five teams of signature voices across ESPN’s roster of industry-leading football experts, many returning from the platform’s 2023 XFL coverage, providing additional insight and expertise.
- The three ESPN/ABC teams each include a play-by-play commentator and analyst in the booth plus a reporter and analyst on the field. The sideline team will provide a unique vantage point for analysis and added access for fans throughout the game.
- ESPN Deportes’ coverage will include a rotation of two teams, featuring a play-by-play voice and analyst.
- Teams will cover ESPN’s full 21-game slate across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes*. All of these games will also be available on ESPN+.
ESPN Deportes’ schedule will be announced soon.
“This team represents an incredible depth of football expertise and features many returning voices from our innovative XFL coverage,” said Amanda Gifford, ESPN vice president of production. “In collaboration with the UFL, we look forward to further pushing the traditional production boundaries all season, bringing fans more expert insight, immediate on-field reactions from players and coaches and an inside look behind the scenes of each team throughout the game.”
ESPN/ABC:
Team 1 (Play-by-play duties will be shared by Mike Monaco and Drew Carter)
Fast Facts:
- Mike Monaco (play-by-play) – Joined ESPN in 2019 and has called, MLB, NHL, Little League World Series, basketball, college baseball, football, lacrosse, volleyball and softball events for ESPN and the ACC Network, in addition to contributing to Boston Red Sox broadcasts on NESN.
- Drew Carter (play-by-play) – Joined ESPN in 2021, and calls a variety of sports for ESPN, including college football, college basketball, men’s and women’s collegiate lacrosse, softball and the PLL. In addition, Carter has served as the local NBA play-by-play voice for Boston Celtics on NBC Sports Boston.
- Sam Acho (analyst) – The nearly 10-year NFL veteran joined ESPN in 2021. A college football analyst, Acho contributes to college football studio coverage on Saturdays as a lead studio voice, in addition to making regular appearances across SportsCenter, Get Up and College Football Live. He also contributed to the platform’s 2023 XFL coverage.
- Stormy Buonantony (field reporter) – The Emmy-award winning journalist joined ESPN in 2020 and is a college football sideline reporter for the platform and contributed to 2023 XFL coverage. Buonantony also co-hosts the weekday VSiN The Lombardi Line digital sports talk show.
- Cole Cubelic (field analyst) – Former Auburn University offensive lineman and captain, joined ESPN in 2011 and is an analyst across the platform’s college football game and studio coverage, including SEC Saturday Night. He also covered XFL games as a field analyst for ESPN/ABC in 2020 and 2023, and co-hosts both Read & React on SEC Network and the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning radio show in Birmingham.
Team 2
Fast Facts:
- Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) – Joined ESPN in 2007 and is the lead anchor for Longhorn Network. Galindo also contributes to play-by-play commentary for college sports across ESPN platforms, including Texas football and basketball and ESPN’s 2023 XFL coverage.
- Tom Luginbill (analyst) – Joined ESPN in 2005 and provides recruiting analysis for top collegiate football prospects as the director of scouting in addition to his college football analyst role. Luginbill served as an analyst on XFL games on ESPN and ABC in 2020 and 2023 and was a quarterback coach in the original XFL, winning a championship with Los Angeles in 2001.
- Kayla Burton (field reporter) – Former Lehigh women’s basketball standout, joined ESPN in 2023 as part of the platform’s college football game coverage. Prior to ESPN, she spent several years with NFL Media in a multi-platform role across NFL Network, NFL.com and the NFL app.
- Harry Douglas (field analyst) – The 10-year NFL veteran joined ESPN in 2019 and is a contributor across ESPN studio shows, digital football shows including hosting Countdown to College GameDay, and co-host of the national ESPN Radio afternoon drive show Freddie & Harry. The Louisville Hall of Famer has also served as an analyst for NFL and CFB games on ESPN Radio.
Team 3 (Play-by-play duties will be shared by Roy Philpott and Jorge Sedano)
Fast Facts:
- Roy Philpott (play-by-play) – Joined ESPN in 2013 and is a play-by-play voice across the platform’s college football, basketball and baseball games.
- Jorge Sedano (play-by-play) – Joined ESPN in 2013 and began with ESPNLA 710 in 2016, where he hosts Sedano & Kap. In addition to his play-by-play work for college football, Sedano calls NFL, CFB and NBA games for ESPN Radio. He’s also a sideline reporter for ESPN and ABC’s NBA game coverage.
- Kirk Morrison (analyst) – Joined ESPN in 2017, the eight-year NFL veteran currently works on ESPN and ABC’s college football coverage as well as the pregame, halftime, and post-game radio host of the Los Angeles Rams on ESPNLA. He is also a regular host of The Blitz on Sirius XM NFL Radio and other shows in the Sirius XM family. Morrison is a regular guest on sports talk radio shows across the country year round.
- Ian Fitzsimmons (field reporter) – Joined ESPN in 2009 and is a sideline analyst and reporter for ESPN Radio covering college football and NFL games as well as the co-host of Amber & Ian. He also contributed to ESPN’s 2023 XFL coverage.
- Eric Mac Lain (field analyst) – Joined ACC Network in 2019 and is a studio analyst on ACC Huddle, ACCN’s signature football show, and contributed to ESPN’s 2023 XFL coverage. Mac Lain played at Clemson from 2011-15, amassing the most wins (46) by a single player in team history.
ESPN Deportes:
Team 1
Fast Facts:
- Cristina Alexander (play-by-play) – One of ESPN Deportes’ most versatile commentators, serving as the co-anchor for the network’s daytime edition of SportsCenter. She is a bilingual commentator with a strong background in a variety of sports.
- Alex Pareja (analyst) – Joined ESPN in 2015 as a soccer analyst. With experience ranging from playing for FC Barcelona’s academy to obtaining a UEFA A coaching license, Pareja brings a unique perspective to the screen.
Team 2
Fast Facts:
- Richard Mendez (play-by-play) – Joined ESPN in 2006, providing play-by-play and studio coverage around a variety of sports including soccer. Throughout his career, he has covered prestigious events like the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, Copa Libertadores, and top European leagues.
- Natalia Astrain (analyst) – A seasoned soccer coach and analyst who has held notable positions in both Spain and the United States. She served as Head Coach of the U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team and assistant coach for NWSL Kansas City. In Spain, Astrain coached at esteemed clubs including FC Barcelona, Club Damm, and Club Levante Las Planas, and worked as an assistant coach for Atletico Madrid and the Spain Women’s National Team. Additionally, she provided soccer analysis for Olympic coverage on Universo’s “Mundo Deportivo” and FC Barcelona TV.
Prime Video Introduces On-Air Announce Team for Inaugural Season of NWSL Coverage
Prime Video introduced the on-air announce team for its inaugural season of NWSL coverage, featuring play-by-play announcer Mike Watts, and analyst Lori Lindsey, as the streamer’s main team in the booth for the 27-match campaign.
Additionally, former Chicago Red Stars and Houston Dash forward Kealia Watt will join Prime Video as a contributor and sideline analyst for multiple appearances throughout the year. Lianne Sanderson, a former Lioness and Arsenal stand-out, also joins the team as both a sideline analyst and match analyst for select fixtures.
Watts and Lindsey will handle play-by-play and analyst responsibilities for Prime Video’s debut – the NWSL Challenge Cup – on Friday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
Prime Video will produce all 27 matches, with Watts, Lindsey, Watt and Sanderson on-site for each of their appearances. The on-site presence will provide additional storytelling opportunities and draw NWSL fans closer to the pitch than ever before every Friday night. Prime Video’s industry-leading production for NWSL is another addition for Prime members, who enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership.
“We are eagerly anticipating our NWSL debut on March 15, and adding these four talented announcers will elevate our coverage and establish credibility as we embrace the culture, stars and tenor of the league,” says Betsy Riley, senior coordinating producer, Prime Video. “Having our talent on-site each week will help us dig deeper, connect on a stronger level with more fans, and lift up the incredible athletes on the pitch. We can’t wait to get started.”
Riley and Ken Miller, Director, Production & Technical Operations, Prime Video, oversee production for Prime Video’s NWSL coverage.
As previously announced, Prime Video kicks off its inaugural season of NWSL coverage with 27 total matches throughout the course of the 2024 season, including streaming 25 regular-season games, one quarterfinal playoff game in November, and the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup next Friday on March 15 at 8:00 p.m. EDT. All 25 of Prime Video’s regular-season contests will stream on Friday nights throughout the season, with kickoff each week slated for 8:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m. EDT. The schedule includes every team across the league, loaded with star power, including defending champions NJ/NY Gotham FC – with a roster featuring newly signed stars Crystal Dunn and Rose Lavelle – twice, NWSL shield winners San Diego Wave FC, led by Alex Morgan, five times, 2023 runner-up Seattle Reign and Jess Fishlock six times, and Becky Sauerbrunn, reigning NWSL MVP Sophia Smith and the Portland Thorns five times, who finished second overall last year in the standings.
Mike Watts, play-by-play announcer, is a multi-sport on-air media personality with distinguished broadcast experience. Watts has been the voice of championship events for USL, Concacaf, Westwood One, and ESPN. In addition to his role with Prime Video, Watts currently is the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals Preseason Television Network, the lead commentator for USL and SEC Soccer, and a voice for select college and pro basketball games at Madison Square Garden.
Lori Lindsey, analyst, is a former US Women’s National Team player, and represented the United States in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She’s played around the globe throughout her career, and made her first appearance as an on-air analyst with FOX Sports in June 2022. She subsequently has been an analyst and commentator for a wide variety of networks including ESPN, CBS Sports, NWSL, MLS and Apple TV.
Kealia Watt, contributor and sideline analyst, is a former women’s soccer star who most recently played for the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL. Watt’s accolades include a victory for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship, both in 2012, as well as runner-up in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and the 2021 NWSL Championship.
Lianne Sanderson, analyst, is a former top English professional footballer, who played for the English National team and took home four championship victories with Arsenal. She is also the lead co-commentator for England’s Women’s internationals and the Women’s Super League for talkSPORT, and was recently announced as the new presenter of The Women’s Football Show on talkSPORT2.
Kathryn Tappen Rejoins NHL Network as Studio Host and Reporter
NHL Network announces that Kathryn Tappen has rejoined NHL Network as a studio host and reporter appearing across its programming. The veteran sports broadcaster will make her season debut on NHL Network’s NHL Now live at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 6 alongside Mike Rupp and Kevin Weekes.
Tappen, who was part of NHL Network’s on-air team from 2011 to 2015, says, “I am thrilled to be reuniting with my former teammates at NHL Network. A special thank you to the NHL, Steve Mayer, and Josh Bernstein for making this possible. As we enter into the final stretch of the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s no greater time to be jumping back into the sport I love, as we prepare to award one team the greatest trophy in all of sports. For my entire career, it’s been an honor to cover this league. I am energized and excited at the thought of returning to the great folks at the NHL Network.”
On Tappen’s return, Vice President of Programming Josh Bernstein says, “We are incredibly excited to have Kathryn back at NHL Network. Her love for the game of hockey is infectious, and it shows in how she covers it.”
In addition to her time at NHL Network, Tappen served as one of the lead hosts for NBC Sports’ hockey coverage from 2014 through 2021, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In March 2020, Tappen anchored an all-female crew on an NHL game broadcast, which marked the first hockey game production by women in the United States.
As a current broadcaster for NBC Sports, Tappen recently concluded her 10th season covering college football. For this past season, Tappen was the sideline reporter for Big Ten Saturday Night, the primetime Big Ten Football game on NBC and Peacock each week during the season. Prior to Big Ten Saturday Night, Tappen was a sideline reporter for Notre Dame Football on NBC from 2014 to 2021, while also hosting live studio coverage from South Bend. In addition to college football, Tappen has been part of NBC Sports’ coverage of the PGA Tour, NFL Kickoff, plus multiple Super Bowls and Olympics.
Tappen’s broadcast career began with New England Sports Network (NESN) as the lead host for Boston Bruins games, while also reporting on the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics. Tappen also was the weekend anchor and weekday sports reporter at WJAR in Providence, RI. Tappen, a New Jersey native, was an Academic-All American at Rutgers University as a member of the track and field and cross country teams.
Chris Mortensen, ESPN’s Award-Winning NFL Reporter, Dies at 72
Chris Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died Sunday morning. He was 72. ESPN confirmed Mortensen’s death on Sunday.
“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hardworking teammate,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones.”
Mortensen announced in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer, but would go on to work for ESPN through the end of the NFL draft last year when he announced his retitrment to “focus on my health, family and faith.”
