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CNN Adds Bob Costas to Contributor Roster

Y2kTheNewOldies

Y2kTheNewOldies

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/cnn-bob-costas-contributor-1234711007/

Bob Costas, the sportscaster who narrated World Series games, boxing matches and NBC’s Olympics telecasts and elevated his commentary to include politics and culture, is joining CNN as a contributor, the cable-news outlet announced Monday.

He is expected to offer perspective on sports issues as that industry grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and a range of cultural and racial issues that have been rippling through U.S. society. The announcement was made by Jeff Zucker, the former NBCUniversal CEO who now oversees WarnerMedia’s news and sports properties.

“Bob Costas is a legendary, respected voice across the spectrum of sports and beyond,” said Zucker, in a prepared statement.
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Bob Costas will join as contributor whenever CNN has to talk about sports on their shows.
 
He already appears and calls games on the MLB network. Not sure what he is paid, or if he'd be interested in also doing TBS games.

Plus TBS having baseball is not new, they've had it for years and just renewed it, so it not like they are newly signed to do baseball and need to build up their announcers.
 
NoDakObserver said:
Plus TBS having baseball is not new, they've had it for years and just renewed it, so it not like they are newly signed to do baseball and need to build up their announcers.
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Yes we know. He does one game a week for MLB. Lots of spare time for more. Plus MLB doesn't do the playoffs but TBS does.
 
A bit related, but a bit off-topic...did anyone think the fake crowd noise and the posters of fans at Dodger Stadium tonight was a bit over the top?

I think just run it as it is. No fan noise, no fake fans in the stands. Keep it real. Just my opinion...
 
seatownmedia said:
A bit related, but a bit off-topic...did anyone think the fake crowd noise and the posters of fans at Dodger Stadium tonight was a bit over the top?
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First of all, I thought the applause at Dodger Stadium was louder than it was at some other stadiums. And if you watched the earlier game, the Nationals Stadium folks opted to not use the cardboard fans behind home plate.

But the thought hit me that they're not only using the crowd noise for OUR benefit, but also for the PLAYERS. These are guys who are used to playing for the fans. The fans are what drive the adrenaline. I was watching the introductions, and some of the players waved as their names were called out. Then they realized there was no one there, and they felt ridiculous. When the pitcher strikes out an opposing player, they expect to hear applause. When a player gets a home run, they expect a standing ovation. Not in this configuration. The only celebration they experience is in the dugout.
 
Fox's baseball telecasts will be using CGI to fill the stands with virtual fans:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/media/mlb-virtual-fans/index.html

I'm all for it under the current circumstances. The lack of crowd noise and the look of an empty stadium are two of the main factors I haven't been able to get interested in the Korean baseball broadcasts this year. (The other being the unabashed disdain and ignorance by the ESPN talking heads of the league and its teams and players. Speaking of which, is ESPN stuck with the KBO for the rest of the season -- NOBODY will watch now.)

Speaking of ESPN, explain to me why one or two announcers weren't allowed to use a spacious, sanitized, social-distanced space in Dodger Stadium or Nationals Park last night instead of watching TV in Bristol, Connecticut? Keeping them at home resulted in the same distant, somewhat snarky, atmosphere that has marked ESPN's KBO telecasts. Karl Ravech and crew spent a full inning talking -- via poor quality home video -- to a player for the Oakland A's. Why, why, why on frickin' OPENING DAY do you push the game you're covering into the background?
 
CTListener said:
Speaking of ESPN, explain to me why one or two announcers weren't allowed to use a spacious, sanitized, social-distanced space in Dodger Stadium or Nationals Park last night instead of watching TV in Bristol, Connecticut?
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According to this, the MLB wants to limit the number of people in the stadium:

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...oad-games-remotely-in-2020-season-per-report/

The home team broadcast crew was allowed on site, and that was it.

Having done this kind of work, I can tell you there's a lot of socialization that happens in the press booth. This eliminates that situation.
 
For the Seattle Mariners, I note that on Friday night the tv team was commenting from Seattle for a game in Houston. However, today, the radio team said they were in Houston. Can someone explain the new rules/guidelines for announcers? I am lost and confused here.
 
seatownmedia said:
For the Seattle Mariners, I note that on Friday night the tv team was commenting from Seattle for a game in Houston. However, today, the radio team said they were in Houston. Can someone explain the new rules/guidelines for announcers? I am lost and confused here.
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A few notable rules: Only 35 media members per game will be allowed in the ballpark, including photographers but not including broadcasters; interviews with players and other personnel will be done via video conferencing; reporters must leave the ballpark within an hour of the end of postgame interviews.

The rules for the television and radio teams are unlike anything that has been done before. Home teams will provide a “neutral” feed for each game, with instructions to show players on both teams equally; television commentators will not be in the ballpark for road games, instead calling them off a feed, but radio announcers will be permitted in road booths.
 
All MLB teams need cardbaord cutouts I couldn't stand when the Tigers were in Cincy with all the Red empty seats put some cardboard cutouts in the stands I like the pipe in fan's noise as well so there isn't dead silence during a game.
 
Megatron said:
All MLB teams need cardbaord cutouts I couldn't stand when the Tigers were in Cincy with all the Red empty seats put some cardboard cutouts in the stands I like the pipe in fan's noise as well so there isn't dead silence during a game.
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Some teams are having fun with the cardboard fan concept. Former Twin AJ Pierzinski's cutout was positioned so it would be staring right into the visiting Twins' dugout during the Twins-White Sox series in Chicago. The Dodgers, of course, had celebrities aplenty in their clusters of fake fans. I noticed Dennis Eckersley in green and gold at the A's game with the Angels.

Of course, none have gone so far as soccer clubs in England have -- Millwall, in the second tier of English football, had the Queen herself (in a Millwall jersey, no less) watching. It was noted in the press -- one newspaper ran a photo with the caption "Thin Lizzy"! Leeds United, however, came in for considerable criticism for positioning a cutout of Osama bin Laden in its crowd.
 
seatownmedia said:
For the Seattle Mariners, I note that on Friday night the tv team was commenting from Seattle for a game in Houston. However, today, the radio team said they were in Houston. Can someone explain the new rules/guidelines for announcers? I am lost and confused here.
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My understanding is that MLB is not permitting television crews to travel with the teams. MLB are permitting radio crews to travel. This is probably largely related to the size of the TV crews.

Most of the clubs and their radio partners have elected to not travel with the teams, to the best of my knowledge. Seattle is the first team I've heard of which is sending its radio crew.

For opening weekend at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals' TV announcers were positioned in separate booths, and their pregame/postgame show was done with one host in a Fox Sports studio in St. Louis and the other contributors remote.
 
Watching MLB Network tonight...Bob Costas had done play by play for Friday Night Baseball, but not tonight. Instead it's Matt Vasgersian.

Don't know if Bob's CNN deal is in play here.
 
NY Post reports that Bob Costas will be part of the TBS announcing team that will cover the NLCS this year:

nypost.com

Bob Costas nearing agreement with TBS to host NLCS

Bob Costas and TBS are working toward an agreement that would see him host the network’s marquee MLB event.
nypost.com nypost.com

As this thread indicates, Costas is already part of Warner Media, through his HBO series, and as a contributor to CNN.

Costas is also calling regular season games for the MLB Network.
 
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