What's Happening?
NBC Sports has announced the hiring of former Major League Baseball players Anthony Rizzo, Clayton Kershaw, and Joey Votto as analysts for its upcoming baseball broadcasts. The announcement was made during the Super Bowl pregame show. All three players have recently retired from professional baseball, with Rizzo retiring last September after a 14-season career, Kershaw retiring last year following an 18-season career, and Votto retiring in 2024 after 17 seasons. The trio will provide analysis during pregame shows for 'Sunday Night Baseball' and the wild-card round games on NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood expressed excitement about the new hires, highlighting their potential to offer fresh perspectives on the game. NBC is returning
to baseball broadcasting with an opening-day doubleheader scheduled for March 26, featuring games between the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Why It's Important?
The inclusion of Rizzo, Kershaw, and Votto as analysts marks a significant move for NBC Sports as it re-enters the baseball broadcasting arena. Their expertise and recent experience in the game are expected to enhance the quality of analysis and attract viewers who are fans of these former players. This move also reflects NBC's strategy to leverage well-known personalities to boost its sports programming, potentially increasing viewership and advertising revenue. The return of NBC to baseball broadcasting after a long hiatus could also influence the competitive landscape of sports media, as networks vie for audience attention and market share in sports broadcasting.
What's Next?
NBC Sports is set to debut its 'Sunday Night Baseball' coverage on March 29, with the first game featuring the Cleveland Guardians against the Seattle Mariners. The network plans to air Sunday night games on NBC from May 31 through September 6. As NBC finalizes its broadcasting team, including play-by-play announcers, the network's approach to integrating these new analysts will be closely watched. The success of this initiative could influence future hiring decisions and the overall direction of NBC's sports programming.
