Bob Costas' New Gig With MLB Network Will Include Play-By-Play
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Costas (r) Interviewing Joe Torre For
His Inaugural Show On MLB Network |
MLB Network yesterday announced that Bob Costas has joined its roster of on-air talent effective immediately, and that the net will be the exclusive cable home of Costas as part of a multi-year deal. Costas will host special original programming for the net with an emphasis on baseball's history, and also will serve as the lead play-by-play announcer for some of MLB Net's slate of 26 regular-season telecasts. Costas will maintain his current duties at NBC. Costas' new show, "MLB Network Studio 42 With Bob Costas," will debut tomorrow night at 8:00pm ET (MLB). Costas yesterday in a conference call said, "Just about everything I have done in one place or another and enjoy doing is all together in one place here" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 2/4). The possibility of Costas joining the net was first mentioned in October by THE DAILY's John Ourand.
SPEAK YOUR MIND: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand writes of Costas, "For one of the more independent voices in mainstream TV to join the MLB-owned MLB Network is the sports equivalent of joining state-run TV." However, Costas "expects he'll be able to say anything about the sport that he might say on his NBC home base." MLB Network President & CEO Tony Petitti: "You hire people for their viewpoints, abilities and opinions and then let them do their thing" (USA TODAY, 2/4). Costas said whether he would be limited in his analysis because of MLB's oversight is a "legitimate question, and it was one of the first questions I had." Costas: "The understanding I have is I am free to make any comment I deem appropriate, and that's what I intend to do" (NEWSDAY, 2/4). More Costas: "I will be free to comment as I see fit" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/4).
BOX OUT: In N.Y., Justin Terranova reports MLB Net "would have allowed Costas to continue working for HBO," where he had worked since '01, but HBO "did not want Costas to be affiliated with more than one cable channel at the same time." Costas: "When this process started, I was interested in adding a reasonable number of assignments with the MLB Network to the half dozen or so 'Costas Nows.' But HBO said the one thing we insist upon is cable exclusivity. And when I considered the five or six things I would do with them compared to the range of possibilities at the baseball network, it was a tough choice, but I believe I made the right one" (N.Y. POST, 2/4). HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg in a statement said, "Television is about change and we respect Bob's decision to move to the MLB Network. We are very proud of the work Bob did at HBO, and we wish him well in his new endeavor" (HBO).
CREDIT CHECK: In Philadelphia, John Gonzalez writes Costas “going to the MLB Network might be the best off-season signing in baseball” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/4). BIZOFBASEBALL.com’s Maury Brown writes the addition of Costas “gives MLB Network a large dose of credibility.” Costas “will be able to bring his clout and connections into the new network, which should allow for more broad-reaching content” (BIZOFBASEBALL.com, 2/4). AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Brian Powell wrote hiring Costas is the "best thing the network could have done." He will bring a "level of notoriety that a new channel needs, and having him call games is just the icing on the cake" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 2/3). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser: “This is a wow. ... He gives great credibility to MLB Network” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/3). In Baltimore, Ray Frager wrote Costas "always was a terrific baseball announcer, but he has been parked in studios for a long time. He oozes love of baseball from his pores ... so this is a great move by MLB" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 2/3). But YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Kaduk wrote after "nearly a decade of inactivity in the baseball booth, it'll be interesting to see if Costas can regain the skills that allowed him to reach the top of the broadcasting mountain" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/3).
BUILDING UPON A SOLID FOUNDATION: In Minneapolis, La Velle Neal III reviewed MLB Net and wrote, "While I'm already bored with, 'Red Sox Memories,' and can't get wound up over World Series highlights from 2005, there's a lot to like." The studio shows "haven't been bad." Also, it is "great" that the net is airing live coverage of the Caribbean World Series -- "what a way to transition into spring training" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 2/2).
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