Over the past two months, several broadcasters have received lucrative contracts from the top networks, such as Troy Aikman, Joe Buck and Al Michaels.
During an appearance on The Michael Kay Show, legendary broadcaster Bob Costas was asked about the current state of the industry. He understands why networks are dishing out lengthy contracts to top-tier broadcasters.
“I think the primary reason why you hire an Al Michaels or why you get Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to move over or whatever the case may be is for prestige,” Costas said. “You want your main broadcast to be as well-produced, as well-directed, and as well-broadcast as possible. You like the reviews to be good, you like your friends to tip their caps to you when you’re an executive and you walk into a room. You want that aura.”
Even though Costas supports networks spending millions of dollars on broadcasters, he only believes this spending spree is feasible for football coverage.
“Nothing like this could happen, even today, in any other sport except football. Football not only reigns above all other sports as a business property, it reigns over all American entertainment – and it isn’t even close.”
With Amazon, CBS, ESPN and FOX invested in football coverage, it makes sense as to why broadcasters like Aikman and Buck are such hot commodities.
“There’s no five entities investing that kind of money and looking through a relatively small talent pool to find top guys,” Costas added. “Football is completely unique when we talk about this game of musical chairs and the amount of money involved.”
The broadcasting landscape has drastically changed this year, there’s no doubt about it.
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