CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel is fine with taking a backseat to Turner colleague Ernie Johnson on this year’s Final Four.
In a recent interview with Black Enterprise, Gumbel said it is “perfectly logical” for CBS and Turner Sports to use Johnson as the lead studio host for this year’s Final Four. Though CBS will air the championship game, TBS is airing the semifinals for the first time.
“It’s a different company,” he told the publication. “It’s like saying if Fox had the Super Bowl, and you’re saying, Well, why didn’t they have Phil Simms [call the game]? It’s a different company. But I’ll still be there and I’ll still be doing a bunch of stuff that whole weekend.”
Gumbel has hosted CBS coverage of the Final Four every year since he returned to the network from NBC in 1998. It may be until 2017 before he gets a chance to be the primary host again — that is the next year CBS will air the entire Final Four.
TBS and CBS will split the Final Four both this year and next, with CBS getting the title game both years. Starting in 2016, TBS and CBS will alternate coverage, with TBS getting all three games in even-numbered years.
(Gumbel interview from Black Enterprise)
