Joe Buck will work the MLB Postseason over Thursday Night Football if the two events conflict. Also: ESPN has reached a contract extension with Louis Riddick; Holly Rowe will work WNBA play-by-play this weekend; ESPN has hired Ariel Helwani.
Joe Buck to Skip TNF if MLB Postseason Conflicts
Fox Sports play-by-play voice
Joe Buck, who is set to work an unprecedented schedule this fall that includes the NLCS, World Series and
Thursday Night Football, will prioritize baseball over
TNF if the events conflict. Buck told the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch that if any of his baseball assignments are postponed to a Thursday night, he will skip TNF.
Even if all goes according to schedule, Buck’s fall schedule will be unusually hectic. During the World Series, he will potentially work nine nights out of ten in four different cities. As has been the case for most of his career, Buck will not work Sunday NFL games during the postseason. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch 5.17]
Riddick Gets Contract Extension
ESPN announced Tuesday that it has reached a multi-year contract extension with NFL analyst
Louis Riddick. Under the extension, Riddick will take an increased role on ESPN’s
Monday Night Football coverage, joining the on-site team of
Suzy Kolber and
Steve Young for halftime and postgame coverage.
Riddick lobbied publicly for a role on the MNF game broadcast team, but was passed over in favor of broadcasting rookie Jason Witten and college football analyst Booger McFarland. [ESPN PR 5.15]
Rowe to Work WNBA Play-By-Play
ESPN reporter
Holly Rowe will serve as the play-by-play voice on Sunday’s L.A. Sparks-Minnesota Lynx WNBA game, her first such assignment on a professional league. She has previously worked play-by-play on collegiate basketball, softball, volleyball and gymnastics. [ESPN PR
5.16]
Helwani Joins ESPN
ESPN has hired mixed martial arts reporter
Ariel Helwani to cover the sport across the company’s platforms. Helwani will co-host a weekly MMA program alongside
Chael Sonnen on ESPN Plus starting June 20 and continue hosting his pre-existing podcast. [ESPN PR
5.16]
