NBC has named a slew of hosts for its planned Tokyo Summer Olympics coverage. Plus: ESPN has tapped P.K. Subban and Kevin Weekes for its current and future NHL coverage; Jeff Gordon could be on his way out of the broadcast booth; and more.
Shep Smith to co-host CNBC Olympics coverage
CNBC host Shepard Smith, best known for his long tenure at Fox News, is scheduled to co-host the network’s coverage of the planned Tokyo Summer Olympics next month. Smith would work alongside Meghan Triplett, a host for the Memphis Grizzlies’ in-house media arm Grind City Media.
It is not unusual for NBC News personnel to work on the company’s Olympics coverage. Current NBC Nightly News Lester Holt anchored NBC’s weekday Olympics coverage in 2014 and members of the Today morning show have long played significant roles on the Olympics.
In addition to Smith and Triplett on CNBC, other hosts include Kathyrn Tappen, Liam McHugh and Ahmed Fareed on USA Network, Golf Channel’s Cara Banks and Damon Hack on NBCSN, and CNN contributor Carolyn Manno — who worked for NBC from 2012-18 — on Olympic Channel. [NBC Sports PR]
ESPN adds Subban, Weekes
New Jersey Devils D P.K. Subban is joining ESPN as an NHL guest analyst for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was announced Wednesday. Subban is expected to make his debut on SportsCenter Wednesday night.
In addition, the New York Post reported Wednesday that ESPN is hiring Kevin Weekes of NHL Network to serve as a studio and game analyst starting next season, when its seven-year media rights deal with the league begins. Weekes joins Ryan Callahan, Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher as analysts reportedly heading to Bristol.
Per the Post, ESPN is also planning to use Bob Wischusen as a play-by-play voice for its NHL coverage, joining the previously reported Leah Hextall and the widely assumed, if still unconfirmed, Sean McDonough and Steve Levy.
As for Turner, the network has already announced the hirings of Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk and Wayne Gretzky. The Athletic reported last month that Darren Pang and Keith Jones are likely to join them. Per that report, Pierre McGuire has yet to be approached by either network. [NHL 6.9, NYP 6.9, The Athletic 5.29]
Gordon could leave Fox after this season
Lead NASCAR on FOX analyst Jeff Gordon is weighing whether to leave the broadcast booth for a larger role at Hendrick Motorsports, according to Sports Business Journal. Gordon joined Fox fresh out of retirement in 2016 and became the network’s solo race analyst after Darrell Waltrip’s 2019 retirement. [Sports Business Journal 6.8]
Plus: Verrett, Stewart, Tirico, Roenick
ESPN has reached a multi-year contract extension with SportsCenter anchor Stan Verrett, who will continuing anchoring from Los Angeles. … ESPN terminated the contract of betting analyst Kelly Stewart just one month after hiring her, reportedly due to some old tweets. … NBC’s Mike Tirico will handle play-by-play for the scheduled U.S. Olympic swimming trials that begin Sunday, replacing Dan Hicks in the role. Hicks is covering the French Open finals this weekend. … Part of Jeremy Roenick’s lawsuit against NBC has been thrown out. Roenick, who was fired for making suggestive comments about Kathryn Tappen and Patrick Sharp in 2019, claimed that NBC punished him more harshly than other employees because he is a heterosexual male. He cited a poorly-received spoof featuring Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir for which neither was disciplined, but a judge rejected the idea that the incidents were of comparable seriousness. [ESPN PR 6.9, NYP 6.7, NBC Sports PR 6.9, The Athletic 6.9]
