Charles Barkley and Kevin Harlan are reportedly getting new NBA All-Star assignments on TNT. Plus, NBC will use familiar faces for its Olympic hockey coverage; and more.
Barkley, Harlan, get NBA All-Star Game assignment
TNT NBA studio analyst Charles Barkley will be part of the game broadcast for this month’s NBA All-Star Game, the New York Post reported Wednesday. It will be the first time he has called the actual game. Barkley and Reggie Miller will serve as the analysts alongside Kevin Harlan, who will be calling the game for the first time.
The All-Star Game is the first assignment of the season that had traditionally been called by the now-retired Marv Albert. Harlan’s assignment could be a sign that he is a frontrunner to take over the lead play-by-play role.
With Harlan moving up to the All-Star Game assignment, Brian Anderson will call the NBA All-Star Saturday Night festivities. [NYP 2.2]
CNN’s Zucker, who had been overseeing Turner Sports, resigns
CNN president Jeff Zucker, who had been overseeing Turner Sports since 2019, abruptly resigned Tuesday after not disclosing that he was in a romantic relationship with a colleague. Zucker’s departure will not change the organizational structure at Turner Sports, with Lenny Daniels remaining president. [Deadline 2.2]
NBC bringing the NHL band back together for Olympics
Former NHL on NBC broadcasters Kenny Albert, Brendan Burke, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Anson Carter, AJ Mleczko and Keith Jones will be a part of the network’s Olympic hockey coverage, it was announced Wednesday. Albert, Burke, Olczyk and Carter now work for TNT’s NHL coverage; Boucher and Mleczko work for ESPN.
NBC will also use Capitals play-by-play voice John Walton and Blackhawks voice Chris Vosters. [NBC Sports PR]
Plus: Mark Schwarz, Angela Rye, Craig Melvin
ESPN reporter Mark Schwarz retired from the network on Monday, ending a 32-year career. … ESPN said Tuesday that it has picked up commentator Angela Rye to discuss issues related to race and culture. … With Mike Tirico on NFL duty in Los Angeles, NBC plans to have “Today” host Craig Melvin anchor on-site coverage of the Olympics from Beijing over Super Bowl weekend. [ESPN PR, NBC Sports PR]
