Doc Rivers is making another return to television, and this one is apparently for keeps. Plus: DAZN has picked up yet more local sports rights, the Giants’ Duane Kuiper announces a cancer diagnosis; and more.
The Doc is back in: Rivers returning to TV
Former NBA coach Doc Rivers is joining NBC Sports as an NBA game analyst this season, it was announced Monday, marking his return to television after an abbreviated stint as a lead analyst for ESPN/ABC in the 2023-24 season. He previously spent a season as the lead ESPN/ABC analyst 20 years earlier in 2003-04, and began his broadcasting career with Turner Sports from 1996-99.
While he never held a full-time role on NBC’s NBA coverage, he served as an occasional game and studio analyst for the network during its prior run with the league. In addition, he was a studio analyst for NBC’s Olympic men’s basketball coverage in 2012, working alongside his former ABC partner Al Michaels.
During his time with Turner Sports and his first stint with ESPN/ABC, Rivers was highly regarded as one of the best NBA analysts in television, but ultimately prioritized his coaching career over one in broadcasting. When he joined ESPN/ABC three years ago after being fired from the 76ers, he did not even make it to the All-Star break before returning to the coaching ranks with the Bucks.
This time around, Rivers says he will not be returning to the sidelines. “I can honestly say I’m absolutely retired,” Rivers said in an interview with Joe Reedy of the Associated Press timed to the announcement of his NBC role. “For the first time, I can focus on giving TV my 100% attention, which I’m really looking forward to.”
DAZN acquires streaming rights to NHL Kings
DAZN has acquired exclusive local streaming rights to NHL Los Angeles Kings games, it was announced Friday, marking the latest addition to the streamer’s growing portfolio of local sports rights. Kings games will continue to air on linear television via Angels Broadcast Television, the RSN formerly known as FanDuel Sports Network West that was acquired in full by the MLB Angels earlier this year.
The Kings are one of nine NHL teams who needed new digital homes after the offseason collapse of the FanDuel Sports Network RSN and the Victory+ streaming service. The Blue Jackets, Blues, Hurricanes, Stars, Wild and cross-town Ducks previously reached exclusive streaming deals with Amazon Prime Video, the Predators last month announced the launch of their own direct-to-subscriber service in collaboration with ViewLift, and the Red Wings last week announced that their games will stream on the MLB app — the exclusive digital home of the team’s Detroit SportsNet RSN.
A total of 14 teams, comprising more than half of the league’s 25 U.S. teams, will have new streaming homes this season. DAZN will pick up six of those teams, the Kings and five others as part of deals between the streamer and the Monumental Sports and MSG Network RSNs — the Capitals, Devils, Islanders, Rangers and Sabres.
DAZN is also adding at least ten NBA teams for the coming season, plus the MLB Yankees by way of a deal with YES Network.
Giants’ Kuiper announces cancer diagnosis
San Francisco Giants play-by-play voice Duane Kuiper announced Sunday that he is battling throat cancer and will miss upcoming broadcasts on Monday and Wednesday of this week. Kuiper, who also missed the Giants’ series against the Dodgers this past weekend, plans to return to the mic Tuesday and then again for the season finale series against the Dodgers next week.
Kuiper has called Giants games dating back to 1986, save for a year with the Colorado Rockies, and has worked most of those years alongside analyst Mike Krukow, who is set to retire upon the end of the season next Sunday. Krukow has been battling health issues of his own that have reduced his ability to travel. According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, Kuiper and Krukow are thought to be the longest-tenured broadcast pairing in the history of MLB.
Kuiper previously battled cancer in 2021, missing much of that season, but he said in a statement Sunday that his current diagnosis is unrelated. Per Baggarly, he has told those close to him that he plans to continue calling games next season on a limited basis.
In addition to serving as the longtime play-by-play voice of the Giants, Kuiper also played for the team — including alongside Krukow from 1983-85.
Plus: Lang, Cantor, Pedersen, El Clasico
- ESPN college football host Alyssa Lang missed her scheduled college football assignments this past weekend after being a car accident Thursday night, she said on social media Saturday. Lang, who is in her first season handling the studio wraps for ESPN college football games, said she was concussed and bruised in the incident, but nonetheless “very lucky.”
- Netflix officially announced Friday that it has hired Andres Cantor as a play-by-play voice for its coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup next summer. The streamer owns both English and Spanish-language rights to the event.
- Longtime PBA Tour analyst Randy Pedersen, who had been the lead analyst on the pro bowling league’s broadcasts since 2001, died last week at age 64. The longest-tenured analyst in PBA Tour history, Pedersen began his tenure when ESPN held the rights and continued when the PBA shifted to Fox Sports and later its current partners CBS and CW. This past season was already to be his last in the role.
- LaLiga’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will air on ABC next month, marking the first time it has been carried on the broadcast network. The match is set to air on October 25 at 4 PM ET, opposite NFL games.
