The face of NBC Sports is reportedly on his way out.
NBC and host Bob Costas are engaged in talks that could lead to a buyout, the New York Post reported Tuesday. Costas has three years remaining on a seven-figure contract, but no major on-air roles with NBC, having relinquished his positions on the Olympics and NFL.
Costas, who has been with NBC since 1980, confirmed the discussions to the Post: “Sometimes you get to a point where it is not a fit anymore. It doesn’t mean that anyone is angry or upset.”
The talks would not affect his role with MLB Network.
Over the past year, Costas has appeared on NBC Sports programming sparingly, including the network’s Triple Crown horse races and one NASCAR telecast. He was slated to host the network’s Super Bowl coverage in February, filling in for Olympic-bound Tirico, but asked off of that event.
He told the Post that he wants to return to hosting journalism and commentary shows, “the sort of thing I was seldom able to do over the last several years at NBC.”
Costas hosted such a program on NBCSN earlier in this decade. Titled Costas Tonight, it did not last long. Prior to that, he hosted Costas Now for several years on HBO.
Costas has had opportunities to leave NBC before. When ESPN acquired rights to the NBA in 2002, it made a significant push for his services, even offering to let him continue hosting the Olympics for NBC while he worked the NBA and Major League Baseball for ESPN.
Prior to joining NBC, Costas had a small role on CBS Sports, working regional NFL and NBA games. He also served as the play-by-play voice of the ABA Spirits of St. Louis and, for one season, the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
[News from NYP 8.28]
