NBC’s NFL studio team will call the network’s Thanksgiving night game; Ernie Johnson is taking the lead on Turner’s Tiger-Phil match; Turner is weighing whether to reduce Marv Albert‘s NBA role.
Football Night Team to Call Thanksgiving Game
NBC’s Football Night in America studio team of Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison will call the network’s Thanksgiving night Falcons-Saints game, the network announced Thursday. The game will mark the first game assignments for Dungy and Harrison, who both joined NBC in 2009. Tirico, who last season called NBC’s Thursday Night Football games, previously worked the Thanksgiving night special in 2016. [NBC Sports PR 11.15]
Johnson to Take Lead Role on Tiger-Phil Match
Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson will handle play-by-play for the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson $9 million match on November 23, it was announced Thursday. Johnson will work alongside Darren Clarke and NBC Sports’ Peter Jacobson on the Turner-produced pay-per-view event.
Johnson’s NBA on TNT colleague Charles Barkley will serve an analyst on Turner’s pre-match show, alongside the actor Samuel L. Jackson and golfer Pat Perez. The pre-match show will be available via Bleacher Report. [Turner Sports PR]
Turner Weighing Albert’s NBA Role
Turner Sports is weighing whether to reduce the role of lead NBA play-by-play voice Marv Albert after this season, the New York Post reported Tuesday. Albert has been with TNT since 1999, serving as the network’s lead NBA voice since 2002. His contract does not expire until after the 2020-21 season.
According to the report, Brian Anderson would be the front-runner to replace Albert, ahead of Kevin Harlan. [NYP 11.13]
