Bob Costas Returns to NBC
Bob Costas is headed back to his familiar television home.
Having spent nearly four decades announcing on NBC, Costas will be part of the new MLB Sunday Night Package, as he confirmed on Thursday.
NBC shared that Costas will host the pregame show called “Sunday Night Baseball” and will continue his role as an NBA contributor.
He will also lead NBC’s broadcast for the Dodgers’ season opener against the Diamondbacks on March 26th.
Rick Cordella, NBC Sports President, expressed his excitement: “We’re aiming to make ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ feel significant. Bob is arguably the most well-known figure in baseball, and it’s wonderful to have him back.” He added, “Bob embodies NBC Sports and was once its most recognizable face. Bringing him back as his career winds down seems like the right choice, especially since he’s back in baseball.”
Costas took a step back from NBC in 2019, wrapping up a notable 39-year tenure. He was the iconic voice during 12 Olympics, seven Super Bowls, and covered 10 NBA Finals along with seven World Series.
Although NBC ended its MLB coverage after the 2000 season, Costas later chose to lend his voice to MLB Network, a role he’s held since its launch in 2009, as he genuinely enjoyed announcing baseball.
He has also made guest appearances on TBS games but plans to retire from commentary following the 2024 Yankees-Royals American League Division Series.
Costas remarked, “While I’ve appreciated various parts of my 40-year career, particularly at HBO and MLB Network, my true home in broadcasting has always been NBC.” He voiced gratitude towards Rick Cordella and Sam Flood for welcoming him back to this emeritus position, adding, “I’ve cherished so many delightful moments, friendships, and memories here.”
Recently, Costas shared several suggestions regarding MLB players, owners, and upcoming labor discussions.
On Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo’s SiriusXM radio show, he proposed reducing the regular season games from 162 to 156, stating, “We should be able to manage it with at least 156 games.” He noted that this would align with a three-game home series for each team.
This 162-game structure has remained in place since the early 1960s, with the American League implementing it in 1961 followed by the National League a year later.
To compensate for the fewer regular season games, Costas suggested expanding the playoff format.
“The Division Series should be a best-of-seven contest,” he explained. He emphasized how, while both the League Championship Series and World Series are best-of-seven, the Division Series often includes a wild card and a lower-ranked division team, which could lead to inconsistent outcomes. “It’s puzzling to have one series faced with more unpredictable results than the others,” he noted.
“This would mean a reduction in regular season matches to prevent extending the season into November, yet additional television revenue might offset some of that, as networks appreciate having content to air.”
