A color commentator, sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the broadcasting team for a sporting event who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress. It is North American terminology in origin, but is also now in wide use in the UK broadcasting industry. The color commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy and injury reports, on the teams and athletes, and occasionally light humor. Color commentators are often former players and/or coaches of the sport being broadcasted.
In the United Kingdom the term “co-commentator or “summariser” may be used instead on occasion, although commentary teams have a similar make-up, with one professional commentator describing the passage of play, and another, usually an ex-player or manager, providing supplementary input as the game progresses. The co-commentator will usually restrict his input to periods when the ball is out of play or there is no significant action on the pitch and will defer to the main commentator whenever there is a shot on goal or other significant event, sometimes resulting in their being talked-over or cut short by the primary commentator. Additionally, former players and managers appear as pundits, carrying out a similar role to the co-commentator during the build-up to the match, at half-time and at full-time.
In Germany, most soccer matches feature just a single play-by-play announcer, without a color commentator, the play-by-play announcer there provides background information and statistics by himself. In Spanish, the word comentarista is used, in opposition to relator who is the play-by-play announcer. In Brazil, the color commentator is usually referred as comentarista, like in Spanish. For soccer broadcasts, Brazilian TV channels usually also use a specialized referee commentator in addition to the normal commentator (almost always a former player or coach). In Australia the term is not used; rather, those giving the analysis alongside the commentator are said to be giving special comments. In Sweden the term expertkommentator is used for a knowledgeable sidekick to the play-by-play announcer.
Famous color commentators, past and present
- Al Leiter (New York Yankees games for the YES Network)
- Sparky Anderson (World Series games for CBS Radio)
- Richie Ashburn (deceased, Philadelphia Phillies)
- Bert Blyleven (Minnesota Twins)
- Bob Brenly
- Ron Darling (New York Mets)
- Joe Garagiola (NBC Sports)
- Dan Gladden (Minnesota Twins)
- Keith Hernandez (New York Mets games for SNY)
- Jim Kaat (CBS Sports, YES Network)
- Ralph Kiner (New York Mets)
- Steve Lyons, (formerly of Fox Broadcasting Company)
- Tim McCarver (ABC Sports, FOX Sports)
- Graham McNamee
- Joe Morgan (ABC Sports, NBC Sports, ESPN)
- Bobby Murcer (New York Yankees games on the YES Network)
- Joe Nuxhall (deceased, Cincinnati Reds)
- Jim Palmer
- Jim Price (Detroit Tigers radio)
- Jerry Remy (Boston Red Sox games for NESN)
- Ron Santo (Chicago Cubs radio)
- Bill Schroeder (Milwaukee Brewers, games on FSN Wisconsin)
- Steve Stone
- Rick Sutcliffe (ESPN)
- Steve Phillips (ESPN)
- Darrin Jackson (Chicago White Sox)
- Mike Krukow (San Francisco Giants)
- Jerry Coleman (San Diego Padres)
- Suzyn Waldman (Yankees Radio Network)
- Skip Caray, Chip Caray, Joe Simpson, Don Sutton, Pete Van Wieren; During the Golden Era of Atlanta Braves broadcasting, these announcers switched roles back and forth from "Announcer" to "Color" , often depending on what TV or Radio Network they were on, and more often what inning in the game. This nucleus of Braves Announcers interacted seamlessly on both radio and TV and understood the nuances of of both, creating a Fab Four of baseball that included a Pete Best.
Soccer (United Kingdom)
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