List of Belmont Stakes broadcasters
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of national American television networks and announcers who have broadcast Belmont Stakes.
The Belmont Stakes has been televised nationally since 1948, starting with CBS in 1948 and 1949, and again from 1953 to 1985; ABC from 1986 to 2000 and again from 2006 to 2010; NBC from 1950 to 1952, 2001 to 2005, and most recently 2011 to 2022; and Fox starting in 2023 with its current deal set to expire through the 2030 Belmont.
Television
2020s
Notes
- In 2022, Fox Sports announced a deal to carry the Belmont Stakes from 2023 through 2030.[3]
2010s
Notes
- In 2011, NBC Sports once again became the broadcaster of all three Triple Crown races in separate broadcast deals; including an extension to its existing rights to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, plus establishing a new 5-year deal to broadcast the Belmont Stakes after ABC and ESPN declined to renew their previous contract. All three deals lasted through 2015, and included supplementary coverage on NBC Sports Network for all three races. The additional coverage included 14-1/2 hours of Kentucky Derby pre-race coverage including an hour and a half live special for the Kentucky Oaks and six and a half hours of Preakness Stakes pre-race coverage including a one-hour live special on the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes both carried on NBC Sports Network.[4][5]
2000s
Notes
- Combined broadcast arrangements with ABC continued until 2001, when NBC Sports took over. Under NBC, ratings continued to go up, by as much as 20 percent in some years. It did not hurt that many horses, like Funny Cide and Smarty Jones, were making Triple Crown runs during those years (although all of them failed). From 2002 to 2004, the Belmont had the highest ratings of any horse race on television.
- After the 2004 race, the New York Racing Association ended its deal with NBC, citing a conflict over profit-sharing arrangements. ABC won the rights to the Belmont, and Triple Crown Productions was effectively dissolved related to bonuses and broadcast rights. The only function that Triple Crown Production still oversees is joint nomination fees and a small joint marketing effort.
1990s
Notes
- Jim McKay missed the 1995 Belmont, electing to undergo heart bypass surgery.[14]
1980s
1970s
1960s
| Year | Network | Race caller | Hosts | Analysts | Reporters | Trophy presentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | CBS | Chic Anderson | Jack Whitaker | Heywood Hale Broun and Eddie Arcaro | Jack Whitaker | |
| 1968 | CBS | Jack Drees | Jack Drees and Jack Whitaker | Jack Whitaker | ||
| 1967 | CBS | Jack Drees | Jack Drees and Jack Whitaker | Jack Whitaker | ||
| 1966 | CBS[26] | Jack Drees[26] | Jack Whitaker[26] | Bryan Field[26] | Jack Whitaker | |
| 1965 | CBS | Jack Drees | Jack Drees and Jack Whitaker | Jack Whitaker | ||
| 1964 | CBS | Bryan Field | Jack Drees and Chris Schenkel | Jack Whitaker | ||
| 1963 | CBS | Bryan Field | Jack Drees and Chris Schenkel | Jack Drees | ||
| 1962 | CBS | Bryan Field | Chris Schenkel | Chris Schenkel | ||
| 1961 | CBS | Bryan Field | Chris Schenkel | Chris Schenkel | ||
| 1960 | CBS | Fred Capossela | Chris Schenkel | Chris Schenkel |
1950s
| Year | Network | Race caller | Color commentator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | CBS | Fred Capossela | Bryan Field and Chris Schenkel |
| 1958 | CBS | Bryan Field | |
| 1957 | CBS | Fred Capossela | |
| 1956 | CBS | Fred Capossela | |
| 1955 | CBS | Fred Capossela | |
| 1954 | CBS | Bryan Field | |
| 1953 | CBS | Bryan Field | |
| 1952 | NBC | Bryan Field | |
| 1951 | NBC | Bryan Field | |
| 1950 | NBC | Bryan Field |
1940s
| Year | Network | Race caller | Color commentator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | CBS | Bryan Field | |
| 1948 | CBS | Bryan Field |