Acolor commentatororexpert commentatoris asports commentatorwho assists themain (play-by-play) commentator,typically by filling in when play is not in progress. The person may also be referred to as asummariser(outside North America) oranalyst(a term used throughout the English-speaking world).[1]The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the main commentator is not describing the action.[2]The color commentator provides expertanalysisand background information, such asstatistics,strategy, and injury reports on theteamsandathletes,and occasionallyanecdotesor light humor. Color commentators are often former athletes orcoachesof the sport being broadcast.[3]
The termcolor[a]refers to levity and insight provided by a secondary announcer. A sports color commentator customarily works alongside the play-by-play broadcaster.[4][5][6]
United States and Canada
editCommentary teams typically feature one professionalcommentatordescribing the passage of play, and another, usually a former player orcoach,providing supplementary input as the game progresses. Color commentators usually restrict their input to times that the ball or the puck is out of play, or there is no significant action on the field or the court. They usually defer to the main commentator when a shot on goal or another significant event occurs. That sometimes results in them being talked over or cut short by the primary commentator. Former players and managers also appear aspunditsand carry out a similar role to that of the co-commentator during thepre-game showbefore a given contest and thepost-game showafter it.
In American motorsports coverage, there may be as many as two color commentators in theboothfor a given broadcast.[7]
In the 2010s, sports broadcasters began to feature a "rules analyst",who provides opinions and insights on calls made byrefereesand is typically also a former official. The practice was first popularized in the NFL, with Fox hiring formerofficialsMike PereiraandDean Blandino.[8][9][10]The practice has since been extended to other sports, with officials such asSteve Javie(basketball),Dave Jackson(hockey), andJoe Machnik(soccer) having taken on similar roles for ESPN/ABC and Fox respectively.[11][12][13]
United Kingdom
editThe term "color commentator" is largely unknown outside American sports such as football. In the United Kingdom, the equivalent role is usually called "summariser" but other terms used are "analyst", "pundit" or simply "co-commentator". Cricket coverage onESPNcricinfouses similar terminology.
Australia and New Zealand
editThe term is not used in Australia or New Zealand. Those giving the analysis alongside the main commentator are sometimes said to be giving additional or expert analysis, or "special comments", or they may be referred to as "expert commentators".
Latin America
editForAssociation footballbroadcasts on Latin Americansports televisionchannels, such a commentator is called acomentaristain both Spanish and Portuguese and contrasts with thenarrador,locutor(Spanish and Portuguese) orrelator(Spanish - Argentina and Uruguay) who leads the transmission. The term "color"is not used or translated.
References
edit- ^Specifically meaning #7, "Richness of expression"
- ^"Color commentator | Define Color commentator at Dictionary".Dictionary.reference.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^"What Is a Color Commentator?".work.chron.Houston Chronicle.November 29, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^"Announcers: Occupational Outlook Handbook — What Announcers Do".Bureau of Labor Statistics.January 8, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on April 1, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^"Color Commentary and Play by Play: A Well-Rounded Approach to Facebook".Inkling Media. May 2, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^"The Sportscaster: A Brief History & Job Description".Americansportscastersonline. January 7, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on January 29, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^John Lund (November 27, 2012)."The Top Three Keys For Becoming a Color Commentator".Sportsideo. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^Kedzie, Julie (July 18, 2013)."Julie Kedzie Breaks Down the Art of MMA Color Commentary".FIGHTLAND.Vice. Archived fromthe originalon April 5, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- ^Deitsch, Richard (January 11, 2012)."NFL's most indispensable broadcasting talents".Sports Illustrated.Archivedfrom the original on February 22, 2016.
- ^McCarthy, Michael (September 6, 2016)."Fox NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira is lethal 'weapon' rival networks don't have".Sporting News.Archivedfrom the original on September 9, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 9,2018.
- ^Caldwell, Dave (January 22, 2019)."Rise of the TV rules analysts shows the NFL has a problem".the Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on January 22, 2019.RetrievedJune 16,2021.
- ^Bucholtz, Andrew (June 3, 2022)."Fox Sports adds Joe Machnik as a soccer rules analyst".Awful Announcing.RetrievedJanuary 18,2023.
- ^King, Jay."Ex- NBA referee Steve Javie weighs in on officiating: 'Welcome to the playoffs'".The Athletic.RetrievedJanuary 18,2023.
- ^"TNT Adds Don Koharski As NHL Rules Analyst | Barrett Media".September 29, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 18,2023.