Network TV Sports Defined by Eras (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, etc.) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 05-16-2007, 04:26 PM

ABC:
*1989-1997 - This era began I think, when ABC got the Rose Bowl rights (also, ABC was at the tail end of them running MLB) from NBC and ended when they cancelled the Pro Bowling Tour (around 1997) and "Wide World of Sports" as an anthology program.

*1998-2000 - This was the beginning of the gradual influence of ESPN (off the heels of Disney buying ABC around 1996). This period I think ended when ABC lost the Triple Crown rights to NBC after 2000.

*2000-2005 - The "Championship Television" era - ABC has "Monday Night Football", the Bowl Championship Series, the NBA (beginning in 2002-03), the NHL, the Little League World Series, the Indy 500, golf, among others.

*2006-Present - The "ESPN on ABC" era.

CBS:
*The Vin Scully Era - 1975-1982 - I don't know if he could be considered the "face of the network" but he was obviously very visiable around this period (the NFL, tennis, golf, the World Series on CBS Radio, etc.).

*The Brent Musburger Era - I say this (the embryonic stages at least) occurred when he started hosting "The NFL Today" was well as be the lead NBA play-by-play man (1975) to when he left CBS in 1990. Although on the other hand, it can be argued that the Musburger Era at CBS really started (or shifted into high gear) when he started calling the NCAA basketball tournament (Musburger is often credited for coming up with the term "March Madness) in 1985.

*The Post Musburger/NBA; MLB/Winter Olympics Era, (1990-1994) - CBS loses the NBA to NBC but gains Major League Baseball and the Winter Olympics.

*The Wilderness Years (1995-1998) - Obviously an era at CBS came to an end when they lost the NFL rights to FOX in 1994. The late 1980s-early 1990s period I think officially ended (since people who were about to leave like Greg Gumbel, Verne Lundquist, and Dick Stockton stook around to do the 1994 Winter Olympics) when Pat Summerall called his last Masters in 1994. Sean McDonough, Jim Nantz, and Pat O'Brien become the defacto "faces of the network."

*1998-Present CBS gets the NFL back, CBS broadcasts their final Winter Games in 1998. Sean McDonough and Pat O'Brien are on their way out, while Greg Gumbel, Verne Lundquist, and Lesley Visser are on their way in. CBS along the way, hire Dick Enberg from NBC.

NBC:
*1965-1975 - The Curt Gowdy era.

*1975-1981 - Bryant Gumbel and Dick Enberg start gaining more exposure as the primary faces (as Curt Gowdy is gradually fazed out) of NBC Sports. I say this era came to an end when NBC lost the NCAA basketball tournament rights to CBS and Gumbel left to host the "Today Show."

*1982-1989 - This was the beginning of Bob Costas' career at NBC. Also this was around that time in which NBC hired Vin Scully to be their lead baseball announcer (while Costas teamed with Tony Kubek) and Dick Enberg was teaming with Merlin Olsen on their NFL telecasts. Also, NBC televised its first of consecutive Summer Olympics with the 1988 Games from Seoul. This era I think, came to an end when NBC televised their last MLB game (Game 5 of the 1989 NLCS).

*The beginning of the Dick Ebersol regime (1990-1998) - NBC adds the NBA, Notre Dame football () to their schedule. They also had some bumps in the road like "The Baseball Network" and the 1992 Summer Olympic "Triplecast." I say this era came to an end when NBC lost the NFL rights to CBS.

*1999-2002 - This was a transition period of sorts. Dick Enberg was about to leave, Marv Albert was still around, but didn't appear as much (due to his personal problems as well as NBC not having more stuff as perviously), and NBC was about to lose Major League Baseball and the NBA. This era (as well as the 1990s influence in general), to me officially came to an end when they lost the NBA rights in 2002.

*2002-2006 - NBC's post-NBA wilderness period. This was when they had NASCAR, the Arena Football League, golf, Wimbledon, Notre Dame football, both Olympic Games, but they didn't really have an anchor (which they sorely needed after losing the NBA). This era came to an end when they gained the "Sunday Night Football" rights (to go with their NHL rights).

05-16-2007, 04:26 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,206	Network TV Sports Defined by Eras (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, etc.) ABC: 1989-1997 - This era began I think, when ABC got the Rose Bowl rights (also, ABC was at the tail end of them running MLB) from NBC and ended when they cancelled the Pro Bowling Tour (around 1997) and "Wide World of Sports" as an anthology program. 1998-2000 - This was the beginning of the gradual influence of ESPN (off the heels of Disney buying ABC around 1996). This period I think ended when ABC lost the Triple Crown rights to NBC after 2000. 2000-2005 - The "Championship Television" era - ABC has "Monday Night Football", the Bowl Championship Series, the NBA (beginning in 2002-03), the NHL, the Little League World Series, the Indy 500, golf, among others. 2006-Present - The "ESPN on ABC" era. CBS: The Vin Scully Era - 1975-1982 - I don't know if he could be considered the "face of the network" but he was obviously very visiable around this period (the NFL, tennis, golf, the World Series on CBS Radio, etc.). The Brent Musburger Era - I say this (the embryonic stages at least) occurred when he started hosting "The NFL Today" was well as be the lead NBA play-by-play man (1975) to when he left CBS in 1990. Although on the other hand, it can be argued that the Musburger Era at CBS really started (or shifted into high gear) when he started calling the NCAA basketball tournament (Musburger is often credited for coming up with the term "March Madness) in 1985. The Post Musburger/NBA; MLB/Winter Olympics Era, (1990-1994) - CBS loses the NBA to NBC but gains Major League Baseball and the Winter Olympics. The Wilderness Years (1995-1998) - Obviously an era at CBS came to an end when they lost the NFL rights to FOX in 1994. The late 1980s-early 1990s period I think officially ended (since people who were about to leave like Greg Gumbel, Verne Lundquist, and Dick Stockton stook around to do the 1994 Winter Olympics) when Pat Summerall called his last Masters in 1994. Sean McDonough, Jim Nantz, and Pat O'Brien become the defacto "faces of the network." 1998-Present CBS gets the NFL back, CBS broadcasts their final Winter Games in 1998. Sean McDonough and Pat O'Brien are on their way out, while Greg Gumbel, Verne Lundquist, and Lesley Visser are on their way in. CBS along the way, hire Dick Enberg from NBC. NBC: 1965-1975 - The Curt Gowdy era. 1975-1981 - Bryant Gumbel and Dick Enberg start gaining more exposure as the primary faces (as Curt Gowdy is gradually fazed out) of NBC Sports. I say this era came to an end when NBC lost the NCAA basketball tournament rights to CBS and Gumbel left to host the "Today Show." 1982-1989 - This was the beginning of Bob Costas' career at NBC. Also this was around that time in which NBC hired Vin Scully to be their lead baseball announcer (while Costas teamed with Tony Kubek) and Dick Enberg was teaming with Merlin Olsen on their NFL telecasts. Also, NBC televised its first of consecutive Summer Olympics with the 1988 Games from Seoul. This era I think, came to an end when NBC televised their last MLB game (Game 5 of the 1989 NLCS). The beginning of the Dick Ebersol regime (1990-1998) - NBC adds the NBA, Notre Dame football () to their schedule. They also had some bumps in the road like "The Baseball Network" and the 1992 Summer Olympic "Triplecast." I say this era came to an end when NBC lost the NFL rights to CBS. 1999-2002 - This was a transition period of sorts. Dick Enberg was about to leave, Marv Albert was still around, but didn't appear as much (due to his personal problems as well as NBC not having more stuff as perviously), and NBC was about to lose Major League Baseball and the NBA. This era (as well as the 1990s influence in general), to me officially came to an end when they lost the NBA rights in 2002. *2002-2006 - NBC's post-NBA wilderness period. This was when they had NASCAR, the Arena Football League, golf, Wimbledon, Notre Dame football, both Olympic Games, but they didn't really have an anchor (which they sorely needed after losing the NBA). This era came to an end when they gained the "Sunday Night Football" rights (to go with their NHL rights).