For years, Al Michaels was the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, leading the broadcast as the play-by-play announcer.
Fans grew accustomed to his distinct voice and insightful commentary, making him an integral part of the Sunday night viewing experience. However, in recent years, Michaels has been absent from the broadcast, leading many to wonder why he is no longer working as the play-by-play announcer on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind Michaels’ absence from the broadcast, as well as the impact it has had on the viewing experience. We’ll also discuss the potential reasons behind NBC’s decision to replace Michaels and the future of the Sunday Night Football broadcast.
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Al Michaels Joins Amazon’s Thursday Night Football: Where Did He Go?
Fans of Sunday Night Football may have noticed that Al Michaels was absent from the first regular-season game of the 2022 NFL season on NBC. That’s because Michaels officially departed from the network on May 24, 2022, after calling Super Bowl 56 in February. So where did he go?
As it turns out, Michaels decided to join Amazon’s Thursday Night Football, which debuted in Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season.[1]Si.com This move means that he will no longer be contributing to Sunday Night Football, which has been a staple of NBC’s sports coverage for many years.
Al Michaels as NBC Reporter
The Impact of Al Michaels’ Absence
Al Michaels’ absence from NBC’s Sunday Night Football has had a significant impact on the viewing experience. Fans grew accustomed to his insightful commentary and distinctive voice, making him a familiar and comforting presence on Sunday nights. With his absence, fans have been left with a void that has yet to be filled.
Furthermore, Michaels’ absence has led to a decline in ratings for the Sunday Night Football broadcast. Without his presence, fans have been less engaged with the broadcast, leading to lower viewership numbers. This decline in ratings has had a significant impact on NBC, as the Sunday Night Football broadcast is one of the network’s most valuable properties.
The Reasons Behind Michaels’ Absence
So why exactly is Al Michaels no longer working as the play-by-play announcer on NBC’s Sunday Night Football? There are several potential reasons behind his absence.
One possible reason is Michaels’ age. At 77 years old, Michaels may have decided to step back from his role as the play-by-play announcer on Sunday Night Football in order to enjoy his retirement. Broadcasting can be a grueling job, requiring long hours and extensive travel, so it’s possible that Michaels simply decided it was time to take a break.
Another potential reason is that Michaels’ contract with NBC expired. While Michaels has been a fixture on Sunday Night Football for years, his contract with the network may have come to an end. Negotiations for a new contract may have fallen through, leading to his absence from the broadcast.
The Future of Sunday Night Football
With Al Michaels no longer working as the play-by-play announcer on Sunday Night Football, NBC has had to find a replacement. The network ultimately decided to replace Michaels with Mike Tirico, another experienced broadcaster with a proven track record.
While Tirico has done an admirable job as the play-by-play announcer, many fans still long for the return of Al Michaels. It remains to be seen whether Michaels will ever return to the broadcast, but his absence has certainly left a void that has yet to be filled.
AI michaels
Michaels Says:
“I’m looking forward to continuing my longtime NBC relationship while also launching the Thursday Night Football package on Amazon this fall. A special thanks to NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua and the folks at NBCUniversal for their help in making this happen.”[2]Sportingnews
Why did Michaels make the switch?
One reason is likely the opportunity to be a part of an exciting new venture in the world of sports broadcasting. Thanks to an 11-year rights arrangement, Amazon is now offering a weekly NFL exclusive for the first time in streaming history. According to Deadline, a total of 15 regular-season games will be webcast, and Michaels will be serving as one of the Thursday Night Football announcers, alongside Kirk Herbstreit.
Al Michaels also signs an emeritus contract with NBC Sports
Of course, Michaels’ departure from Sunday Night Football left a big void to fill. According to sportingnews.com, Mike Tirico has stepped in to replace Cris Collinsworth as the new play-by-play announcer for the show. In addition, Melissa Stark has been recruited as the new sideline reporter.
Michaels’ absence from Sunday Night Football is certainly noteworthy, given his long history with the show. He first called the show alongside John Madden from August 6, 2006, to April 15, 2009. Then, on February 1, 2009, he called his ninth game overall as a play-by-play announcer and his first Super Bowl telecast for NBC. In doing so, he became just the third person to have ever handled play-by-play for an NBC Super Bowl telecast, following in the footsteps of Dick Enberg and Curt Gowdy.
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Has Al Michaels Retired as a Play-by-Play Announcer?
Al Michaels, the renowned sportscaster, has not retired from his career despite stepping down as Sunday Night Football’s play-by-play announcer. NBC has announced that he will continue to work as an “emeritus” NFL playoff game announcer for the network. Michaels expressed his gratitude to NBCUniversal’s staff and NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua for facilitating this transition.
Michaels has now taken up his new role as the play-by-play announcer for Thursday Night Football. He is also authorized to broadcast the Olympics and NFL Playoffs and participate in their NBC broadcasts.
In 2016, Michaels presided over Thursday Night Football for the first time as part of a deal that saw NBC produce several Thursday night games for NFL Network broadcasting, as well as simulcasts of other games on NBC.
Michaels’ decision to step down as Sunday Night Football’s play-by-play announcer has not ended his illustrious career in sports broadcasting. His contributions to sports broadcasting, particularly in football, have earned him a reputation as one of the most recognizable and respected voices in the industry.
The Remarkable Career of Al Michaels: From The Dating Game to Broadcasting Legend
Al Michaels’ name is synonymous with sports broadcasting. He has been a fixture on television and radio for over 50 years, calling some of the most iconic games in sports history. His journey began in the late 1960s, working for Chuck Barris Productions on The Dating Game. From there, he entered the sports industry, serving as a color commentator for the Los Angeles Lakers’ radio broadcasts in 1967. Let’s take a closer look at Al Michaels’ career.
Al Michaels is helping Amazon Prime’s NFL game
Early Career in Broadcasting
Michaels’ passion for sports led him to become a color commentator for the Los Angeles Lakers’ radio broadcasts in 1967. During that time, he worked alongside the seasoned play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn. However, Michaels’ tenure was short-lived due to Hearn’s dislike of working with a younger colleague. Michaels then moved to Honolulu, where he worked as a sports anchor for KHVH-TV (now KITV). He called play-by-play for the University of Hawaii football and basketball teams and neighborhood high school football games. He also worked as a play-by-play commentator for the Pacific Coast League’s Hawaii Islanders baseball team. Michaels was recognized as Hawaii’s “Sportscaster of the Year” in 1969.
In 1971, Michaels relocated to Cincinnati and began working as the Cincinnati Reds’ radio play-by-play commentator. He was part of the NBC Sports team covering the Fall Classic in 1972 when the Reds won the National League Championship Series and proceeded to the World Series. Michaels also handled play-by-play duties for the network during the hockey coverage at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.
Rise to Fame
Michaels’ big break came in 1972 when he filled in for Bill Enis, an announcer for NBC, who passed away from a heart attack two days before he was scheduled to broadcast the regular-season NFL championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Oilers. Michaels impressed NBC executives, and his career took off.
In 1974, Michaels replaced Dick Enberg on the tape-delayed telecasts of UCLA’s home games after leaving the Reds for a similar post with the San Francisco Giants. At the time, UCLA was in the midst of an 88-game winning streak. He also covered basketball for UCLA.[3]NbcSports
ABC Sports (1977–2006)
Michaels signed a full-time contract with ABC Sports in January 1977. He became the network’s top baseball announcer in 1983, succeeding Keith Jackson. Michaels and Jackson divided play-by-play responsibilities for ABC’s World Series coverage until that point, with Michaels assigned to call games from the National League park and Jackson calling games from the American League park, starting in 1979.
Over the next three decades, Michaels covered a wide range of sports for ABC, including Major League Baseball, college football, college basketball, ice hockey, track and field events, and horse racing. He teamed up with people like Frank Broyles, Lee Grosscup, and Ara Parseghian for college football coverage from 1977 to 1985, and later, his Monday Night Football coworkers Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf for the Sugar Bowl from 1989 to 1992. He typically partnered with Joe B. Hall for college basketball from 1987 to 1989.
Michaels also hosted the annual Tiger Woods Monday night specials, which were broadcast in July or August. He served as the studio host for the Stanley Cup Finals from 2000 to 2002 and covered other notable events for ABC.
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FAQ’S About AI Michaels
Why is Al Michaels not working as the play-by-play announcer on NBC’s Sunday Night Football?
Al Michaels is not working as the play-by-play announcer on NBC’s Sunday Night Football because he has moved to another network. Michaels has joined Amazon Prime Video as the lead announcer for their Thursday Night Football coverage, starting in the 2022 season.
Who will replace Al Michaels as the play-by-play announcer on NBC’s Sunday Night Football?
Mike Tirico is replacing Al Michaels as the play-by-play announcer on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Tirico has been with NBC Sports since 2016 and has served as a play-by-play announcer for numerous events, including the Olympics, Notre Dame Football, and the NFL.
Will Al Michaels still be working with NBC Sports?
Yes, Al Michaels will still be working with NBC Sports. Although he has left Sunday Night Football to join Amazon Prime Video, Michaels will continue to work with NBC Sports on select events, including the Olympics and Triple Crown horse racing.
When does Amazon Prime Video start airing Thursday Night Football?
Amazon Prime Video will start airing Thursday Night Football in the 2022 season. This marks the first time that Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive rights to a full season of NFL games, and Al Michaels will serve as the lead announcer for their coverage.
How has the public reacted to Al Michaels leaving NBC’s Sunday Night Football?
The public reaction to Al Michaels leaving NBC’s Sunday Night Football has been mixed. While some fans are disappointed to see Michaels leave the show, others are excited to hear him call games on Amazon Prime Video. Many fans have expressed gratitude for Michaels’ contributions to Sunday Night Football over the years and wish him well in his new role.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Al Michaels’ absence from NBC’s Sunday Night Football has had a significant impact on the viewing experience. Fans have been left with a void that has yet to be filled, and ratings for the broadcast have declined as a result. While there are several potential reasons behind Michaels’ absence, the future of Sunday Night Football remains uncertain without him. Only time will tell whether Michaels will return to the broadcast, but for now, fans will have to make do with the talented broadcasters who are currently filling his shoes.
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