Bob Costas Joins CNN, Formalizing Sports Commentary Role

(Bloomberg) -- Veteran sports broadcaster Bob Costas has joined CNN as a contributor, more than a year after his outspokenness on football concussion risks brought his nearly 40 years at NBC to a close.

Costas, 68, has been a frequent guest discussing sports in the coronavirus era on CNN, identified as working for Major League Baseball’s MLB Network. The AT&T Inc.-owned news network has now formalized his commentary role.

“CNN’s willingness to devote time and attention to sports-related topics makes it a good fit for me,” Costas said in a statement.

A fixture on NBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games and World Series for decades, Costas became increasingly focused on the risks of brain damage faced by football players. Although the end of his NBC run in early 2019 was a mutual decision, Costas told ESPN that tensions over his football commentary played a part.

“I decided long ago that I had misgivings about football, and I tried to use the forum they gave me to make those points,” he said in an ESPN article. “They gave me bits and pieces, but eventually they took those bits and pieces away from me.” In a statement to ESPN, Comcast Corp.’s NBC said Costas had mischaracterized private interactions.

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