Whenever I believe of the phrase “studio host” because it pertains to the finest in sports, I take into consideration somebody who’s ego-free on the air. Of the trendy sports studio hosts, James Brown, Ernie Johnson and Curt Menefee spotlight this trait on almost each broadcast. They make the manufacturing about the folks round them. It could be a cliche in tv circles, however they’re “pass-first point guards.” They rejoice when others have success.
Then there are studio hosts who’re just so educated and ready on their subject that their mind carries the day. Bob Costas, Rece Davis, Kate Scott (previously Abdo), Rebecca Lowe (and others) would fall below this class.
There are those that host with enthusiasm and vitality. They make the manufacturing enjoyable. Scott Hanson can be an instance.
As with our most impactful play-by-play voices of the 21st century list, the record under is solely subjective. Let me repeat that once more: It is subjective. It can also be not ranked. The worth set I used was (1) internet hosting exhibits that includes mass audiences and (2) the professionalism, preparation and (my subjective) high quality of a broadcaster.
There are lots of deserving names which have a case to make the record and would have been on different lists, together with Malika Andrews, Michelle Beadle, Rachel Nichols and Sage Steele, all of whom supplied ESPN with professionalism as NBA Finals hosts. Mike Hill has finished wonderful work for ESPN and Fox Sports on any sport he’s been assigned.
Andrew Siciliano was nice on the NFL Sunday Ticket Red Zone, airing on DirecTV’s Red Zone Channel. Chris McKendry has been an distinctive lead for ESPN’s tennis protection at majors. Charissa Thompson, internet hosting on Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” and “Fox NFL Kickoff,” defines the pass-first ethos. Elle Duncan, shifting to Netflix, has finished nice work on ESPN’s girls’s basketball protection.
While extra recognized for play-by-play, Kevin Burkhardt is superb as the lead host of Fox’s MLB postseason protection. Tim Brando is extra recognized right now as a play-by-play caller for Fox Sports, however Brando did wonderful work early in the 2000s on “College Football Today” and “At The Half” studio exhibits at CBS.
Matt Winer has been a gradual hand for Turner Sports and NBATV, whether or not the task was MLB or navigating the “Inside The NBA” crew when Ernie Johnson was not round. Adnan Virk is one other host whose calling card is versatility between internet hosting MLB Network and NHL Network studio exhibits and Amazon Prime’s NHL protection.
Greg Amsinger, Dan Hellie, Brian Kenny, Carolyn Manno, Sam Ponder, Shannon Spake and Kathryn Tappen all have an argument to be on an inventory of this kind. It’s onerous to categorise golf hosts, so a shoutout to Terry Gannon, Dan Hicks, Rich Lerner and Steve Sands. (Jim Nantz made the play-by-play record, clearly.) It’s onerous to slim the record all the way down to 25.
There are nice studio hosts round the nation working in native and regional markets, they usually have had an enormous influence on their fan bases. But after I thought of the phrase “impact,” I went for folks with broad attain and a nationwide viewers. (Plus, I haven’t seen each native host.) At a sure level, it’s a must to slim these lists, so I opted to bypass those that work outdoors of the United States. But there are lots of notable selections who had important influence together with David Amber and Ron MacLean of Sportsnet (Canada), Telemundo Deportes’ Andres Cantor (who suits higher as a play-by-play individual), James Duthie of TSN (Canada), Andi Petrillo and Scott Russell of CBC (Canada), who lately retired, and Clare Balding and Gary Lineker of the BBC, amongst many others.
I’m going to create a particular part for Dan Patrick. Even although his most important function is internet hosting his eponymous day by day, nationally syndicated radio program, which is simulcast as a tv program, Patrick co-hosted NBC’s “Football Night in America” and Olympic protection for NBC at the 2012 London Olympics, 2014 Sochi Games and the 2016 Rio Games. His interviewing expertise stay at the high of the trade.
For this record, I deliberately stayed away from studio exhibits that may fall below what we predict of as a sports speak present. That’s a completely separate style to me. (I’d in all probability embrace such exhibits in a finest sports podcast record.)
Below, my selections, listed in alphabetical order:
Chris Berman
Years lively: 2000-present
Wasn’t all the time my cup of tea as an on-air performer, however that is plain: Berman is one of ESPN’s on-air abilities who has a rightful declare of making ESPN a cultural landmark in the U.S. His vitality and enthusiasm for the NFL fueled ESPN’s signature professional soccer pregame present, “Sunday NFL Countdown,” which he hosted by way of 2016 (Berman began with the NFL spotlight present in 1986 when it was referred to as ESPN’s “NFL GameDay.”) His internet hosting resume consists of serving as the major host of the NFL Draft (by way of 2017), the Home Run Derby and three ABC Super Bowl pregame exhibits when Disney aired the recreation. He lately signed a contract extension by way of 2029 and continues to host “NFL PrimeTime” on ESPN+.
James Brown
Years lively: 2000-present
The uncommon expertise who fronted each Fox’s and CBS’s flagship NFL pregame exhibits (he moved from Fox to CBS in 2005). He additionally had a future as the host of HBO and Showtime’s “Inside the NFL.” Away from sports, Brown has all the time proven an curiosity in information and has labored on a quantity of events on CBS’s information facet, similar to “CBS Sunday Morning.” He possesses what Ernie Johnson and the finest studio hosts have — he makes it about his colleagues.
Bob Costas
Years lively: 2000-2025
The gold commonplace for this record. He’s the finest and most well-versed interviewer in the historical past of sports broadcasting, and his record of internet hosting since 2000 consists of 9 Olympic Games, “Football Night In America,” a number of Kentucky Derbys and U.S. (golf) Opens and even the 2002 NBA Finals. He did all of it whereas bringing intelligence and journalistic chops to the display screen.
Rece Davis
Years lively: 2000-present
Davis has turn into the definitive faculty soccer host, given his function at the middle of ESPN’s “College GameDay,” which he inherited from Chris Fowler in 2015. He additionally fronted some very massive soccer tournaments, together with the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the Euros in 2006 and 2020.
Rich Eisen
Years lively: 2000-present
The longtime face of the NFL Network, Eisen is the finest host in the historical past of the NFL Draft, a property he has fronted since 2006. He was the first on-air expertise introduced on by the NFL Network in June 2003, 5 months earlier than the community’s launch in November 2003, and is at the middle of the long-running “NFL GameDay Morning.”
Mike Greenberg
Years lively: 2000-present
Greenberg has been in every single place for ESPN over the final seven years, from internet hosting “Get Up” and “Sunday NFL Countdown,” and fronting Thursday and Friday evening NFL Draft protection since 2021. It can be for a completely totally different record, however his run on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike, with co-host Mike Golic, would make him very excessive on the most impactful sports radio hosts of the 21st century.
Greg Gumbel
Years lively: 2000-2023
When you noticed Gumbel’s face in March, you knew it was time for March Madness. A gentle and poised broadcaster, he served as the studio host for CBS’s protection of faculty basketball from 2000 to 2023. His internet hosting work additionally included Super Bowl pregame exhibits (2013 and 2016) and “The NFL Today” for 2 seasons (2004 and 2005) earlier than he moved to NFL play-by-play. He died from most cancers at the age of 78 in December 2024.
Scott Hanson
Years lively: 2006-present
Hanson joined NFL Media in 2006 as a nationwide reporter however exploded into the sports zeitgeist by way of his internet hosting of “NFL RedZone,” which he has led since 2009. That whip-around present reshaped NFL viewing for the million or so individuals who watch every week. It is uncommon for a product to be as broadly praised by the followers and media as “NFL RedZone” is — no less than earlier than advertisements have been added.
Ernie Johnson
Years lively: 2000-present
One of the gold requirements for this place. Johnson has hosted “Inside The NBA” since 1990, and that makes him the host of the biggest studio present in historical past. He’s a daily on the CBS/Turner protection of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (2011-present) and even took a spin in faculty soccer from 2001 to 2005 as the host of TBS’ “Saturday Night College Football.”
Suzy Kolber
Years lively: 2000-2023
One of the major NFL voices at ESPN for a number of a long time with distinguished sideline assignments, Kolber hosted ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” pregame present from 2015 to 2022, in addition to ESPN’s year-round “NFL Live.” Away from the NFL, you possibly can discover her internet hosting ESPN’s protection at the French Open and Wimbledon, and Triple Crown horse racing occasions and prerace NASCAR exhibits on ABC. Hers was a tough layoff in 2023.
Rebecca Lowe
Years lively: 2000-present
Lowe is the host of NBC Sports’ Premier League protection, and her exhibits (“Premier League Mornings” and “Premier League Live”) helped redefine the soccer studio present in the U.S. She joined NBC Sports in 2013 and relocated from the U.Ok. for the place. Lowe has since hosted the Olympics for NBC from Sochi by way of Paris and can be on any brief record for the finest working studio host right now. Fox added her for its World Cup protection subsequent yr. To me, that’s Fox’s best-ever soccer rent.
Liam McHugh
Years lively: 2011-present
Over 11 years at NBC, McHugh ably hosted NHL protection by way of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, 5 Olympics (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020), Notre Dame soccer from 2012 to 2018, in addition to co-hosting the 2018 Super Bowl and “Football Night in America” from 2018 to 2020. In 2022, when NBC misplaced its NHL rights to TNT and ESPN, he moved to TNT Sports to steer the NHL protection there. Our Michael Russo had a nice profile of McHugh in 2023.
Curt Menefee
Years lively: 2000-present
Menefee is reduce from the identical Ernie Johnson college of internet hosting — you make it about the folks round you. Since 2007, he has been the full-time host of “Fox NFL Sunday,” the most-watched NFL morning pregame present for a number of a long time. He has additionally been Fox’s major studio host for 5 Super Bowls.
Chris Myers
Years lively: 2000-present
A Swiss Army knife with an unbelievable profession between internet hosting, play-by-play and sideline work, Myers is an inaugural member of the Fox NASCAR on-air crew that debuted in 2001. He has hosted the community’s NASCAR Cup Series race and prerace protection reside from the race monitor every weekend since 2001. Before 2000, he had a fantastic 11-year profession at ESPN, which included one of the most well-known interviews that the firm ever did — a 1998 “Up Close” interview with O.J. Simpson.
Kevin Negandhi
Years lively: 2006-present
A longtime “SportsCenter” staple, Negandhi has hosted the ESPN on ABC faculty soccer studio group since 2017 with intelligence and enthusiasm. His internet hosting work consists of “NFL Live,” “Baseball Tonight,” “Outside the Lines,” “College Football Live,” “NBA Tonight” and the girls’s NCAA basketball Final Four.
Karl Ravech
Years lively: 2000-present
Though most right now know him as the voice of ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” Ravech was an ace internet hosting ESPN’s MLB studio and pregame present, “Baseball Tonight.” He has additionally been the voice of ESPN’s Home Run Derby telecast since 2017.
Dave Revsine
Years lively: 2000-present
After a decade at ESPN, the place he did high quality internet hosting, Revsine made the leap in 2007 to hitch the Big Ten Network as its lead studio host. That was a daring transfer with no ensures, and he helped construct what’s now the most highly effective faculty convention community.
Laura Rutledge
Years lively: 2014-present
She hosts ESPN’s year-round weekday NFL information and knowledge present, “NFL Live,” in addition to SEC Network’s live-on-site “SEC Nation,” which exhibits a loopy quantity of dexterity should you contemplate what number of gamers and groups that covers. Long time period, Rutledge appears in line for “Sunday NFL Countdown” or “Monday NFL Countdown” as lead host.
Kate Scott
Years lively: 2005-present
She fronts the most entertaining soccer present on American tv — “Champions League Today” that includes Scott, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards, which airs on Paramount+ and CBS. Ever since Scott landed in the States to host Fox’s protection of the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada, she has finished implausible work. (She’s fluent in 4 languages, a ridiculous asset for a soccer broadcaster.) Scott (previously Abdo) is on the brief record for the best working sports host today.
Rob Stone
Years lively: 2000-present
Stone made a fantastic profession transfer leaving ESPN in 2012, as a result of FOX made an funding in him to make use of him as a lead host on high-profile properties. He’s hosted three girls’s World Cups, two males’s World Cups for Fox, in addition to MLS, the U.S. males’s and girls’s nationwide groups, Copa America and numerous different soccer tournaments. He additionally hosts the Saturday pregame faculty soccer present, “Big Noon Kickoff,” which has gone from low viewership to a present that caters to Big Ten followers and averaged 1.7 million viewers in 2025.
Hannah Storm
Years lively: 2000-present
One of the nice careers in sports broadcasting, Storm joined ESPN in 2008 and gives on-air professionalism irrespective of the task, whether or not Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the NBA Finals, the New York Marathon or faculty soccer. You virtually neglect she spent 5 years (2002-2007) inside the confines of this timeframe at CBS News as host of “The Early Show.”
Maria Taylor
Years lively: 2013-present
She simply landed the lead host job for NBC’s NBA protection and has served as a bunch for “Football Night In America,” “Big Ten College Countdown,” in addition to a bunch for the Tokyo, Beijing and Paris Olympics. Over a 10-month span in 2021 and 2022, Taylor hosted the prime-time community broadcast of the NBA Finals, the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Super Bowl pregame present and the Olympics in Beijing.
Mike Tirico
Years lively: 2000-present
Tirico is the uncommon broadcaster who has had a mass influence as each a studio host and play-by-play broadcaster. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, he took over for Costas as NBC’s prime-time Olympics host, one of the most coveted positions in sports broadcasting. He’s hosted protection of the Kentucky Derby, golf’s U.S. Open and Open Championship, in addition to “Football Night In America.” During his ESPN tenure, together with a ton of play-by-play assignments, Tirico was one of ESPN’s hosts when the firm owned the FIFA World Cup rights.
Scott Van Pelt
Years lively: 2000-present
He’s most recognized as of late for his “SportsCenter” work, however he belongs on this record for his work as the most important host of ESPN’s golf protection and “Monday Night Countdown,” the pregame present for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” which he has fronted since 2023.
Trey Wingo
Years lively: 2000-present
As good a bunch as the NFL Draft ever had — what a silly determination by ESPN to not discover a option to preserve him in that place— Wingo had an incredible run at ESPN as the long-time host of “NFL Live.” He was additionally half of ESPN’s golf, tennis and girls’s basketball protection and hosted “SportsCenter” for years. He’s since discovered post-ESPN success in digital media.