Daniel Matthews
Updated on: October 8, 2024 5:14 pm GMT
The 2024 NFL season officially kicked off with excitement as the Baltimore Ravens faced the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in a highly anticipated matchup at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. The game, commencing at 8:20 p.m. ET, was broadcast live on NBC. Adding to the thrill, the league scheduled its first-ever game in Brazil for Friday night, featuring the Green Bay Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles, exclusively available on Peacock starting at 8:15 p.m. ET. This season features a robust lineup, including eight games slated for the 1 p.m. ET slot on Sunday and an exciting Monday Night Football game concluding the opening week with the New York Jets taking on the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL Announcer Lineup for 2024 Season
As the season unfolds, fans are eager to know who will bring the action to their screens. Various networks have announced their announcer pairings for the NFL season:
- FOX Sports: Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady joins as the lead NFL analyst, partnering with play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will serve as sideline reporters. Brady’s first challenge will be calling “America’s Game of the Week,” which features the Cleveland Browns versus the Dallas Cowboys on September 8.
- CBS: The experienced triad of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson will return for their eighth season together. CBS will also feature Announcers Chris Lewis and Beth Mowins for select games, with sideline reports from Amanda Balionis, Tiffany Blackmon, and Amanda Guerra.
- ESPN: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters return for their third season of Monday Night Football. The duo extends its record as the longest broadcast pairing in NFL history, with Salters entering her 13th season as sideline reporter.
- NBC: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark will collaborate on Sunday Night Football, kicking off their season with the Ravens vs. Chiefs opener on September 5 and the Rams vs. Lions matchup later in the week.
- Prime Video: The streaming platform returns with Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, and Kaylee Hartung for its second season of Thursday Night Football, starting with the Week 2 game between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.
Highlighting the Season’s Premier Matches
As highlighted by Ted Kenney, director of field and technical operations for FOX Sports, the network has undertaken substantial measures to ensure all crews are equipped for high-quality broadcasts throughout the season. With Super Bowl LIX scheduled to take place at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025, FOX plans to showcase numerous prominent matchups utilizing enhanced technology and skilled personnel.
Burkhardt, Brady, and the production team will closely monitor team performances as the regular-season games progress and adjust crew assignments accordingly. A crucial matchup to highlight includes the Week 7 rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on October 20. This game will serve as a critical examination of both teams following their confrontation in last year’s Super Bowl.
Sports Broadcasting Innovations
FOX Sports is exploring innovative technologies to enrich viewers’ experiences this season. The productions will feature remote first-and-ten technology from G3DVu, enhancing on-air graphics while maintaining the accuracy and timing essential for live broadcasts. According to Matt Battaglia, director of remote engineering for FOX Sports, the integration of this technology enables a real-time connection between onsite and off-site crews, essential for managing broadcast quality.
For the NFL on FOX crew, 2024 marks the tenth season using the mobile unit, Game Creek Video’s Encore, which has significantly contributed to the network’s ability to deliver dynamic and engaging sports coverage over the years.
Additional Upcoming Broadcast Highlights
As the season kicks off, the FOX NFL Sunday team is preparing for a special broadcast on Veteran’s Day Weekend, live from Naval Base San Diego. This initiative aims to honor servicemen and women while delivering engaging content from an alternative location, testing the team’s adaptability amid the unpredictability of the NFL season.
With a mixture of seasoned announcers and fresh talent like Brady stepping into the booth, this season promises to deliver a compelling blend of expert analysis and entertainment during each broadcast.
For fans interested in interactive gameplay, USA TODAY’s Pro Football Survivor Pool invites participation for a chance to win $5,000, allowing enthusiasts to engage more deeply with the season’s unfolding stories.
The collaboration among networks, announcers, and technological innovations is set to elevate the viewing experience for fans. With critical games and a spotlight on impressive talent, the 2024 NFL season stands poised to be memorable. Follow along for the dynamic developments of this football season.
Stay connected with the NFL on social media to get the latest news and exciting highlights during the season. Look for live updates and game reviews on different platforms so you can stay in the loop and enjoy the action!
