Bob Costas will serve as the host for NBC’s primetime and late night coverage of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games — making him U.S. television’s first 10-time Olympic primetime host, breaking his own mark. (Jim McKay hosted eight times for ABC.)
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Costas has served as primetime host for every Olympics on NBC since 1992, including the 2012 London Games, which was the most-watched television event in U.S. history with more than 217 million viewers. Wednesday’s announcement marks the second Games that the 25-time Emmy Award winner will host both the primetime and late night shows (2000 Sydney Olympics). Costas also served as NBC’s late night host at the 1988 Seoul Olympics
“The Olympics are a unique television event,” Costas said. “They involve classic sports coverage, of course, but also many elements of storytelling and travelogue aspects that are not part of the usual sports broadcast. They are a three-week miniseries which, if done well, should bring viewers not only compelling athletic performances, but a sense of the host city and country, and an appreciation of what is a truly global gathering.”
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The busy broadcaster also serves as the host of the critically acclaimed and most-watched NFL studio show Football Night in America, and hosted pre-game coverage on NBC for Super Bowl XLVI, the most-watched program in U.S. television history.
Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network’s sports announcers (34 years), co-hosts NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. He hosts “Costas Tonight,” an interview show that airs on NBCSN. Costas also contributes to a variety of NBC News programs, including “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” and the “Today” show. He also handles play-by-play duties and is a commentator for MLB Network.
“With unmatched experience in the host chair, Bob’s historical perspective and expertise will serve as a foundation for our Sochi coverage both in primetime and late night,” said Jim Bell, executive producer of NBC Olympics. “There is no one better than Bob to lead us in telling the stories of the athletes and competition that captivate fans around the world.”