ABSTRACT
This chapter is not meant to be a primer for those interested in being professional talent. Instead, it is meant to help the production crew understand the talent's role and responsibilities.
The talent needs to know their specific role in the production and understand the vision of the director and producer. The play-by-play person should have the “ability to call a sporting event with a concise description of the action, while maintaining a natural delivery. The role of the color commentator or analyst is to enhance the broadcast by adding specific and important information, while interacting with the play-byplay announcer.” (from Play-by-Play Sportscaster Training)
Play-by-Play Sportscast Training Many times, former athletes or coaches are chosen for the role of analyst since an in-depth knowledge of the sport is required. While the play-by-play person describes who the athletes are and what they are doing, the analyst is responsible for explaining to the viewer why the athletes did what they did.
