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Lure of basketball brings Fox's Brown to CBS
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
James Brown, the host of Fox's popular NFL studio show for the past 12 years, is returning to CBS, where he began his network career.
Brown's move, which CBS announced Monday, is among a handful involving prominent NFL TV personalities.
• CBS sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein said Monday she is leaving the network to begin a consulting firm called Velvet Hammer Media, aimed at current and aspiring broadcasters.
• CBS sideline reporter Armen Keteyian, in a move expected to be announced this week, will be moving from CBS Sports to CBS News, two executives with knowledge of the move said.
• ESPN reporter Andrea Kremer is being considered for a spot with NBC's Sunday night NFL coverage team. "I'm flattered to be considered, but right now I'm under contract to ESPN," said Kremer, who has been with ESPN since 1989 and is under contract through April.
Brown, 54, will succeed Greg Gumbel as host of The NFL Today and handle play-by-play on college basketball, beginning next season, Tony Petitti, executive producer of CBS Sports, said during a conference call.
Gumbel had asked to return to doing NFL play-by-play, and he will join Dan Dierdorf as the network's No. 2 announcing team. Dick Enberg, who has been working with Dierdorf, will be paired with Randy Cross on the No. 3 team.
Sean McManus, the president of CBS' news and sports divisions, said the shuffle was not a demotion for the veteran Enberg and that he is talking to Enberg's agent about a contract extension. Enberg could not be reached for comment.
Brown's contract with Fox is expiring, and he said the network aggressively tried to re-sign him. But Brown, a former basketball standout at Harvard, said the chance to cover college basketball again at CBS sealed the deal. McManus declined to disclose the specifics of Brown's contract with CBS except to say it is long term.
As for the future of Fox NFL Sunday, analyst Terry Bradshaw could become the host, Brown speculated. But David Hill, chairman of Fox Sports, told USA TODAY he won't make a decision for months.
Bernstein said she wanted more than her sideline job offered and that Petitti let her out of her contract with three years to go.
"I know it's important not to make a lateral move," she said, adding she also will consider TV jobs in news and entertainment.
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
James Brown, the host of Fox's popular NFL studio show for the past 12 years, is returning to CBS, where he began his network career.
Brown's move, which CBS announced Monday, is among a handful involving prominent NFL TV personalities.
• CBS sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein said Monday she is leaving the network to begin a consulting firm called Velvet Hammer Media, aimed at current and aspiring broadcasters.
• CBS sideline reporter Armen Keteyian, in a move expected to be announced this week, will be moving from CBS Sports to CBS News, two executives with knowledge of the move said.
• ESPN reporter Andrea Kremer is being considered for a spot with NBC's Sunday night NFL coverage team. "I'm flattered to be considered, but right now I'm under contract to ESPN," said Kremer, who has been with ESPN since 1989 and is under contract through April.
Brown, 54, will succeed Greg Gumbel as host of The NFL Today and handle play-by-play on college basketball, beginning next season, Tony Petitti, executive producer of CBS Sports, said during a conference call.
Gumbel had asked to return to doing NFL play-by-play, and he will join Dan Dierdorf as the network's No. 2 announcing team. Dick Enberg, who has been working with Dierdorf, will be paired with Randy Cross on the No. 3 team.
Sean McManus, the president of CBS' news and sports divisions, said the shuffle was not a demotion for the veteran Enberg and that he is talking to Enberg's agent about a contract extension. Enberg could not be reached for comment.
Brown's contract with Fox is expiring, and he said the network aggressively tried to re-sign him. But Brown, a former basketball standout at Harvard, said the chance to cover college basketball again at CBS sealed the deal. McManus declined to disclose the specifics of Brown's contract with CBS except to say it is long term.
As for the future of Fox NFL Sunday, analyst Terry Bradshaw could become the host, Brown speculated. But David Hill, chairman of Fox Sports, told USA TODAY he won't make a decision for months.
Bernstein said she wanted more than her sideline job offered and that Petitti let her out of her contract with three years to go.
"I know it's important not to make a lateral move," she said, adding she also will consider TV jobs in news and entertainment.
