For devoted sports fans, a career in sports broadcasting can be fantastic. Sports analysts who make a living by dissecting sporting events and imparting their insights to receptive audiences gain a variety of personal and professional advantages. There are numerous ways to pursue a career in sports broadcasting, which begins in high school and college.
- Get your bachelor’s degree. …
- Get experience. …
- Complete an internship. …
- Review your work. …
- Study other broadcasters. …
- Learn the rules of various games. …
- Create a demo tape. …
- Apply at local news and radio stations.
What does a sports commentator do?
Your duties may change depending on where you work and your specific role. In general, sports broadcasters may be responsible for:
What is a sports broadcaster?
A sports broadcaster is a person who provides play-by-play commentary during a game, reports on sports news, and analyzes the world of sports. They might be employed by a specific sports team or a sports network, reporting on a variety of sports as part of their duties. Sportscasters typically work in radio or television, but they can also host podcasts, write articles and blog posts, or produce online videos.
A sports broadcaster must be extremely knowledgeable about the sport they cover, have excellent communication skills, and be able to use the equipment necessary to do their job.
Average salary for sports broadcasters
For example, Washington, D. C. sports broadcasters in Chattanooga, Tennessee earn an average salary of $38,097 per year, compared to the average salary for a sports anchor of $49,592 per year.
Sports broadcasters can profit from a number of common advantages, such as:
How to become a sports broadcaster
Think about taking the following actions if you want to work as a professional sports broadcaster:
1. Get your bachelors degree
As a sports broadcaster, you must have a bachelor’s degree. Consider the best degree program for what you want to do before choosing your major. For something more specialized, you might want to think about earning a degree in broadcast journalism or sports communication, but you can also succeed with a degree in journalism, mass communication, or general broadcasting.
All of these programs typically include lessons on media writing, radio and television production techniques, and spoken communication. Additionally, you might be able to enroll in electives and courses with a particular focus on topics like the history of athletics and sports entertainment to advance your understanding of sports broadcasting.
2. Get experience
When you decide you want to work as a sports commentator, look into opportunities to gain experience. You can do things like:
Additionally, you could work on the production crew or set up the lights for a local high school football game. You should be more appealing to potential employers and confident in your abilities to contribute something special to a sports team or news network the more experience you have in various facets of sports, communication, and broadcasting.
3. Complete an internship
Many career paths include internships because they enable you to gain practical industry experience and connect with experts in your field who can provide advice and serve as an inspiration for your chosen career. The same goes for sports broadcasting. It’s typical for employers in this field to demand that you complete an internship before you’ll be hired as a commentator or broadcaster.
4. Review your work
Make sure to review your work if you have experience from your studies, an internship, or a job you held while in college. The purpose of doing this is to observe how you behave when speaking into a radio or camera. Watch any experience you were able to record so you can provide constructive criticism to yourself and determine where you can improve. You might not be conscious of your body language or speech until you can observe how you behave from an outsider’s perspective.
5. Study other broadcasters
You can learn from other broadcasters just like an aspiring teacher can pick up on various teaching methods by observing other, more experienced teachers. Try to observe or listen to as many broadcasters as you can because you might be able to learn from them and improve your own work. Watch how they handle interviews, call the play-by-play of a game, or describe a particular athlete’s signature move.
6. Learn the rules of various games
It’s a good idea to become familiar with the rules of many different games because you might need to review and comment on a variety of sports as a sports broadcaster. Keep track of the players each season, observe their performance, and think about taking notes so you can learn the nuances of each sport.
7. Create a demo tape
Start making a demo tape so that you can show hiring managers it as you gain experience on radio or television. The demo tape ought to be a collection of your best work, and it’s a good idea to keep honing it until you believe it adequately conveys who you are and your skills. Before submitting your demo tape to an employer, have a specialist in the field give it a look-over and some feedback.
8. Apply at local news and radio stations
Even though you may have lofty aspirations of working for a major news network, you should begin your career by submitting applications to smaller, more regional television or radio stations where you can gain a lot of experience. To find out if there are any job openings at the same company where you completed your internship, get in touch with your contacts there. They should be more than happy to consider you for a position if there are and you made an impression during your internship period.
Initially, you might need to work in more support roles as you learn more about the business and establish yourself as a cohost for a radio or television program.
9. Network with others in the industry
Despite the size of the sports industry, it is advisable to network with as many people as you can. You never know when someone might be able to put you in touch with a job or serve as a career mentor for you. By attending sporting events, attending conferences geared toward broadcasters or people in the sports industry, and signing up for networking events, you can meet new people.
Also keep in mind that every job you have, from your first full-time job after graduation to your internship during college, brings you in contact with more people. You could still get in touch with those contacts if you don’t have many opportunities for career advancement at your current job and you need a reference for a new job.
10. Hire an agent
Examine the possibility of signing with an agent who can help you land a position at a larger network after you have earned a degree in the field and have worked for some time at your local station. Your agent can help you determine your preferences for employment, share your demo with potential employers, and make contact between you and a hiring manager.
Frequently asked questions with answers about being a sports commentator
The following are some typical queries about a career in sports broadcasting:
Do sports broadcasters travel?
Your specific role as a sports broadcaster will determine whether or not you must travel. Some sportscasters continue to work for their designated station, reporting on sports news or providing play-by-play instructions while in the studio. Some sportscasters accompany their assigned team on their travels so they can provide updates from the sidelines.
Do sports commentators use teleprompters?
The majority of sports commentators don’t use teleprompters because they cover in-game action, which is unpredictable and impossible to script around. Sports broadcasters may use bullet points to direct their coverage when they are not making announcements during a game.
What are the top schools for sports broadcasting?
University of Southern California, Syracuse University, Boston University, University of Miami, Northwestern University, and Ohio University are a few of the most well-known schools for sports broadcasting.
How hard it is to get into sports broadcasting?
It can be more challenging to land a job in sports broadcasting than in other areas of sports or general broadcasting because the industry is fairly competitive. To make an impression on a network when applying for jobs, it’s crucial to obtain a relevant degree, intern, and educate yourself in the field.
How many hours do sports broadcasters work?
The majority of sportscasters who work for television and radio stations put in a 40-hour workweek, but they may also need to work some nights and weekends to ensure that they can cover games that happen during these times. However, it’s also typical for broadcasters to put in more hours during busier periods of the sporting year, such as the playoffs.
A sports team’s needs may require a broadcaster to work a variety of hours, including longer days and more than 40 hours per week.
How to Get into Sports Broadcasting (5 Tips!)
FAQ
How long does it take to become a sports broadcaster?
Station managers typically give preference to sports broadcaster candidates with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from a 4-year institution in this fiercely competitive field.
What does it take to become a sports broadcaster?
Although some outlets might hire someone with a degree (in, say, English) who has some experience commentating, most entry-level positions in sports commentary require a bachelor’s degree in a field like communications, journalism, or broadcasting.
Is sports broadcasting a good career?
According to the BLS, broadcasters made an average of $57,300 a year in 2020; however, well-known individuals who commentate for professional sports teams can earn significantly more money.
How do you become a ESPN broadcaster?
For a reporter, a degree in journalism or broadcasting would be a good foundation. Technical training in electrical engineering would be helpful for ESPN’s behind-the-scenes support positions. Having a business or marketing degree will enable you to work on the network’s sales and operational aspects.
