List of Rose Bowl Game broadcasters


The Rose Bowl was first televised in 1947 on W6XYZ, an experimental station out of Los Angeles that would eventually become KTLA.

Television

ESPN years (2011–present)

Beginning with the 2010 season, ESPN now broadcasts all the BCS/CFP games, including the Rose Bowl game. The game is also broadcast nationally by ESPN Radio and by ESPN International for Latin America. In 2013, ESPN Deportes provided the first Spanish language telecast in the U.S. of the Rose Bowl Game.
The Rose Bowl game contract with ESPN was extended on June 28, 2012, to 2026, for a reportedly $80 million per year.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporter
January 1, 2025ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitHolly Rowe and Stormy Buonantony
January 1, 2024ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitHolly Rowe and Laura Rutledge
January 2, 2023ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitHolly Rowe
January 1, 2022ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitHolly Rowe and Tiffany Blackmon
January 1, 2021ESPNSean McDonoughTodd BlackledgeTodd McShay and Allison Williams
January 1, 2020ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitMaria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi
January 1, 2019ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitMaria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi
January 1, 2018ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitMaria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi
January 2, 2017ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitSamantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi
January 1, 2016ESPNBrent MusburgerJesse PalmerMaria Taylor
January 1, 2015ESPNChris FowlerKirk HerbstreitHeather Cox and Tom Rinaldi
January 1, 2014ESPNBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitHeather Cox and Tom Rinaldi
January 1, 2013ESPNBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitHeather Cox and Tom Rinaldi
January 2, 2012ESPNBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitErin Andrews
January 1, 2011ESPNBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitErin Andrews

ABC years (1989–2010)

From 1989 to 2010, the game was broadcast on ABC, usually at 2 p.m. PST; the 2005 edition was the first one broadcast in HDTV. The first 9-year contract in 1988 started at about $11 million, which is what NBC had been paying. The 2002 Rose Bowl was the first broadcast not set at the traditional 2:00pm West Coast time. Beginning in 2007, FOX had the broadcast rights to the other Bowl Championship Series games, but the Rose Bowl, which negotiates its own television contract independent of the BCS, had agreed to keep the game on ABC.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporter
January 1, 2010ABCBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 1, 2009ABCBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 1, 2008ABCBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 1, 2007ABCBrent MusburgerBob Davie and Kirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 4, 2006ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris and Holly Rowe
January 1, 2005ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris
January 1, 2004ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris
January 1, 2003ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonJack Arute
January 3, 2002ABCKeith JacksonTim BrantTodd Harris and Lynn Swann
January 1, 2001ABCKeith JacksonTim BrantTodd Harris
January 1, 2000ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris
January 1, 1999ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 1, 1998ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 1, 1997ABCBrent MusburgerDick VermeilJack Arute
January 1, 1996ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 2, 1995ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 1, 1994ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 1, 1993ABCBrent MusburgerDick Vermeil-
January 1, 1992ABCKeith JacksonBob Griese-
January 1, 1991ABCKeith JacksonBob Griese-
January 1, 1990ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseMike Adamle and Jack Arute
January 2, 1989ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseMike Adamle

NBC years (1952–88)

The 1952 Rose Bowl, on NBC, was the first national telecast of a college football game. The network broadcast both the Tournament of Roses Parade and the following game. The 1956 Rose Bowl has the highest TV rating of all college bowl games, watched by 41.1% of all people in the US with TV sets. The 1962 game was the first college football game broadcast in color. Television ratings for the Rose Bowl declined as the number of bowl games increased. The other bowl games also provided more compelling match-ups, with higher-ranked teams. In 1988, NBC gave up the broadcast rights, as the television share dropped in 1987 below 20.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporter
January 1, 1988NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 1, 1987NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 1, 1986NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 1, 1985NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 2, 1984NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 1, 1983NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 1, 1982NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 1, 1981NBCDick EnbergMerlin Olsen
January 1, 1980NBCDick EnbergMerlin OlsenO. J. Simpson
January 1, 1979NBCCurt GowdyJohn Brodie and O. J. Simpson-
January 2, 1978NBCCurt GowdyJohn Brodie-
January 1, 1977NBCCurt GowdyDon Meredith-
January 1, 1976NBCCurt GowdyAl DeRogatisRoss Porter
January 1, 1975NBCCurt GowdyAl DeRogatisRoss Porter
January 1, 1974NBCCurt GowdyAl DeRogatisAl DeRogatis
January 1, 1973NBCCurt GowdyAl DeRogatisAl DeRogatis
January 1, 1972NBCCurt GowdyAl DeRogatisAl DeRogatis
January 1, 1971NBCCurt GowdyKyle Rote-
January 1, 1970NBCCurt GowdyKyle Rote-
January 1, 1969NBCCurt GowdyKyle Rote-
January 1, 1968NBCCurt GowdyPaul Christman-
January 2, 1967NBCLindsey NelsonTerry Brennan-
January 1, 1966NBCLindsey NelsonTerry Brennan-
January 1, 1965NBCLindsey NelsonRay Scott-
January 1, 1964NBCLindsey NelsonTerry Brennan-
January 1, 1963NBCMel AllenBill Symes-
January 1, 1962NBCMel AllenBraven Dyer-
January 2, 1961NBCMel AllenChick Hearn-
January 1, 1960NBCMel AllenLee Giroux-
January 1, 1959NBCMel AllenChick Hearn-
January 1, 1958NBCMel AllenChick Hearn-
January 1, 1957NBCMel AllenLee Giroux-
January 2, 1956NBCMel AllenSam Balter-
January 1, 1955NBCMel AllenDick Danehe-
January 1, 1954NBCMel AllenTom Harmon-
January 1, 1953NBCMel AllenTom Harmon-
January 1, 1952NBCMel AllenJack Brickhouse-