Television network, play-by-play and color commentator for the Orange Bowl from 1953 to the present.
Television
ESPN televised the Orange Bowl game from 2011–2014, as part of the cable network's $500 million broadcast deal with the BCS. ESPN will continue to televise the Orange Bowl through December 31, 2025 as part of its broadcast deal with the College Football Playoff . The Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl are the only two bowl games ever to air on all the "big 4" broadcast television networks in the United States (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox).
Date
Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
Sideline reporter(s)
December 30, 2023[ 1] [ 2]
ESPN
Joe Tessitore
Jesse Palmer
Katie George
December 30, 2022
Greg McElroy
December 31, 2021
Chris Fowler [ 3]
Kirk Herbstreit
Holly Rowe and Marty Smith
January 2, 2021
Bob Wischusen [ 4] [ 5]
Dan Orlovsky
Katie George
December 30, 2019
Steve Levy
Brian Griese
Todd McShay and Molly McGrath
December 29, 2018
Chris Fowler
Kirk Herbstreit
Maria Taylor and Laura Rutledge
December 30, 2017
Steve Levy
Brian Griese
Todd McShay and Molly McGrath
December 30, 2016
Todd McShay
December 31, 2015
Brad Nessler
Todd Blackledge
Holly Rowe
December 31, 2014
Brent Musburger
Jesse Palmer
Maria Taylor
January 3, 2014
Joe Tessitore
Matt Millen
January 1, 2013
January 4, 2012
Mike Tirico
Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden
Lisa Salters
January 3, 2011
Michele Tafoya
January 5, 2010
Fox
Dick Stockton [ 6]
Charles Davis [ 7]
Chris Myers and Laura Okmin
January 1, 2009
Thom Brennaman [ 8]
Chris Myers
January 3, 2008[ 9]
Kenny Albert [ 10]
Daryl Johnston and Barry Alvarez [ 11]
Jeanne Zelasko
January 2, 2007
Matt Vasgersian [ 12]
Terry Donahue and Pat Haden
Laura Okmin [ 13]
January 3, 2006
ABC
Mike Tirico
Kirk Herbstreit
Erin Andrews
January 4, 2005
Brad Nessler
Bob Griese
Lynn Swann and Todd Harris
January 1, 2004
Lynn Swann
January 2, 2003
Tim Brant
Ed Cunningham
Sam Ryan
January 2, 2002
Brad Nessler
Bob Griese
Lynn Swann
January 3, 2001
Lynn Swann and Jack Arute
January 1, 2000
Lynn Swann
January 2, 1999
Gary Danielson
Dean Blevins
January 2, 1998
CBS
Sean McDonough [ 14]
Terry Donahue [ 15]
December 31, 1996
Mike Mayock
Dave Logan[ 16]
January 1, 1996
Pat Haden
January 1, 1995[ 17]
NBC
Tom Hammond [ 18]
Cris Collinsworth [ 19]
John Dockery
January 1, 1994
Dick Enberg
Bob Trumpy [ 20] [ 21]
O. J. Simpson [ 22]
January 1, 1993
Don Criqui [ 23]
John Dockery [ 24]
January 1, 1992
Dick Enberg
Bill Walsh [ 25] [ 26]
January 1, 1991[ 27]
O. J. Simpson and Bob Trumpy
January 1, 1990[ 28]
January 2, 1989
Don Criqui [ 29]
Bob Trumpy [ 30]
Jim Gray
January 1, 1988
Tom Hammond [ 31]
January 1, 1987
Paul Maguire
January 1, 1986
Bob Trumpy [ 32] and Bob Griese
Jimmy Cefalo [ 33]
January 1, 1985[ 34]
Bob Trumpy
Bill Macatee [ 35] [ 36]
January 2, 1984
John Brodie [ 37] [ 38]
January 1, 1983
January 1, 1982
Bob Trumpy
January 1, 1981
January 1, 1980
January 1, 1979
Dick Enberg [ 39]
Merlin Olsen [ 40]
January 2, 1978
Jim Simpson [ 41]
January 1, 1977
John Brodie
January 1, 1976
January 1, 1975
January 1, 1974
Kyle Rote
January 1, 1973[ 42]
January 1, 1972
Bill Enis
January 1, 1971
Al DeRogatis
January 1, 1970[ 43]
January 1, 1969
January 1, 1968
Kyle Rote
January 2, 1967
Curt Gowdy [ 44]
Paul Christman
January 1, 1966
January 1, 1965
Jim Simpson
Bud Wilkinson [ 45] [ 46]
January 1, 1964
ABC
Curt Gowdy
Paul Christman
Jim McKay
January 1, 1963
January 1, 1962
Jim Simpson
January 2, 1961[ 47]
CBS
Ray Scott [ 48]
Paul Christman
January 1, 1960
Joe Boland [ 49]
Paul Christman
January 1, 1959[ 50]
Jim McKay [ 51] [ 52]
January 1, 1958
Chris Schenkel [ 53]
Johnny Lujack
January 1, 1957
Tom Harmon [ 54]
January 2, 1956[ 55]
Chris Schenkel
January 1, 1955
Bob Neal [ 56] [ 57]
January 1, 1954
Red Barber [ 58] [ 59] [ 60] [ 61]
January 1, 1953
Notes
In 2011, ESPN televised all BCS championship games from January 2011 through January 2014. This was the most prominent sports championship not shown on broadcast television. The 2011 BCS championship was the most watched program in the history of cable television, with 27.3 million viewers in 17.7 million households.[ 62]
In 2007, ABC and Fox showed one game each on January 1, Fox then showed one game each on January 2 and 3 and came back with the championship game on January 8. A similar schedule is planned for future years.
Starting with the 2006 season, coverage would be split between ABC and Fox . Fox paid for each bowl game US$ 20 million.[ 63] Four of the BCS bowl games were on FOX: the Orange Bowl , Sugar Bowl , Fiesta Bowl , and a new fifth game, the BCS National Championship Game . ABC will continue to broadcast the Rose Bowl Game . ABC had a $300 million eight-year contract that extends to 2014 for the broadcast rights for the Rose Bowl.[ 64]
Fox showed all BCS championship games the first three years of the contract, while in 2010 the Rose Bowl stadium was the location of the BCS Championship game, and ABC televised it.
When the Bowl Championship Series was formed in 1998, television coverage was consolidated on the ABC Television Network . Beginning with the 2006 season, the Fox Broadcasting Company took over television coverage of the Sugar Bowl , Orange Bowl , and Fiesta Bowl games. ABC retained the Rose Bowl game under a separate contract.[ 65]
From 1999 to 2006 (1998–2005 seasons), all games of the BCS were televised by ABC Sports . Generally, coverage consisted of two games on New Year's Day , one on January 2, and one on either January 3 or 4. ABC paid nearly $25 million per year for the broadcast rights to the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls during that time.[ 66] Overall, the contract was worth $550 million over the eight years for all the bowl games.[ 64]
During coverage of the final quarter of the 1992 game ,[ 67] two power feeder cables that were originating coverage into NBC's main production truck accidentally caught itself on fire, forcing all 12 cameras and all NBC stations to knock off the air with an identification slide for 18 seconds. After the video portion returned, NBC was forced to switch to a scrambled Japanese feed of the game off of JOTX , with Japanese audio for 30 seconds before silencing their audio portions with a voiceover, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are experiencing technical difficulties. Please stand by". A teletext was then shown afterwards, "Sorry for the inconvenience, we have been experiencing transmission difficulties due to atmospheric conditions". While the teletext remained on screen, NBC Sports announcers Gayle Gardner and Paul McGuire then returned back on air with an announcement before describing an action between both teams from NBC's studios in New York. 14 minutes later, Dick Enberg apologized to its viewers that a major power failure has knocked out their cameras. At that point, NBC was forced to borrow one camera from Japanese network JOTX for parts of the game.
Spanish
In 2013, ESPN Deportes will provide the first Spanish U.S. telecast of the Orange Bowl.[ 68]
Date
Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
January 1, 2013
ESPN Deportes
Eduardo Varela
Pablo Viruega
Radio
Date
Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator
Sideline reporters
December 30, 2023
ESPN Radio
Dave Flemming
Brock Osweiler
Kayla Burton
December 30, 2022
Mike Couzens
Max Starks
Paul Carcaterra
December 31, 2021
Mark Jones
Robert Griffin III
Quint Kessenich
January 2, 2021
Sean Kelley
Barrett Jones
December 30, 2019
Ian Fitzsimmons
December 29, 2018
Steve Levy
Brian Griese
Todd McShay
December 30, 2017
Dave Flemming
Anthony Becht
Rocky Boiman
December 30, 2016
Tom Ramsey
Allison Williams
December 31, 2015
Bill Rosinski
David Norrie
Joe Schad
December 31, 2014
January 3, 2014
Sean McDonough
Chris Spielman
Shannon Spake
January 1, 2013
Bill Rosinski
David Norrie
Joe Schad
January 4, 2012
Joe Tessitore
Rod Gilmore
Quint Kessenich
January 3, 2011
Bill Rosinski
David Norrie
Joe Schad
January 5, 2010
Sean McDonough
Matt Millen
Holly Rowe
January 1, 2009
Ron Franklin
Ed Cunningham
Jack Arute
January 6, 2006[ 69]
Gary Thorne
Jerry Punch
January 4, 2005
Ron Franklin
Mike Gottfried
Erin Andrews
January 1, 2004
Dave Barnett
Bill Curry
Heather Cox
January 2, 2003
Bill Curry and Mike Golic
Holly Rowe
January 2, 2002
Michele Tafoya
January 3, 2001
Ron Franklin
Mike Gottfried
Adrien Karsten
January 1, 2000[ 70]
Dave Barnett
Bill Curry
Dave Ryan
January 2, 1999
January 2, 1998
CBS
Chuck Cooperstein
Jim Wacker
December 31, 1996
Howard David
Phil Schaefer
January 1, 1996
John Rooney
January 1, 1995
NBC
Don Criqui
Fran Curci
January 1, 1994
Harry Kalas
January 1, 1993
Bill Rosinski
Jack Ham
January 1, 1992
Mutual
Harry Kalas
Fran Curci
January 1, 1991
Tony Roberts
Tom Pagna
January 1, 1990
Tom Brookshier
January 2, 1989
Mark Champion
Fran Curci
January 1, 1988
NBC
Bob Murphy
Howard Schnellenberger
January 1, 1987
January 1, 1986
January 1, 1985
January 2, 1984
Donnie Duncan
January 1, 1983
January 1, 1982
Mutual
Tony Roberts
Al Wester
January 1, 1981
January 1, 1980
Pat Sheridan
January 1, 1979
Sam Huff
January 2, 1978
January 1, 1977
Don Criqui
January 1, 1976
NBC
Bob Ufer , Mike Treps
January 1, 1975
Jay Randolph
Paul Maguire
January 1, 1974
Charlie Jones
Sam DeLuca
January 1, 1973
Jay Randolph
Dave Kocourek
January 1, 1972
January 1, 1971
January 1, 1970
Charlie Jones
Elmer Angsman
January 1, 1969
Bill Enis
January 1, 1968
Mel Allen
George Ratterman
January 2, 1967
Elmer Angsman
January 1, 1966
Charlie Jones
George Ratterman
January 1, 1965
Jim Gibbons
Billy Vessels
January 1, 1964
ABC
George Ratterman
January 1, 1963
Sam Huff
January 1, 1962
Bill Flemming
January 2, 1961
CBS
Jim McKay
Pat Summerall
January 1, 1960
Bill McColgan
January 1, 1959
Jack Drees
Joe Foss
January 1, 1958
Joe Boland
Herman Hickman
January 1, 1957
Jim Gibbons
January 2, 1956
Red Barber , Jim Gibbons
Dan Peterson
January 1, 1955
Red Barber
January 1, 1954
Bob Neal
January 1, 1953
Jack Brickhouse
January 1, 1952
Red Barber
Connie Desmond
January 1, 1951
Mel Allen
January 2, 1950
January 1, 1949
Red Barber
January 1, 1948
January 1, 1947
January 1, 1946
Ted Husing
Jimmy Dolan
January 1, 1945
January 1, 1944
January 1, 1943
January 1, 1942
January 1, 1941
January 1, 1940
January 2, 1939
January 1, 1938
January 1, 1937
Local radio
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
History & conference tie-ins Games Notes
The game was also the national title game (Bowl Coalition , Bowl Alliance , or Bowl Championship Series ) in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2005.
There was an Orange Bowl in January and December in 1996, 2014, and 2021.
The 2015, 2018, and 2021 (December) editions were College Football Playoff semifinals.