Yes, they love ESPN!
In the continuing effort to show that not everyone wants to jump ship at ESPN, the PR machine put out yet another release announcing contract extensions for some of its play-by-play voices.
We didn’t get these kind of releases in the past. However, in the wake of Michelle Beadle, Erin Andrews and Jim Rome leaving, and speculation about others departing, the ESPNers want to point out that there are plenty of its employees happy in Bristol.
From ESPN:
ESPN has signed Mark Jones, Sean McDonough, Brad Nessler, Dave Pasch, Joe Tessitore and Bob Wischusen – six of sports television’s most versatile play-by-play commentators – to multi-year contract extensions.
“These top announcers are recognized for their distinguished voices and ability to describe the action from many sports in a way fans appreciate,” said Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president and executive producer, production.
Jones has worked a wide variety of assignments for ESPN, including NBA, college football, and men’s and women’s basketball telecasts since his network debut in 1990. In recent years, he has called the ESPN2 Saturday primetime football game, a regular schedule of men’s basketball games and the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
McDonough is one of sports television’s most well-rounded commentators. He is a constant voice on ESPN’s college basketball and college football games, including the network’s Big Monday BIG EAST basketball with Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery and a Saturday college football game. McDonough also works Major League Baseball Monday Night Baseball with Aaron Boone, Rick Sutcliffe and Tim Kurkjian and as a hole announcer on ESPN’s golf coverage. He rejoined ESPN in 2000 after having worked for the network from 1989-95.
Nessler continues to be one of the leading play-by-play announcers in the business handling college football and basketball games for ESPN. He has called the ESPN Saturday Primetime football telecast since 2009 and is a fixture during the basketball season on SEC games, including Super Tuesday. He joined ESPN in 1992.
Pasch primarily works college football, men’s and women’s college basketball and the NBA on ESPN and ABC. He continues on ESPN’s Saturday college football coverage, has a weekly presence during the men’s college basketball season and has also worked the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. He joined the network in 2003, and has also worked the WNBA, Arena Football, the Great Outdoor Games and the Little League World Series.
Tessitore has a variety of scheduled assignments across ESPN platforms. He plays a major role as the longstanding blow-by-blow commentator for ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, and has become an established fixture in ESPN’s college football coverage – both in-game and in studio. Tessitore is the new daily host of College Football Live and will continue to be the face of ESPN’s “Heismanology.” He joined ESPN in February 2002.
Wischusen has been a continual voice on ESPN’s men’s and women’s college basketball and college football telecasts since he joined the network in July 2005. Wischusen will continue to work college football games and remain a weekly fixture during the college basketball season and the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.