Bob Costas

  • 29 Emmy Award-Winning Journalist
  • Eight-time National Sportscaster of the Year
  • Olympic Commentator

Bob Costas has won 29 Emmy awards – more than any sports broadcaster. His versatility has been recognized with awards and nominations in the categories of hosting, play-by-play, writing, journalism, interviewing, news, and entertainment. He is the only person ever to have won Emmy’s in news, sports, and entertainment. His news Emmy was awarded for his 2011 interview with Jerry Sandusky, the central figure in the Penn State scandal. His entertainment Emmy came in 1993 for his acclaimed late-night program Later with Bob Costas.

Bob’s peers have named him the “National Sportscaster of the Year” a record eight times, and in 2012, he was elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. Also in 2012, Bob was selected for the Walter Cronkite Award for distinction in journalism. He and Al Michaels are the only sports broadcasters to be so honored.

In the summer of 2018, Bob was inducted into the broadcasters’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He joins broadcasting luminaries such as: Vin Scully, Red Barber, Mel Allen, Jack Buck, Ernie Harwell, and Dick Enberg. The award, named after former Baseball Commissioner, Ford C Frick, honors those who have demonstrated “excellence in baseball broadcasting.”

From the Baseball Game of the Week in the 1980s, through his hosting of the Olympics, the late-night interview program Later…with Bob Costas, his programs on HBO, and more, Bob has been a prominent part of the coverage of every major sport over the past three decades. His thoughtful commentaries on a variety of issues have established him as one of his generation’s most distinctive voices.

The 2016 Rio, Brazil Summer Olympic Games were Bob’s 12th and final for NBC. Additionally, he hosted seven Super Bowls, and was part of the coverage as either play-by play announcer, or host of seven World Series, and ten NBA Finals. Bob was also a prominent part of NBC’s presentations of other major events, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, as well as the U. S. Open Golf Championship.

Beyond NBC, Bob’s work with HBO, and Major League Baseball Network have drawn widespread praise. In 2000 Bob’s book, Fair Ball, a Fan’s Case for Baseball, spent several weeks on the New York Times best seller list. His collaborations with Joe Garner on a series of coffee table books and audio sports histories have also been best sellers.

Following the 2016 NFL season, Bob announced that he would no longer be hosting NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage, and would also conclude his quarter century run as host of NBC’s Olympic coverage.

At the same time Bob increased his presence at MLBN, where he has been able to return to his first love, baseball – contributing interviews, commentaries, and play-by-play for the network. More recently Bob has been part of TBS’s coverage of baseballs regular season and playoffs as both a play-by-play broadcaster and host.

In 2020, Bob joined CNN as an on-air contributor offering commentary and perspective on a wide range of sports related issues. In 2021 and 2022 Bob’s returned to HBO with Back on the Record with Bob Costas garnered several Emmy nominations.

Bob is a native of Queens, New York and grew up on Long Island. He attended Syracuse University in New York, where he majored in communications. He began his professional career at WSYR-TV and radio in 1973 while studying at Syracuse before joining KMOX radio in St. Louis in 1974.

 



Bob Costas headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • McCarthey Family Foundation
  • The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Rave Reviews About Bob Costas as a Speaker
He was FANTASTIC! Everyone loved him. Some said he was the best speaker we ever had. He was funny, entertaining, serious, and substantive. A great package.

Bob Costas' Vin Scully Award acceptance speech | WFUV [8:54] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Bob Costas
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Costas on Sports

Addressing the latest developments in Major League sports today, Bob Costas entertains audiences with his quick wit and memorable anecdotes about today’s most intriguing athletes. ...

Addressing the latest developments in Major League sports today, Bob Costas entertains audiences with his quick wit and memorable anecdotes about today’s most intriguing athletes.

A Fan’s Case for Baseball

Bob Costas loves baseball. In this speech, universally received by sports lovers, he addresses the problems and opportunities facing our nation’s greatest pastime. ...

Bob Costas loves baseball. In this speech, universally received by sports lovers, he addresses the problems and opportunities facing our nation’s greatest pastime.

On the Record with Bob Costas

In a captivating presentation, Costas discusses the economics of sports, his inspiring Olympic tales, and his most memorable interviews. ...

In a captivating presentation, Costas discusses the economics of sports, his inspiring Olympic tales, and his most memorable interviews.

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Speaker News
<p>Why Bob Costas is a win for meeting planners</p>

Why Bob Costas is a win for meeting planners

In a very engaging and humorous presentation, BOB COSTAS shares with audiences his insight into today’s current events and his experiences in the sports and broadcasting worlds to rave reviews: "Bob was captivating, so generous and thoughtful in his comments and utterly gracious." (McCarthey Family Foundation)

Named by his peers “National Sportscaster of the Year” an unprecedented eight times, Costas has been a prominent player in the coverage of every major sport for the past three decades. His thoughtful commentary on a variety of issues has established him as one of his generation’s most distinctive voices. He has a record 25 Emmy Awards to his name—more than any other sportscaster—and is the only person to win in all three categories for news, sports and entertainment. For over 20 years, Costas served as NBC’s primetime host of the Olympic Games from Barcelona to Sochi as well as Football Night in AmericaNightly News, Rock CenterTODAY and Costas Tonight. Beyond NBC, his recent work with the Major League Baseball Network and his New York Times best seller, Fair Ball: A Fan’s Case for Baseballgarnered critical acclaim. In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award for distinction in journalism and was elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame.

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Books by Bob Costas
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Biography

Bob Costas has won 29 Emmy awards – more than any sports broadcaster. His versatility has been recognized with awards and nominations in the categories of hosting, play-by-play, writing, journalism, interviewing, news, and entertainment. He is the only person ever to have won Emmy’s in news, sports, and entertainment. His news Emmy was awarded for his 2011 interview with Jerry Sandusky, the central figure in the Penn State scandal. His entertainment Emmy came in 1993 for his acclaimed late-night program Later with Bob Costas.

Bob’s peers have named him the “National Sportscaster of the Year” a record eight times, and in 2012, he was elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. Also in 2012, Bob was selected for the Walter Cronkite Award for distinction in journalism. He and Al Michaels are the only sports broadcasters to be so honored.

In the summer of 2018, Bob was inducted into the broadcasters’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He joins broadcasting luminaries such as: Vin Scully, Red Barber, Mel Allen, Jack Buck, Ernie Harwell, and Dick Enberg. The award, named after former Baseball Commissioner, Ford C Frick, honors those who have demonstrated “excellence in baseball broadcasting.”

From the Baseball Game of the Week in the 1980s, through his hosting of the Olympics, the late-night interview program Later…with Bob Costas, his programs on HBO, and more, Bob has been a prominent part of the coverage of every major sport over the past three decades. His thoughtful commentaries on a variety of issues have established him as one of his generation’s most distinctive voices.

The 2016 Rio, Brazil Summer Olympic Games were Bob’s 12th and final for NBC. Additionally, he hosted seven Super Bowls, and was part of the coverage as either play-by play announcer, or host of seven World Series, and ten NBA Finals. Bob was also a prominent part of NBC’s presentations of other major events, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, as well as the U. S. Open Golf Championship.

Beyond NBC, Bob’s work with HBO, and Major League Baseball Network have drawn widespread praise. In 2000 Bob’s book, Fair Ball, a Fan’s Case for Baseball, spent several weeks on the New York Times best seller list. His collaborations with Joe Garner on a series of coffee table books and audio sports histories have also been best sellers.

Following the 2016 NFL season, Bob announced that he would no longer be hosting NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage, and would also conclude his quarter century run as host of NBC’s Olympic coverage.

At the same time Bob increased his presence at MLBN, where he has been able to return to his first love, baseball – contributing interviews, commentaries, and play-by-play for the network. More recently Bob has been part of TBS’s coverage of baseballs regular season and playoffs as both a play-by-play broadcaster and host.

In 2020, Bob joined CNN as an on-air contributor offering commentary and perspective on a wide range of sports related issues. In 2021 and 2022 Bob’s returned to HBO with Back on the Record with Bob Costas garnered several Emmy nominations.

Bob is a native of Queens, New York and grew up on Long Island. He attended Syracuse University in New York, where he majored in communications. He began his professional career at WSYR-TV and radio in 1973 while studying at Syracuse before joining KMOX radio in St. Louis in 1974.