After years away from the network where he built his legendary career, Bob Costas is making his triumphant return to NBC Sports to take part in one of the most anticipated sports broadcasting launches of the year. The veteran broadcaster, whose voice has become synonymous with baseball excellence, will anchor the pregame coverage for NBC's new Sunday Night Baseball franchise, marking a homecoming that brings his four-decade relationship with the network full circle.
The announcement, made earlier this week by NBC Sports executives, confirms that Costas will serve as the host of the official Sunday Night Baseball pregame program. In this capacity, he'll provide comprehensive previews of each evening's featured matchup while offering broader analysis of the week's developments across Major League Baseball. His role positions him as the authoritative voice setting the stage for NBC's weekly primetime baseball showcase.
NBC Sports President Rick Cordella expressed enthusiasm about welcoming Costas back to the fold, highlighting the broadcaster's deep connection to both the network and the sport. "We're excited that Bob has agreed to come home to NBC Sports, where he helped make baseball an iconic brand earlier in his career for so many years," Cordella stated in the official announcement. "There is no more knowledgeable, authoritative and passionate voice on baseball than Bob Costas."
The return to NBC represents a significant milestone for Costas, who previously spent 15 seasons hosting MLB coverage for the network during the height of his career. While he has remained active in broadcasting through his work with HBO and as the play-by-play voice of MLB Network since its 2009 launch, NBC has always held a special place in his professional journey. His tenure at the network included coverage of World Series, NBA Finals, and multiple Olympic Games, cementing his status as one of America's most versatile and respected sports journalists.
Costas's credentials in baseball broadcasting are virtually unmatched. Throughout his illustrious career, he has collected 29 Sports Emmy Awards and received the prestigious Ford Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2018, an honor reserved for broadcasters who have made major contributions to the game. His ability to weave storytelling with incisive analysis has made him a favorite among serious baseball fans and casual viewers alike.
The launch of Sunday Night Baseball represents NBC Sports' ambitious plan to dominate weekend primetime sports programming. The weekly baseball broadcast will join the network's already successful Sunday Night Football franchise and the upcoming Sunday Night Basketball to create a three-sport powerhouse that keeps viewers engaged throughout the evening every Sunday. This strategic positioning allows NBC to offer premium sports content across different seasons, with baseball taking center stage during the spring and summer months.
Viewers can catch Sunday Night Baseball on both NBC and the Peacock streaming platform, providing flexible access for audiences across different viewing preferences. The partnership with Peacock is particularly significant, as the streaming service will also host numerous exclusive MLB games throughout the season, creating a comprehensive digital home for baseball fans.
The inaugural season's schedule features an impressive lineup of marquee matchups, with particular emphasis on division rivalries that promise high stakes and intense competition. Among the highlighted games on the slate are several compelling showdowns: the Diamondbacks versus Dodgers on March 26th kicks off the franchise with a National League West clash; the Braves against the Phillies on April 19th brings National League East intensity; the Tigers and Royals meet on May 10th in an American League Central battle; the Rangers face the Angels on May 24th in an American League West matchup; the historic Cubs-Cardinals rivalry takes the spotlight on May 31st; the Mets visit the Phillies on June 21st for another NL East tilt; baseball's most famous rivalry, the Yankees versus Red Sox, commands national attention on June 28th; the Padres battle the Dodgers on July 5th in a Southern California showdown; the Mariners take on the Astros on August 16th; and the Padres face the Giants on September 13th to close out the featured schedule.
This carefully curated schedule demonstrates NBC's commitment to showcasing the sport's most passionate rivalries and competitive divisions, ensuring that each Sunday night delivers meaningful baseball with playoff implications.
For Costas, the opportunity to return to NBC feels like a natural homecoming. "As appreciative as I am of other aspects of my career, especially HBO and the MLB Network, for 40 years, my true broadcasting home was NBC," Costas reflected. "So many great moments, memories, and friendships. Now, I am very grateful to Rick Cordella and everyone at NBC Sports for this opportunity to return to where it all began."
His sentiment captures the essence of a career that has come full circle, from the young broadcaster who helped establish NBC as a baseball destination decades ago to the seasoned veteran returning to elevate their new primetime franchise. The synergy between Costas's expertise and NBC's vision for Sunday Night Baseball creates immediate credibility for the network's MLB re-entry.
The broadcasting landscape has evolved significantly since Costas last regularly hosted baseball on NBC, with streaming integration and multi-platform distribution now essential components of sports media strategy. However, Costas's ability to adapt while maintaining his signature style suggests he'll thrive in this new environment, bridging the gap between traditional broadcast excellence and modern digital consumption habits.
As spring approaches and baseball season gets underway, all eyes will be on NBC's Sunday Night Baseball to see how this new franchise establishes itself in an increasingly competitive sports media marketplace. With Bob Costas at the helm of the pregame show, the network has secured not just a familiar voice, but a symbol of baseball broadcasting excellence that promises to make their return to MLB coverage truly memorable.
The combination of Costas's authoritative presence, NBC's production resources, and a schedule packed with compelling matchups positions Sunday Night Baseball as a must-watch destination for baseball fans throughout the 2025 season and beyond.