Lampley gets spot as NBC anchor for Games
He says the thrill gets greater each time he returns.
ZAP2IT.COM
NBC Sports has hired veteran broadcaster Jim Lampley to anchor the USA Network's coverage of the Summer Olympics. He replaces Keith Olbermann, who'll keep his regular gig as host of MSNBC's news show "Countdown."
USA, which became part of the NBC family in the network's merger with Vivendi Universal Entertainment, is likely to be the primary cable outlet for the Olympics, which open Aug. 13 in Athens, with some events going to other NBC properties like Bravo, MSNBC and CNBC. Lampley will be the main anchor for USA's coverage and will also host NBC's daytime coverage.
"It will be great to once again work with Jim Lampley," says Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports. "Jim is one of the greatest Olympic television hosts ever. His wonderful talent is matched only by his passion for the Games and his exemplary work ethic."
Gaining an audience
Olbermann was announced as the Olympics' cable anchor when he rejoined MSNBC in 2003. Now, though, the third-place news network says it sees a chance to increase the audience for "Countdown" during the Games, and therefore doesn't want to pull Olbermann away.
"'Countdown' is a vital part of our prime-time lineup and Keith Olbermann is integral to 'Countdown,'" MSNBC president Rick Kaplan says. "With its ratings continuing to grow, we expect the promotional value MSNBC and 'Countdown' get during the Olympics to really push it to the top. Dick and I agreed that ... it was best for Keith to stay in the U.S. focused on 'Countdown.'"
Lampley will be working his fifth Olympics for NBC and 12th overall, tying a record held by ABC's Jim McKay. "Every time I get back to the Olympics, the thrill gets a little greater," he says.