# Color commentator

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Sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer

Manel Comas, Arsenio Cañada and Juanma Iturriaga during the live broadcasting of the Liga ACB game.

A **color commentator** or **expert commentator** is a [sports commentator](/source/Sports_commentator) who assists the [main (play-by-play) commentator](/source/Sports_commentator#Main/play-by-play_commentator), typically by filling in when play is not in progress. The person may also be referred to as a **summarizer** (outside North America) or **analyst** (a term used throughout the English-speaking world).[1] The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the main commentator is not describing the action.[2] The color commentator provides expert [analysis](/source/Analysis) and background information, such as [statistics](/source/Statistics), strategy, and injury reports on the [teams](/source/Team) and [athletes](/source/Sportsperson), and occasionally [anecdotes](/source/Anecdote) or light humor. Color commentators are often former athletes, [coaches](/source/Coach_(sport)), or [experts](/source/Expert) of the sport being broadcast (such as a former NFL referee as a rules analyst to add color commentary to the rules).[3]

The term *[color](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/color)*[a] refers to levity and insight provided by a secondary announcer. A sports color commentator customarily works alongside the play-by-play broadcaster.[4][5][6]

## United States and Canada

Commentary teams typically feature one professional [commentator](/source/Sports_commentator) describing the passage of play, and another, usually a former player, [coach](/source/Coach_(sport)), or [expert](/source/Expert), providing supplementary input as the sports event progresses. Color commentators usually restrict their input to times that the ball or the puck is out of play, or there is no significant action on the field or the court. They usually defer to the main commentator when a shot on goal or another significant event occurs. That sometimes results in them being talked over or cut short by the primary commentator. Former players and managers also appear as [pundits](/source/Pundit) and carry out a similar role to that of the co-commentator during the [pre-game show](/source/Pre-game_show) before a given contest and the [post-game show](/source/Post-game_show) after it.

In American motorsports coverage, there may be as many as two color commentators in the [booth](/source/Control_booth_(theater)) for a given broadcast.[7]

In the 2010s, some sports broadcasters began to employ **rules analysts**, a contributor—typically a former [referee](/source/Referee)—who provides analysis and opinions regarding calls being made by referees officiating the event. The practice was first popularized in the NFL, with Fox hiring former [officials](/source/Official_(gridiron_football)) [Mike Pereira](/source/Mike_Pereira) and [Dean Blandino](/source/Dean_Blandino).[8][9][10] The practice has since been extended to other sports, with officials such as [Steve Javie](/source/Steve_Javie) (basketball), [Dave Jackson](/source/Dave_Jackson_(ice_hockey)) (hockey), and [Joe Machnik](/source/Joe_Machnik) (soccer) having taken on similar roles for ESPN/ABC and Fox respectively.[11][12][13] CBS similarly hired [Gene Steratore](/source/Gene_Steratore) in 2018, serving as a rules analyst for both NFL and college basketball coverage.[14]

## United Kingdom

The term "color commentator" is largely unknown outside American sports. In the United Kingdom, the equivalent role is usually called "summarizer" but other terms used are "analyst", "pundit" or simply "co-commentator". Cricket coverage on [ESPNcricinfo](/source/ESPNcricinfo) uses similar terminology.

## Australia and New Zealand

The term is not used in Australia or New Zealand. Those giving the analysis alongside the main commentator are sometimes said to be giving additional or expert analysis, or "special comments", or they may be referred to as "expert commentators".

## Latin America

For [Association football](/source/Association_football) broadcasts on Latin American [sports television](/source/Sports_television) channels, such a commentator is called a *comentarista* in both Spanish and Portuguese and contrasts with the *narrador*, *locutor* (Spanish and Portuguese) or *relator* (Spanish - Argentina and Uruguay) who leads the transmission. The term "*color*" is not used or translated.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Specifically meaning #7, "Richness of expression"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Color commentator | Define Color commentator at Dictionary.com"](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/color+commentator). Dictionary.reference.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114736/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/color%2Bcommentator) from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["What Is a Color Commentator?"](http://work.chron.com/color-commentator-20477.html). *work.chron.com*. [Houston Chronicle](/source/Houston_Chronicle). November 29, 2010. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140520005944/http://work.chron.com/color-commentator-20477.html) from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Announcers: Occupational Outlook Handbook — What Announcers Do"](http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/announcers.htm#tab-2). [Bureau of Labor Statistics](/source/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics). January 8, 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120401203911/http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/announcers.htm) from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Color Commentary and Play by Play: A Well-Rounded Approach to Facebook"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140116065651/http://inklingmedia.net/2012/05/02/color-commentary-and-play-by-play-a-well-rounded-approach-to-facebook/). Inkling Media. May 2, 2012. Archived from [the original](http://inklingmedia.net/2012/05/02/color-commentary-and-play-by-play-a-well-rounded-approach-to-facebook/#.Uk8WfhzN63Y) on January 16, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Sportscaster: A Brief History & Job Description"](http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/sportscasterdefinition.html). Americansportscastersonline.com. January 7, 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130129032627/http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/sportscasterdefinition.html) from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** John Lund (November 27, 2012). ["The Top Three Keys For Becoming a Color Commentator"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140116082329/http://www.sportsideo.com/blog/johnlund1120/the-business-ofsports/baseball_basketball_football/the-top-three-keys-for-becoming-a-color-commentator-1681.html). Sportsideo.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.sportsideo.com/blog/johnlund1120/the-business-ofsports/baseball_basketball_football/the-top-three-keys-for-becoming-a-color-commentator-1681.html) on January 16, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Kedzie, Julie (July 18, 2013). ["Julie Kedzie Breaks Down the Art of MMA Color Commentary"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150405043744/http://fightland.vice.com/blog/julie-kedzie-breaks-down-the-art-of-mma-color-commentary). *FIGHTLAND*. Vice. Archived from [the original](http://fightland.vice.com/blog/julie-kedzie-breaks-down-the-art-of-mma-color-commentary) on April 5, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Deitsch, Richard (January 11, 2012). ["NFL's most indispensable broadcasting talents"](https://www.si.com/nfl/2012/01/11/nfl-irreplacables). *Sports Illustrated*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160222095922/https://www.si.com/nfl/2012/01/11/nfl-irreplacables) from the original on February 22, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mccarthy20160906_10-0)** McCarthy, Michael (September 6, 2016). ["Fox NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira is lethal 'weapon' rival networks don't have"](http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/mike-pereira-fox-sports-book-after-further-review-nfl-rules-analyst/egtnr8wfhn5d1ao6yxjx7ij7c). *Sporting News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909050401/http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/mike-pereira-fox-sports-book-after-further-review-nfl-rules-analyst/egtnr8wfhn5d1ao6yxjx7ij7c) from the original on September 9, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Caldwell, Dave (January 22, 2019). ["Rise of the TV rules analysts shows the NFL has a problem"](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/22/nfl-officiating-nfc-championship-game-rules-analysts). *the Guardian*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190122122530/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/22/nfl-officiating-nfc-championship-game-rules-analysts) from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Bucholtz, Andrew (June 3, 2022). ["Fox Sports adds Joe Machnik as a soccer rules analyst"](https://awfulannouncing.com/soccer/fox-sports-mark-clattenburg-rules-analyst-uefa-nations-league.html). *Awful Announcing*. Retrieved January 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** King, Jay (May 13, 2022). ["Ex-NBA referee Steve Javie weighs in on officiating: 'Welcome to the playoffs'"](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3309035/2022/05/13/nba-referee-steve-javie-postseason-officiating/). *The Athletic*. Retrieved January 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["TNT Adds Don Koharski As NHL Rules Analyst | Barrett Media"](https://barrettsportsmedia.com/2021/09/29/tnt-don-koharski/). September 29, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rules_analyst_15-0)** Alper, Josh (June 26, 2018). ["CBS announces Gene Steratore as NFL, college basketball rules analyst"](https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/06/26/cbs-announces-gene-steratore-as-nfl-college-basketball-rules-analyst/). profootballtalk.nbcsports.com.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Color commentator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_commentator) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_commentator?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.