NBC Sports Keeps Al Michaels for Some Duties With ‘Emeritus’ Deal

variety.com:

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAl Michaels may be leaving NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” but he’s not leaving NBC.The veteran broadcaster, who revealed in March that he planned to lead Amazon’s new streamcast of “Thursday Night Football” in the fall, is keeping a foothold at NBC Sports.

Michaels will have “emeritus” status, and is expected to contribute across the NBC Sports portfolio, including, the company said, to the NFL Playoffs and the Olympics.“Revered by viewers and colleagues, Al has been the soundtrack for many of the greatest moments in sports television history,” said Pete Bevacqua, chairman of NBC Sports, in a statement.  “We are thrilled that he’s staying in the family and raising the stature of our events for years to come.” Michaels has has covered more major sports events than any sportscaster, and has, on occasion, found himself narrating history as well as a particular event.

He’s the sportscaster who in 1980 made an iconic call when the U.S. men’s hockey team upset the USSR’s at the1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. “Do you believe in miracles?” Michaels asked. “Yes!”  He also helped cover the 1989 San Francisco earthquake while offering play by play of the World Series.

He became just the second sportscaster in history to receive a News Emmy nomination for his efforts. Michaels spent 20 years calling “Monday Night Football,” and is the only commentator to call the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and host the Stanley Cup Final for network television.“I’m looking forward to continuing my longtime NBC relationship while also launching the ‘Thursday Night Football package on Amazon this fall,” Michaels said in a statement.