The Rose Bowl was first televised in 1947 on W6XYZ, an experimental station out of Los Angeles that would eventually become KTLA.

Television ESPN years (2011–present)

Beginning with the 2010 season, ESPN (majority-owned by ABC's parent company, The Walt Disney Company) now broadcasts all the BCS/CFP games, including the Rose Bowl game.Disney makes $125 million BCS bid. Variety, November 12, 2008Reid Cherner & Tom Weir, "Rose Bowl headed to ESPN" , USA today, June 12, 2009 The game is also broadcast nationally by ESPN Radio and by ESPN International for Latin America. In 2013, ESPN Deportes provided the first Spanish language telecast in the U.S. of the Rose Bowl Game.

The Rose Bowl game contract with ESPN was extended on June 28, 2012, to 2026, for a reportedly $80 million per year., Tournament of Roses Association, June 28, 2012Sam Farmer, ESPN agrees to pay $80 million a year to broadcast Rose Bowl, Los Angeles Times, July 16, 2012

DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s)January 1, 2026 ESPN Chris Fowler Kirk Herbstreit Holly Rowe and Kris BuddenJanuary 1, 2025 Holly Rowe and Stormy BuonantonyJanuary 1, 2024 Holly Rowe and Laura RutledgeJanuary 2, 2023 Holly RoweJanuary 1, 2022 Holly Rowe and Tiffany BlackmonJanuary 1, 2021 Sean McDonough Todd Blackledge Todd McShay and Allison Williams January 1, 2020 Chris Fowler Kirk Herbstreit Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi January 1, 2019 January 1, 2018 January 2, 2017 Samantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi January 1, 2016 Brent Musburger Jesse Palmer Maria Taylor January 1, 2015 Chris Fowler Kirk Herbstreit Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi January 1, 2014 Brent Musburger January 1, 2013Michael Humes, Combined Overnight Ratings for Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl BCS Games Rises over 2012, ESPN, January 2, 2013 January 2, 2012 Erin AndrewsTaylor, John (November 12, 2010). "Herbstreit, Musburger To Call Title Game". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 1, 2011. January 1, 2011

ABC years (1989–2010)

From 1989 to 2010, the game was broadcast on ABC, usually at 2 p.m. PST; the 2005 edition was the first one broadcast in HDTV. The first 9-year contract in 1988 started at about $11 million, which is what NBC had been paying. The 2002 Rose Bowl was the first broadcast not set at the traditional 2:00pm West Coast time.Lapointe, Joe - ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL; The Rose Bowl Loses Some of Its Luster, but Mystique Lingers. New York Times, January 4, 2002 Beginning in 2007, FOX had the broadcast rights to the other Bowl Championship Series games, but the Rose Bowl, which negotiates its own television contract independent of the BCS, had agreed to keep the game on ABC.

DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s) January 1, 2010 ABCBrent Musburger Kirk Herbstreit Lisa Salters January 1, 2009 January 1, 2008 January 1, 2007 Bob Davie and Kirk Herbstreit January 4, 2006 Keith Jackson Dan Fouts Todd Harris and Holly Rowe January 1, 2005 Todd Harris January 1, 2004 January 1, 2003 Brent Musburger Gary Danielson Jack Arute January 3, 2002 Keith Jackson Tim Brant Todd Harris and Lynn Swann January 1, 2001 Todd Harris January 1, 2000 Dan Fouts January 1, 1999 Bob Griese Lynn Swann January 1, 1998 January 1, 1997 Brent Musburger Dick Vermeil Jack Arute January 1, 1996 Keith Jackson Bob Griese Lynn Swann January 2, 1995 January 1, 1994 January 1, 1993 Brent Musburger Dick Vermeil January 1, 1992 Keith Jackson Bob Griese January 1, 1991 January 1, 1990 Mike Adamle and Jack Arute January 2, 1989 Mike Adamle

NBC years (1952–88)

The 1952 Rose Bowl, on NBC, was the first national telecast of a college football game.Gruver, 2002 pg. 48 The network broadcast both the Tournament of Roses Parade and the following game. The 1956 Rose Bowl has the highest TV rating of all college bowl games, watched by 41.1% of all people in the US with TV sets.Harvey, Randy – Bucking Tradition: Rose Bowl, Planted in the Past, No Longer the Flower of Football. Los Angeles Times, December 29, 1988 Of the 10 highest-rated college bowl games of all time, 9 are Rose Bowls. At the top of the list is the 1956 game between UCLA and Michigan State, which was watched by 41.1% of all people in the United States who had television sets at the time. The 1962 game was the first college football game broadcast in color. Television ratings for the Rose Bowl declined as the number of bowl games increased. The other bowl games also provided more compelling match-ups, with higher-ranked teams. In 1988, NBC gave up the broadcast rights, as the television share dropped in 1987 below 20.

DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s) January 1, 1988 NBC Dick Enberg Merlin Olsen January 1, 1987 January 1, 1986 January 1, 1985 January 2, 1984 January 1, 1983 January 1, 1982 January 1, 1981 January 1, 1980 O. J. Simpson January 1, 1979 Curt Gowdy John Brodie and O. J. Simpson None January 2, 1978 John Brodie January 1, 1977 Don Meredith January 1, 1976 Al DeRogatis Ross Porter January 1, 1975 January 1, 1974 Al DeRogatis January 1, 1973 January 1, 1972 January 1, 1971 Kyle Rote None January 1, 1970 January 1, 1969 January 1, 1968 Paul Christman January 2, 1967 Lindsey Nelson Terry Brennan January 1, 1966 January 1, 1965 Ray Scott January 1, 1964 Terry Brennan January 1, 1963 Mel Allen Bill Symes January 1, 1962 Braven Dyer January 2, 1961 Chick Hearn January 1, 1960 Lee Giroux January 1, 1959 Chick Hearn January 1, 1958 January 1, 1957 Lee Giroux January 2, 1956 Sam Balter January 1, 1955 Dick Danehe January 1, 1954 Tom Harmon January 1, 1953 January 1, 1952 Jack Brickhouse

Radio DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s)January 1, 2024 ESPN Radio Joe Tessitore Dusty Dvoracek Quint KessenichJanuary 2, 2023 Marc Kestecher Kelly Stouffer Ian FitzsimmonsJanuary 1, 2022 Tom Hart Jordan Rodgers Cole CubelicJanuary 1, 2021 Joe Tessitore Andre Ware Holly RoweJanuary 1, 2020 Bob Wischusen Dan Orlovsky Allison WilliamsJanuary 1, 2019 Dave Pasch Greg McElroy Tom LuginbillJanuary 1, 2018 Steve Levy Brian Griese Todd McShayJanuary 2, 2017 Dave Pasch Greg McElroy Molly McGrathJanuary 1, 2016 Brian Griese Tom RinaldiJanuary 1, 2015 Sean McDonough Chris Spielman Todd McShayJanuary 1, 2014 Bill Rosinski David Norrie Joe SchadJanuary 1, 2013 Dave Pasch Brian Griese Jenn BrownJanuary 2, 2012 Chris Spielman Tom RinaldiJanuary 1, 2011 Bill Rosinski David Norrie Joe SchadJanuary 1, 2010 Mike Tirico Jon Gruden Shelley Smith January 1, 2009 David Norrie Erin Andrews January 1, 2008 Dave Barnett Rod Gilmore January 1, 2007 Sean McDonough Chris Spielman Todd Harris January 4, 2006 Ron Franklin Bob Davie Dave Ryan January 1, 2005 Sean McDonough Rod Gilmore none used January 1, 2004 Mike Tirico Chris Spielman Matt Winer January 1, 2003 Steve Levy Rod Gilmore Alex Flanagan January 3, 2002 Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten January 1, 2001 Charley Steiner Bill Curry Holly Rowe January 1, 2000 Rod Gilmore Rob Stone January 1, 1999 Todd Christensen Holly Rowe January 1, 1998 none used January 1, 1997 NBC Radio Joel Meyers Jack Snow January 1, 1996 January 2, 1995 January 1, 1994 January 1, 1993 January 1, 1992 January 1, 1991 Wayne Larrivee January 1, 1990 Joel Meyers January 2, 1989 Mel Proctor January 1, 1988 Marty Glickman Stan White January 1, 1987 Jack O'Rourke January 1, 1986 January 1, 1985 January 2, 1984 Bob Costas January 1, 1983 Jack O'RourkeRick Forzano January 1, 1982 January 1, 1981 January 1, 1980 Bob Buck January 1, 1979Tom KellyBob Ufer*January 2, 1978Barry TompkinsJanuary 1, 1977Tom KellyJanuary 1, 1976Marv HomanFred Hessler*January 1, 1975Tom KellyTom Hamlin*January 1, 1974January 1, 1973Marv Homan*January 1, 1972Don KleinDon Kramer*January 1, 1971Marv Homan*January 1, 1970Mike WaldenDon Kramer*January 1, 1969Marv Homan*January 1, 1968Hilliard Gates*January 2, 1967January 1, 1966Fred HesslerBob Reynolds*January 1, 1965Bob UferBob Blackburn*January 1, 1964Bob WolffLarry Stewart*January 1, 1963Tom KellyMike Walden*January 1, 1962Fred HesslerChick Hearn*January 2, 1961Curt Gowdy Braven DyerJanuary 1, 1960Chick HearnJanuary 1, 1959Bud FosterJanuary 1, 1958Al HelferKeith JacksonJanuary 1, 1957Braven DyerJanuary 2, 1956January 1, 1955January 1, 1954January 1, 1953January 1, 1952January 1, 1951CBS RadioRed BarberConnie DesmondJanuary 2, 1950January 1, 1949Mel AllenJohn HerringtonJanuary 1, 1948NBC RadioBill Sternnone usedJanuary 1, 1947January 1, 1946January 1, 1945January 1, 1944Ken CarpenterJanuary 1, 1943January 1, 1942January 1, 1941January 1, 1940January 2, 1939January 1, 1938Ronald ReaganJanuary 1, 1937Don WilsonJanuary 1, 1936January 1, 1935January 1, 1934Graham McNameeCarl HaverlinJanuary 2, 1933Don WilsonKen CarpenterJanuary 1, 1932Graham McNameeCarl HaverlinJanuary 1, 1931January 1, 1930Lloyd YoderJanuary 1, 1929Bill MundayJanuary 2, 1928Graham McNameeJanuary 1, 1927

Notes From 1962-1978, inclusive, NBC used the primary play-by-play voice for each school to call one half of the game while the other man did color analysis. At halftime, the two would switch roles. Where a team is listed in the color commentator column, we are trying to ascertain the name of the man who was the primary voice for that team for that year.

See also

Bowl Championship Series on television and radio

References

External links Rose Bowl Numbers Game