Blue Jackets eliminate radio crew; could NBA teams be next?

The NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets are eliminating their standalone radio broadcast. Could some NBA teams eventually do the same? 

The answer is yes. And perhaps in the not-so-distant future.

As Max Littman of Awful Announcing relayed, the Blue Jackets did not renew the contract of longtime radio play-by-play announcer Bob McElligott after 17 years. Columbus will instead simulcast its television and radio broadcasts.

The organization also eliminated its team-insider position following the departure of Jeff Svoboda, who had spent eight seasons covering the Blue Jackets from inside the organization.

Naturally, fans aren’t thrilled. They view the moves as another round of cost-cutting by a franchise that has missed the NHL playoffs six straight years.

Still, the decision is worth watching from an NBA perspective.

There has already been speculation that the Trail Blazers could eventually combine their television and radio broadcasts as new owner Tom Dundon continues to reduce expenses. Portland has denied that possibility, and there is no indication that such a change is coming.

But the Blue Jackets just showed that a professional sports franchise is willing to do it.

For teams, simulcasting means one broadcast crew instead of two. It means fewer salaries, lower production costs, and one presentation across television, radio, and streaming platforms.

For fans, it means losing a broadcast specifically designed for radio, where announcers need to describe far more of the action. A television call doesn’t always translate particularly well when there are no pictures. That may not stop owners from trying it.

The NBA’s local media business is already changing rapidly as regional sports networks disappear and teams experiment with over-the-air television and streaming packages. Standalone radio broadcasts could eventually become part of that conversation, too.

The Blazers say it isn’t happening in Portland. But after what the Blue Jackets just did, it would hardly be surprising if an NBA team eventually follows.