Fri Dec 13 22:24:39 UTC 2024: **NBC Snags Jamal Crawford, PGA-LIV Merger Nears, and More Sports News**

**[City, State] –** The sports broadcasting landscape is shifting, with several major announcements impacting NBA, golf, and Olympic coverage.

NBC Sports is poised to add former TNT analyst Jamal Crawford to its NBA coverage team starting in 2025, according to The Athletic. While his role within the network’s broadcast lineup is yet to be confirmed, he joins potential colleagues Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle, who are expected to be the lead play-by-play announcers. The network is also reportedly interested in current TNT analyst Reggie Miller.

Meanwhile, the ongoing saga between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf appears to be nearing a resolution. Bloomberg reports that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), the financial backer of LIV Golf, is in advanced talks to acquire a 6% stake in the PGA Tour’s commercial arm. This investment, valuing PGA Tour Enterprises at approximately $12 billion, would effectively end the merger talks and create a partnership between the two leagues. The impact of this partnership on scheduling and player participation remains to be seen.

In other broadcasting news:

* **ESPN’s NBA Finals Team:** Richard Jefferson is the frontrunner to join Mike Breen and Doris Burke in the lead broadcast booth for the NBA Finals. Other potential candidates include Jay Bilas, Tim Legler, and possibly even several former players who may be leaving TNT or considering a role with Amazon.
* **College Football Shuffle:** The Gasparilla Bowl has been moved to ESPN2, clearing space on ESPN for a College GameDay broadcast at Notre Dame before the Indiana-Notre Dame College Football Playoff game.
* **2026 Winter Olympics Schedule Released:** The schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy has been released, with many marquee indoor events slated for the afternoon in the US, potentially creating a scheduling conflict with NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show.
* **Mountain West Adds UC Davis:** The Mountain West Conference has added UC Davis as a non-football member, effective 2026.

These developments signal significant changes in the sports broadcasting and competitive landscapes, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead.

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