ESPN’s surprise announcement this week that Jon Champion has decided to relocate to the United States and become ESPN’s lead commentator for MLS is going to leave a gaping hole in the commentaries of Premier League games.
Out of all of the Premier League commentators calling games around the world, Champion is the number one in his field. Displaying a very English commentary style with an equal balance of witty remarks and not talking too much during games, Champion is the best in the business. So much so that his commentary style coupled with his knack of saying the right thing at the right time has made him a household name to viewers worldwide that tune into English football.
He will stay on commentate his final Premier League match on the world feed on January 29 between Newcastle United and Manchester City. After that, he’ll be flying to the United States to get ready for the 2019 MLS season where he’ll team up with Taylor Twellman to call games from the domestic top-flight league.
ESPN producer Amy Rosenfeld has said it will be determined on a case-by-case basis whether Champion can call Premier League games and tournaments if it doesn’t interfere with his ESPN work. However, given MLS’ long season from March until December as well as the world feed’s preference to have their commentators call Premier League games from the stadiums in England, it’s doubtful that Champion will be a regular in the Premier League given his schedule and new residence in the United States.
No offense to Arlo White, but Jon Champion is the voice of the Premier League. While Martin Tyler is the quintessential English commentator, we only get to hear Tyler’s commentaries on Monday night Premier League matches as well as the occasional England national team game or European cup final.
Eloquent and exceedingly listenable, Champion has been one of the hardest working English football commentators in the United Kingdom for the last decade. He will be deeply missed on Premier League broadcasts.
Who can fill his shoes in England is a big question. Much like Champion, Peter Drury is one who has had a long career in England. But while Drury has a memorable voice and delivery style, he hasn’t won over as many fans of his commentary as much as Champion has, as regular readers to this blog can attest.
So if Drury isn’t the rightful successor to get most of the limelight commentating games from England, which UK-based commentator is? Ian Darke doesn’t get to call as many Premier League games as viewers in the United States would like (he’s arguably bigger in America than he is in England). Derek Rae would be an ideal acquisition for the Premier League world-feed commentaries, but the timing may be poor given that he recently moved back to the States. Meanwhile, the remainder of the other English football commentators all fall into the same pack — well-skilled in their craft but not in the category of world-class commentators.
In some ways, the trio of Drury, Champion and Tyler have been such a reliable and consistent mainstay in the last three decades of English football commentary that it has left a gap behind the next wave of announcers. Also, outside of the Premier League seasons, the trio have been able to pick up many of the top slots for commentators globally whether it’s for the World Cup, European Championship or International Champions Cup.
Champion’s exit from the Premier League will give more opportunities to younger commentators to break into the field. But at the same time, it might mean that what we’re left with is a group of 15-20 quality commentators (including the more experienced Drury and Tyler). Where we may see the new, rising stars will be in the role of co-commentator instead of a lead announcer. Leon Osman is a good example of that as someone who has hit the ground running in a very short space of time.
The Premier League’s loss is MLS’ gain. Lending his voice to the league will give ESPN’s broadcasts more of a familiar voice and will make the MLS games more listenable and engaging. That having be said, I will sincerely miss Jon Champion calling so many memorable Premier League and Championship games.
If you would have to guess, what happens to Adrian Healey on ESPN?
Looks like he’ll still do MLS matches but not the most high profile ones.
I grew up a life long Cubs fan. I loved Harry Caray and hated it when he died. But life moves on. Vin Scully is retired too. The baseball fan in me is old school. Most newer commentators suck. But that’s life. As for soccer commentators, Life moves on as well. Enjoy who you have as long as you have them and give some time and appreciation to incoiming commentators.
Will miss Jon but as I watch MLS games I think he will be a fine addition. I am very partial to English commentators in calling football games so Welcome Jon! Glad I will still be hearing your lovely voice and great insights. As to who will take up his mantle I am 100% behind Peter Drury. More Peter please!
God save us from more Drury than we already endure.
Peters’ energy is incredible and can make a simple goal sound like a world beating event. Great commentator.
Hopefully Jon can mentor Taylor Twellman to be a better announcer Champion ethos is “less is more”. Twellman can tend to talk too much thru broadcast he has great enthusiasm though. I am going back listening to your podcast with Champion from 4 mnths ago in Miami. You should link it to this article if possible. Quite enjoyable.
Chris let me correct you, Peter Drury has been the main guy of PL productions for the last eight years. Every week they assign him the biggest game while Jon Champions was getting the second best game. I have been listening jon for the past 15 years week and week out, he would be missed a lot. The brilliant ‘trio’ of Tyler, Drury, Champion are the reason why the EPL is such a Success for all over the world.
That may be true (I believe you), but we often get NBC commentator Arlo White for the biggest game of the week, which means we often don’t get Peter Drury on those matches.
I think they will promote one of the three following guys to replace Jon Champion. Jim Proudfoot: Joe Speight or Danniel Mann. All these guys have been doing regular commentry for the PL Productions lately. Especially, Joe Speight, he had commentating Match choice for every Saturday along Don Hutchison. For my opinion, I would like Steve Banyard to be back and replace Champion.
Not sure why this would get down voted, as someone who has been traveling for work for the past few years this is correct. Also like Chris commented on Ian Darke, Jon Champion is also bigger in America and around the world than he is in England, he’s not really a factor here, last time I think I heard him was during the world cup and even then he wasn’t the lead team. I hear him more when I go home than I do here.
As a soccer fan who is American, it’s a shame I won’t be hearing Champion any longer.
Champion to MLS. Can Drury be farmed out to the Indian, Bolivian, Chinese or Russian league? ie – somewhere where I’ll never have to hear his patronizing, annoying waffle ever again? That would be nice.
That would be music to my ears.
Christopher,
I hope you will be able to do a follow-up and get the story as to why Jon Champion is making this move at this stage in his career. I’m curious to know if ESPN made him the proverbial “offer he couldn’t refuse” money wise or is it more about a desire to live and work in the United States?
No offense to Adrian Healey but I do enjoy Jon Champion more as commentator so I think this is a great move for ESPN and MLS but will miss him on the Premier League broadcasts.
The AP ran a story about it that answers the questions at https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/12/10/jon-champion-mls-espn-lead-broadcaster
Interesting he mentions ESPN’s commitment to the sport. Seems to imply there will be other opportunities for him beyond MLS.
I assume he does the Euros and becomes a frequent panelist on ESPN FC but I wonder if they are planning to acquire more soccer rights. They already have plenty of talent in house for their existing programming and I assume he wasn’t an inexpensive hire.
I was wondering the same. Why on earth would he leave the biggest league in the world where millions of fans around the globe listen to his commentary. I don’t Think its money factor because the PL has got a lot of money.
My 8 year old son loves John Champion. He has him on his video games and listens to him when we watch the Premier League games.
Definitely the best there is . Jon seems to be everywhere on Friday nights doing a Championship game on ESPN+ . A game on Sat &Sun. In the Premier League and somewhere else for the rest of the week .
Jon Champion must be desperate for money. As they say ”follow the money” and you’ll come to the answer. He is going to regret doing this. Jon needs to get ready to commentate on some of the worst and boring football he has ever seen. One day Jon will be sitting in his living room in the US and watch the Premier League or any other league and say to himself what am I doing here I want to commentate on those games. Money doesn’t buy you happiness. Good luck Jon.
i will severely miss JC doing the Friday evening Championship games. Always looked forward to hearing him doing one. Perfect blend of commentary and letting the game breath. Like someone else said above, hopefully his skill of less is more WILL rub off on Twellman.
Could he still do those–off the monitor–since they’re on ESPN+? Not the same as him being there to call the games in person, but still, I’ll take whatever I can get.
His Friday night commentary is what turned me into a championship viewer. Love the championship announcers.
I really enjoy them too, except for Paul Walker. Can someone please tell him not to turn every s into a five second hiss? It makes the broadcast unlistenable, especially with headphones.
I bet you he got tons of $$$$$$$$$$
to leave the EPL for the MLS boring dross
ANyone know if TNT will televise the Round of 16 UCL draw on Monday which airs at 6am EST? Fox did, Remember Fox with its up to 5 games each group stage day plus MULTIMATCH? Got to believe there are others who would take Fox back in a heart beat even with its flaws.
It’s likely to be on B/R Live as well as UEFA.com
I’m a big fan of Peter Drury but i was thinking if maybe EPL can give Champion all bigger games until 29 Dec.Replace him with Steve Barnyard
He’s going to lose his mind working with Twellman.
Yeah I do think it will be a headache for him but I do think some valuable mentoring will be done and it will pay off good for Twellman as a PBP announcer. He talks so much and it often feels he is overly bombastic to make things interesting. People don’t need that, if they are watching the game they are already interested enough so be quiet and let the game experience take over. Less is more.
Yeah I do think it will be a headache for him but I do think some valuable mentoring will be done and it will pay off good for Twellman as a PBP announcer. He talks so much and it often feels he is overly bombastic to make things interesting. People don’t need that, if they are watching the game they are already interested enough so be quiet and let the game experience take over. Less is more.
I concur w/ Michal’s comment about twitman. Not sure how long champion will last having to watch over-the-hill europeans w/ with skill-less yanks. Not to mention other fools they’ll match him up with. It was so disappointing to see BR match Nash w/ Holden. If it were Nash w/ Champion, maybe Nash’s value would get drawn out, but to put him with holden or equivalent only creates a mute-able game to watch.
Don’t understand the whinging about spurs v reds CL game, both were very good. BR is doing a pretty good job selecting the best quality games to b/cast based on this fall’s games.
NBC missed a trick when they chose Arlo over Jon to be their lead announcer. Chalk and cheese. Loud, non-stop babbling from one; discreet, understated experience from the other. MLS the winners; we, the EPL viewers, the losers.
Ian Darke sucks. Arlo White sucks.