Salary of a Super Bowl Broadcaster

John Madden broadcasted nine Super Bowls during his career as an analyst.

Broadcasting the Super Bowl can be both career-defining and life-altering because of the enormous popularity of the event and the millions of viewers who watch. Yet this opportunity is strictly limited by the three major network's relationship with the NFL and whoever are the top broadcasters for that network. Sports broadcasting careers can be lucrative and NFL broadcasters who get to announce the Super Bowl are salaried at seven-figure incomes annually. Thus, broadcasting the Super Bowl is merely a bonus for these individuals.

Average Salary

The Radio-Television News Directors Association lists the average salary of sports anchors at $50,600 annually as of 2011. However, sports anchors at the national level have historically earned significantly more than that. Online Sports, in its 1998 report, stated that top-tier network sportscasters and anchors earned million-dollar salaries. Those in the second and third-tier earned six-figure salaries. As of publication, this still holds true and is evidenced by sports broadcaster Michael Strahan's $2 million annual contract with FOX as of 2008.

The Analysts

In 2002, former legendary NFL coach John Madden signed a four-year, $20 million contract with ABC to co-host "Monday Night Football." With a $5 million annual salary, the contract provided Madden with an opportunity to host his ninth Super Bowl in 2003 as ABC assumed coverage of the Super Bowl from FOX. In 2011, Hall-of-Fame quarterback Troy Aikman broadcast the Super Bowl for FOX, which has the rights to the Super Bowl as of publication. Though no specific salary information is given for Aikman, Aikman and play-by-play announcer Joe Buck are FOX network's top NFL broadcasting team.

The Play-by-Play Guys

In 2000, former NFL great Pat Summerall signed an extension with the FOX network to do play-by-play for NFL games through the 2002 season according to a July 2000 article on Philly.com. The contract extension also provided that Summerall would be the play-by-play announcer for the 2002 Super Bowl. In fact, Summerall and John Madden provided the broadcast for the 2002 Super Bowl. Though no salary information was disclosed, Summerall's salary for FOX was $1.5 million annually as of 1998 according to Online Sports. Madden's Super Bowl broadcast partner in 2003 was Al Michaels whose contract with ABC paid him $3 million annually.

Pre-Game Broadcasters

In addition to the game announcers for the Super Bowl, pre-game broadcasters also provide Super Bowl coverage. These broadcasters are also contracted to the networks for multi-million dollar salaries as pre-game analysts during an NFL season. With the 2011 Super Bowl being covered by FOX, one of the NFL's top pre-game broadcasters, Terry Bradshaw, provided pre-game analysis for the Super Bowl and presented the Super Bowl-winning Green Bay Packers with their trophy. Bradshaw, whose contract runs out in 2011, signed an initial contract with FOX in 1998 that paid him $11 million over 5 years. Bradshaw's contract was renewed in 2003.

References

• Radio Television Digital News Association; Hofstra Survey Shows Sharp Rise in TV & Radio News Salaries; Bob Papper
• "Sports Illustrated"; Madden Joins Monday Night Football in Two-Man Booth; February 2002
• Online Sports: Sports News You Can Use
• "USA Today"; NFL Viewers Will See Fox Shakeup; Michael Hiestand; August 2011
• Philly.com; Summerall and Network are a Team Through 2002; Mike Bruton; July 2000
• "USA Today"; TV Sports; Madden, Costas Could Be in Disney's Sights; Rudy Martzke; February 2002
• "New York Post"; Terry Set to Retire; Justin Terranova; January 2008