Media / Digital Media
Sports Commentator
Sports commentators discuss and describe sporting matches or events for the benefit of viewers or listeners not able to be there live.
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Entry-level education
Bachelor’s degree
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Job outlook
What does a Sports Commentator do?
Sports commentators discuss and describe sporting matches or events for the benefit of viewers or listeners not able to be there live.
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Work activities
As a sports commentator, you might:
- research the participants and their clubs or teams before the event
- commentate on the build up and interview relevant people before the start
- work with the production team to plan how the event will be run
- take direction from the producer during the match or event
- describe the run of play in depth for listeners
- have relevant statistics to hand for in-between periods of play
- summarise what has happened after the event and offer expert opinion on it.
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Key skills and interests
To become a sports commentator, you would need:
- excellent communication skills
- a clear voice and good pronunciation
- good presentation skills
- confidence when talking to large numbers of people
- a genuine interest in sports
- a knowledge of one or more sports
- to remain impartial during commentary.
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Working hours and conditions
Working Hours
As a sports commentator you would work irregular long hours. Generally you would be commentating live at sporting events, which often take place in the evenings and at weekends.
Conditions
You would travel locally, nationally and internationally to wherever the sport is being played. Depending on the sport you may be in a commentary box or outside in all sort of weathers. You may also spend time in a studio pre-recordng interviews or promotional pieces.
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How to become an Sports Commentator?
Entry Level Education
You can work as a sports commentator without formal qualifications. However, many sports commentators begin their careers in other roles in media, such as journalism or research. Most entry level roles in the media will require a university degree in media, communication or journalism. To get into these degree courses you usually need to gain your senior secondary school certificate or equivalent with English.
Many sports commentators are ex-professionals in their chosen sports, who have retired and moved into commentating, thereby making it harder for others without the sporting experience to get roles.
Entry level roles in the media are extremely competitive. You should try to gain some experience by volunteering or undertaking an internship in community, university or commercial media.
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Job outlook
Employment of sports commentators is projected to remain neutral.
Declining revenue for all forms of media organisations has led to less demand for all workers in the media. However, media organisations will still need presenters and commentators. Employment prospects are likely to be best for commentators who have a combination of media presentation skills and expertise in their chosen sport.
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