The 2020-21 NBA season will see major changes brought to the Orlando Magic team of radio broadcasters. According to The Athletic, the Magic radio broadcast will no longer feature play-by-play voice Dennis Neumann or analyst Richie Adubato.
In addition to parting ways with Neumann and Adubato, the Magic also won’t be renewing the contract of Spanish-language radio play-by-play announcer Joey Colón. The Magic will instead streamline their TV and radio broadcasts into one simulcast, citing financial concerns for the decision making.
“Our business, as well as many others like us, continue to be impacted by the pandemic,” Magic CEO Alex Martins told The Athletic.
“We have had to make some very hard business decisions in these unprecedented times, and we made the difficult decision to reorganize our efforts in regard to radio. Moving forward we will simulcast our radio and television game broadcasts.”
This past season was Neumann’s 22nd as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Magic, having joined the broadcast in 1998. Before stepping in as the team’s radio voice, Neumann served as the broadcast’s studio host for several years, totaling nearly three full decades with the organization.
Former NBA and WNBA coach Richie Adubato joined Neumann on the call in 2005. At 82-years old, Adubato most recently only worked home games for the Magic. On their Spanish broadcast, Joey Colón has been the play-by-play voice for 22 seasons, before the team announced his contract would not be renewed.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
Simply – what a cheapskate move by the Magic! Moves like this will comeback to hurt the team. As soon as things get back to normal (none of this ‘New Normal’ mainstream driven baloney) the Magic and others who have made foolish sports media personnel cuts will be looking to re-hire.
ok
Landon Mook Terry
lnterry6@gmail.com
That’s not the only changes needing to be made. We’ll probably end up running back pretty much this same roster for next season, being unable to go pass this point. Check out the record this year, declined from last year, need changes in roster, whats to lose
Is this the beginning of the end of radio play-by-play? I sure hope not but it seems plausible other teams could head in this direction. The Lakers did the radio/TV simulcast thing for years with the great Chick Hearn. But of course that works when you have a legendary voice who your fans want to hear.