Professor Shirin Mollah sits down with Dr. Kevin Curran, a seasoned play-by-play producer and college professor with over 30 years of experience working with teams like the Oakland Athletics, LA Lakers, and University of Arizona. They explore the often-overlooked economic impact of play-by-play announcers on team revenue, fan engagement, and marketing strategies. Curran reveals how these voices aren't just calling games – they're sophisticated sales tools, building parasocial relationships with fans while promoting everything from bobblehead nights to season tickets. The conversation covers the business relationships between teams and broadcasters, the challenges of measuring ROI on play-by-play investment, and how emerging technologies like AI might reshape this traditional role. With insights from someone who's worked alongside Hall of Fame broadcasters like Chick Hearn, this episode uncovers the fascinating economics behind the voices we trust to guide us through our favorite games.
