The following is a list of the national television and radio networks and announcers that have broadcast National League Championship Series games over the years. It does not include any announcers who may have appeared on local broadcasts produced by the participating teams.
National television
2020s Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s) Pregame host Pregame analysts Trophy presentation2026Fox/Fox One (TBD)Joe DavisJohn SmoltzKen Rosenthal and Tom VerducciMatt Vasgersian (Game 1)Kevin Burkhardt (Games 2–4)Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Derek JeterTom VerducciFS1/Fox One (TBD)2025TBS/TruTV/HBO MaxBrian AndersonRon Darling and Jeff FrancoeurLauren ShehadiAdam LefkoeJimmy Rollins, Pedro Martínez, and Curtis GrandersonLauren Shehadi2024Fox (Games 1–2)Joe DavisJohn SmoltzKen Rosenthal and Tom VerducciMatt Vasgersian (Games 1, 6)Kevin Burkhardt (Games 2–5)Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Derek JeterTom VerducciFS1 (Games 2–6)2023TBS/MaxBrian AndersonRon Darling and Jeff FrancoeurMatt WinerLauren ShehadiJimmy Rollins, Pedro Martínez, Curtis Granderson, and Albert Pujols (Games 1–2)Matt WinerTruTV (AltCast)Alanna RizzoPedro Martínez (Games 1–4, 6–7), Albert Pujols (Games 1–2, 4–7), Nestor Cortés (Games 1–3, 6–7), Yonder Alonso (Games 1–3), Enrique Hernández (Games 1–2), Iván Rodríguez (Game 3), Patrick Sandoval (Games 4–5), and Rubén Amaro Jr. (Game 5)2022FS1 (Games 1–3, 5)Joe DavisJohn SmoltzKen Rosenthal and Tom VerducciKevin Burkhardt (Games 1–4)Matt Vasgersian (Game 5)Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Frank ThomasTom VerducciFox (Games 2, 4)2021TBSBrian AndersonRon Darling and Jeff FrancoeurLauren ShehadiBob CostasJimmy Rollins, Pedro Martínez, and Curtis GrandersonLauren Shehadi2020Fox (Games 1, 4, 7)Joe Buck (Games 1–6)Joe Davis (Game 7)John SmoltzKen Rosenthal and Tom VerducciKevin BurkhardtAlex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Frank ThomasTom VerducciFS1 (Games 2–7)
Notes Beginning in 2022, the new 7 year Major League Baseball contract called for both Fox network and FS1 to air more post-season games (two Divisional Series and one best-of-7 League Championship Series) while keeping the regular season structure intact. The deal saw Fox continue to air the All-Star Game and the World Series exclusively. However, Fox has expanded digital rights, and will air at least two of the first four League Championship Series games and all seventh games in its league from 2020 to 2028. Also, TBS will air Tuesday Night Baseball for the duration of the contract. 2020 – Joe Davis called play-by-play for Game 7 due to Joe Buck calling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Green Bay Packers NFL game for Fox. 2021 – Bob Costas took over for Ernie Johnson as pregame host for TBS due to Johnson's Inside the NBA duties for TNT. 2022 – Matt Vasgersian filled in for Kevin Burkhardt as pregame host for Game 5 due to Burkhardt calling the Kansas City Chiefs–San Francisco 49ers NFL game for Fox. Vasgersian also filled in for Burkhardt on the postgame show after Game 4 the night before. 2024 – Matt Vasgersian filled in for Kevin Burkhardt as pregame host for Games 1 and 6 due to Burkhardt calling the Week 6 Detroit Lions–Dallas Cowboys and Week 7 Kansas City Chiefs–San Francisco 49ers NFL games for Fox. 2026 – Matt Vasgersian filled in for Kevin Burkhardt as pregame host for Game 1 due to Burkhardt calling the Week 5 San Francisco 49ers–Seattle Seahawks NFL game for Fox.
2010s Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s) Pregame hosts Pregame analysts Trophy presentation2019TBSBrian AndersonRon Darling and Jeff FrancoeurLauren ShehadiCasey SternGary Sheffield, Pedro Martínez, Jimmy Rollins, and Curtis GrandersonBrian Anderson2018FS1 (Games 1, 3–7)Joe BuckJohn SmoltzKen Rosenthal and Tom VerducciKevin BurkhardtAlex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Frank ThomasTom VerducciFox (Game 2)2017TBSBrian AndersonRon DarlingSam RyanCasey SternGary Sheffield, Pedro Martínez, Jimmy Rollins, and Ryan Howard (Games 4–5)Brian Anderson2016FS1Joe BuckJohn Smoltz Ken Rosenthal and Tom VerducciKevin BurkhardtAlex Rodriguez, Pete Rose, Frank Thomas, and Tom Verducci (in Chicago)Kevin Burkhardt2015TBSErnie JohnsonRon Darling and Cal RipkenMatt Winer and Sam RyanCasey SternGary Sheffield, Pedro Martínez, and Dusty BakerErnie Johnson2014Fox (Game 1)Joe BuckHarold Reynolds and Tom VerducciKen Rosenthal and Erin AndrewsKevin BurkhardtC. J. Nitkowski, Eric Karros, Gabe Kapler, and Frank ThomasErin AndrewsFS1 (Games 2–5)2013TBSErnie JohnsonRon Darling and Cal RipkenCraig SagerKeith OlbermannTom Verducci, Pedro Martínez, and Gary SheffieldErnie Johnson2012FoxJoe BuckTim McCarverKen RosenthalErin Andrews (Games 1–4, 6–7)Chris Myers (Game 5)Matt VasgersianHarold Reynolds, Eric Karros, and A. J. PierzynskiErin Andrews2011TBSBrian AndersonRon Darling and John SmoltzCraig SagerMatt WinerDavid Wells, Cal Ripken, and Dennis EckersleyMatt Winer2010FoxJoe BuckTim McCarverKen RosenthalChris RoseEric Karros and Mitch WilliamsChris Rose
Notes The 2010 NLCS did not air in some Philadelphia-area homes after Cablevision pulled local Fox station WTXF off its lineup on October 16 as the result of a carriage dispute with News Corporation, Fox's parent company. Brian Anderson took over for Ernie Johnson as the lead play-by-play man for TBS during the 2011 postseason because Johnson had to care for his son Michael (who suffered from Muscular dystrophy and was placed in intensive care around the same time as the playoffs). His son died 10 years later at 33. Nielsen ratings for Game 7 of the 2012 NLCS between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals showed that 31.8% of households in the St. Louis area watched the game compared with 27.5 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nationally, Nielsen found that 8.1 million viewers saw this game, a 4.9% share of households. The rating peaked at 5.8 at 7:30 p.m. (Central Time Zone) before declining as viewers switched to Monday Night Football or the presidential debate. Beginning in 2014, when Fox Sports began a new television contract with Major League Baseball, FS1 airs 40 regular season MLB games (mostly on Saturdays), along with up to 15 post-season games (eight Divisional Series games and one best-of-7 League Championship Series). The deal resulted in a reduction of MLB coverage on the Fox network, which will air 12 regular season games, the All-Star Game, and the World Series. Game 1 of the 2014 NLCS was simulcast on Fox Sports 1 and hosted by Kevin Burkhardt, Gabe Kapler and C. J. Nitkowski, who offered sabermetric analysis of the game. 2017 – Anderson again took over for Johnson as the NLCS play-by-play announcer for TBS, this time because of Johnson's Inside the NBA duties for TNT.
2000s Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s) Pregame hosts Pregame analysts Trophy presentation2009TBSChip CarayRon Darling and Buck Martinez Craig SagerErnie JohnsonDavid Wells, Cal Ripken, and Dennis EckersleyErnie Johnson2008FoxJoe BuckTim McCarverKen Rosenthal and Chris MyersJeanne ZelaskoKevin Kennedy, Mark Grace, and Eric KarrosChris Myers2007TBSChip CarayTony Gwynn and Bob BrenlyCraig Sager and José MotaErnie JohnsonFrank Thomas, Cal Ripken, and Ron DarlingErnie Johnson2006FoxJoe BuckTim McCarver and Luis GonzálezKen RosenthalJeanne ZelaskoKevin Kennedy and A. J. PierzynskiKenny Albert2005FoxThom BrennamanSteve Lyons and Bob BrenlyChris Myers, Patrick O'Neal, and Kenny AlbertJeanne ZelaskoKevin KennedySteve Lyons2004FoxThom BrennamanSteve Lyons and Bob BrenlyChris Myers and Josh LewinJeanne ZelaskoKevin KennedySteve Lyons2003FoxThom BrennamanSteve Lyons and Al LeiterJosh LewinJeanne ZelaskoKevin KennedySteve Lyons2002FoxJoe BuckTim McCarverJeanne ZelaskoKevin KennedyTim McCarver2001FoxJoe Buck (in Arizona)Thom Brennaman (in Atlanta)Tim McCarver (in Arizona)Steve Lyons (in Atlanta)Jeanne ZelaskoKevin KennedySteve Lyons2000FoxJoe BuckTim McCarver and Bob BrenlyBob BrenlyKeith OlbermannKevin KennedyKeith Olbermann
Notes In , Game 5 of the NLCS and Game 4 of the ALCS were split between Fox and Fox Sports Net. This came off the heels of Fox airing an NFL doubleheader that particular day (October 21). In , Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the ALCS were split between Fox and Fox Sports Net. The regional split was done in order for Fox to avoid televising a weekday afternoon game. In , Game 1 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the NLCS were split between Fox and FX. In , Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the ALCS were split between Fox and Fox Sports Net. Also in 2004, Game 5 of the ALCS ran way into the time slot of Game 5 of the NLCS. As a result, the first seven innings of the NLCS game were shown on FX, except in the home markets of the teams competing in the NLCS, which saw the conclusion of the ALCS on FX and the NLCS on Fox. In , Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the ALCS were split between Fox and FX. The 2007 NLCS on TBS marked the first time that a League Championship Series was exclusively broadcast on a cable television network.
1990s Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s)1999NBCBob CostasJoe MorganJim Gray and Craig Sager1998FoxJoe BuckTim McCarver and Bob Brenly1997NBCBob CostasJoe Morgan and Bob UeckerJim Gray1996FoxJoe BuckTim McCarver and Bob Brenly1995ABC (in Cincinnati)Al MichaelsJim Palmer and Tim McCarverLesley VisserNBC (in Atlanta)Greg GumbelJoe MorganJohnny Bench1993CBSSean McDonoughTim McCarverJim Gray1992CBSSean McDonoughTim McCarverJim Gray1991CBSJack BuckTim McCarverAndrea Joyce1990CBSJack BuckTim McCarverJames Brown
Notes The postseason started on a Thursday, while World Series started on a Tuesday due to the brief lockout. In , Major League Baseball and CBS went with some rather unconventional scheduling during the LCS round, with two consecutive scheduled off-days in the NLCS after Game 2. In , CBS didn't come on the air for baseball for weeknight LCS telecasts until 8:30 p.m. ET. Instead, they opted to show programming such as Rescue 911 at 8 p.m. rather than a baseball pregame show. The 1994 National League Championship Series was planned to air on NBC. However, those plans were scrapped when a strike caused the entire postseason to be cancelled. The rather messy arrangement was courtesy of "The Baseball Network", which was Major League Baseball's in-house production facility. ABC and NBC (who essentially, distributed the telecasts rather than produce them by themselves like in the past) shared the same on-air graphics and even the microphone "flags" had the "Baseball Network" logo on it with the respective network logo. In addition, the first four games of both of the 1995 League Championship Series were regionally televised.
1980s Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s)1989NBCVin Scully (Games 1, 3–5)Bob Costas (Game 2)Tom Seaver1988ABCAl MichaelsJim Palmer and Tim McCarver1987NBCVin ScullyJoe Garagiola1986ABCKeith JacksonTim McCarver1985NBCVin ScullyJoe Garagiola1984ABCDon DrysdaleEarl Weaver and Reggie Jackson1983NBCVin ScullyJoe Garagiola1982 ABCAl MichaelsTommy LasordaHoward Cosell (Games 1, 3)1981NBCDick EnbergTom Seaver1980ABCKeith JacksonDon Drysdale and Howard Cosell
Notes On October 11, 1980, Keith Jackson called an Oklahoma vs. Texas college football game for ABC in the afternoon, then flew to Houston, Texas to call Game 4 of the NLCS. In the meantime, Don Drysdale filled-in for Jackson on play-by-play for the early innings (up until the middle of the fourth inning). ABC used Steve Zabriskie as a field reporter during the 1980 NLCS. The 1981 NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos was also broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) with Dave Van Horne and Duke Snider announcing. This was still during a period in which the participating ballclubs were allowed to do their own local League Championship Series telecasts.