Premier League fans in America will have a new lead voice from the pitch come August. Peter Drury will replace Arlo White as NBC’s lead Premier League announcer, The Athletic confirmed Monday after a report by The Daily Mail last weekend. NBC Sports declined comment.
White, a well-respected voice among U.S. soccer fans, had served as the lead play-by-play voice for NBC Sports Group’s Premier League coverage since the network acquired the exclusive U.S. media rights beginning with the 2013-14 season. In addition, he called soccer for NBC Olympics during the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games. White was also NBC’s play-by-play voice for U.S. women’s national soccer team matches at the Tokyo Olympics.
Prior to joining NBC, White was the play-by-play voice of MLS side Seattle Sounders FC on television and radio. He previously spent nine years with BBC Radio Sport in England where he was part of the BBC Radio 5-Live announcing team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Drury served on commentary this season for CBS Sports’ coverage of the Champions League. He had a long run with ITV Sport as their No. 2 soccer commentator and has recently worked for Amazon Prime Video for its Premier League coverage in the UK as well as BT.
In November, the Premier League agreed to a new six-year rights deal in the United States with NBC Sports. The Athletic reported the agreement is worth more than £2 billion ($2.7 billion), well over double the previous deal, and will run until 2028.
(Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside/Getty Images)
Why would NBC make a change?
Jeff Rueter, MLS staff writer: Coinciding with the end of NBC's old agreement with the Premier League, many commentators' and pundits' contracts ran through the end of the 2021-2022 season. It makes this summer a natural time to change a few voices and faces.
White came under fire in October in the wake of the Newcastle takeover for not alluding to the controversy and civil rights atrocities surrounding the Saudi Arabian involvement, and doubled down on Twitter in a potentially unprofessional way. White has also occasionally called matches for the Chicago Fire and could be primed for a leading role in MLS' national coverage whenever it finalizes its broadcast deals.
Advertisement
Will fans be happy with this hire?
Rueter: It won't take more than a few seconds after Drury's first call to notice a drastically different approach to commentary from White. While White often relies on statistics, trends, and narratives to enhance his calls, Drury is known by some as "the football poet" for his impressive way with words in an emotional moment. It can lead to some very memorable calls (as well as some in-action comments that certain fans will deem melodramatic).
Drury has a track record of reading the moment; if he carries his same tone, it could result in NBC's broadcast gaining greater international prominence on the back of his voice.
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57k2pub2xkbnxzfJFrZmltX2h%2BcLzErZyrZZSnwrPFjK2mZqqVpbmir8RmmKukn2LEqbXTnmSaq12jr6S%2FjKWcmpxdpb%2BmucieqWaklZa0trGMmqWnp6WjsKa%2BjKymrqqTmnw%3D