Kevin Harlan: listening is key to broadcast chemistry

On a beautiful day in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I spoke with broadcaster, Kevin Harlan about some topics football fans are talking about going into the 2024-25 NFL season.

During that chat, I didn’t consider that one of my questions related to the biggest storyline of Week 1: the TV booth. Not Kevin’s, but another guy’s on another network. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Tom Brady, begins his NFL broadcasting career Sunday with Kevin Burkhardt and a decorated FOX Sports production crew in Cleveland.

While Harlan doesn’t have a new partner, he’s worked with a lot of TV rookies during his 40-year award-winning NFL career. I asked how he creates chemistry with his analysts, even one-offs.

“I think being a good listener is No. 1 in almost all parts of life, certainly in the broadcast booth,” Harlan said. “Listening to what your analyst says, trying to play off what they've just put out there. More times than not they've played the game or coached the game, so they know more than I do.

“If you're a good listener, you'll always pick up on their cues. You can pick it up on a second-down play. You can pick up a conversation. So, knowing when they say something and think, ‘Oh, that's kind of interesting. I don't know that I knew that.’ Or maybe our viewer or listener didn't know that.”

Harlan said he thinks being a good listener can always propel a broadcaster and keep the broadcast moving forward. At the same time, it demonstrates a bond in the booth.

Among the topics we chatted about were the NFL’s new kickoff rule and tweaks to look out for during the season. This being Week 1 and realizing we hit a trending topic, I’m sharing that with you first.

Give Brady a break

About Brady – show him some grace this week; maybe the next few. He may be the most studied guy in the game, but the multi-ringed one is allowed some rookie slack. My money is on him sounding like a TV veteran out of the gate, but the dynamics and technology during a broadcast that you will never see or hear take time to get used to. If he sounds challenged after Week 4, this publicist-sometimes-TV-boother will knock on his reps’ door offering help (yup, I’ve done that). I think he’s got this, though.

Kevin is gold in and outside the broadcast booth

Lots of thanks always to Kevin Harlan for giving me a few minutes and most importantly, being an ally.

Have a great 🏈 season y’all.

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© 2024 Gail Sideman, gpublicity.com

If you’re a broadcaster looking for ways to ease into your show like a pro, I want to help propel your public reputation. Visibility is a must in and outside the booth. Let’s work together to get you there.