Dan Dickerson and Jason Benetti just inked long-term extensions with the Detroit Tigers, cementing their spot as the lead voices for Detroit SportsNet and the Tigers Radio Network for years to come. This duo has already been crushing it for the past few seasons, with Dickerson stepping up for TV broadcasts when Benetti’s national gigs pull him away.
These Guys Are Locked In
The exact length of these deals isn’t out there, but seriously, who cares? The Tigers are consistently getting high marks for their broadcasts, both locally and nationally. And that Detroit SportsNet rollout this season? Total success story. Locking up these two long-term is a no-brainer. Dickerson has been on Tigers radio since 2000, becoming the lead play-by-play guy in 2003 after taking over for the legend Ernie Harwell. He’s building his own legacy, even if catching Harwell’s 42-year run is a huge challenge. Next season, expect to hear Dickerson on TV more, backing up Benetti, who everyone in sports wants for their mic. Benetti, by the way, is in his third season with Detroit, jumping over from the White Sox for the 2024 season. He’s still killing it as the play-by-play voice for NBC Sports “Sunday Night Baseball,” plus he handles college football and even some March Madness hoops. These guys also team up for the “Have a Seat” podcast on the Tigers’ YouTube channel, chatting with players and coaches all season long. It’s awesome.
How The Tigers Beat The Broadcast Collapse
After the whole Bally Sports saga and then FanDuel Sports trying to cling to the old model, those independent regional sports networks basically collapsed. But the Tigers? They’re in a killer spot with their broadcast production and on-air talent. Why? They actually planned for this mess! The Tigers hired Dickerson and Benetti as *team employees* years ago, not as employees of Bally or FanDuel. Smart move, right? That meant the transition out of the RSN model went super smoothly, and the Detroit SportsNet launch this season was a huge win. Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, put it perfectly: “We’re incredibly proud to have Jason and Dan as the voices of Tigers baseball, and grateful for their eagerness to make an even deeper commitment to our organization.” He added that they made a “deliberate decision to improve how we engage with our fans.”
With Benetti and Dickerson anchoring the coverage and the successful Detroit SportsNet, the Tigers are set up for consistency in their broadcasts for the foreseeable future. Get ready for more insight and player interviews from their podcast, too!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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