Golf Channel Brings Whit Watson Into The Fold

A former ESPN’er (who isn’t a former ESPN’er?) and up until now, a host on Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports, Whit Watson goes back to the national stage as an anchor for Golf Channel’s signature studio show, Golf Central. He won’t have to move far as the Golf Channel is based in Orlando, where Watson lives. Commute will be easy for him. Here’s the announcement from Golf Channel.

Sports Broadcasting Vet Whit Watson Joins Golf Channel

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 3, 2010) – Golf Channel today announced the addition of award-winning sports broadcaster Whit Watson to its on-air team.  Watson, who has worked in a variety of roles for national and regional sports networks, including cable giant ESPN, will make his first appearance on Golf Channel as co-anchor of the Aug. 7 telecast of Golf Central.

Watson, a well-known television personality to Florida sports fans, most recently served as a principal host, play-by-play announcer and anchor for Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports cable networks, covering the NBA, MLB and NHL, as well as NCAA basketball, football and baseball.  He was often seen as a pregame host for Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Rays telecasts, and hosted telecasts for select Tampa Bay Lightning contests.  He also wrote and hosted episodes of Inside The Magic and Inside The Rays seasonal series, which earned him three Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards.

Watson spent seven years as an anchor at ESPN’s national headquarters in Bristol, Conn., where he anchored SportsCenter, and was featured during prime news hours on ESPNews.  He also hosted a variety of specialty shows, including RPM2Night, NBA2Night and NBA Matchup, and filled in as a host for several ESPN Radio shows.

A graduate of Cornell University, Watson began his broadcasting career in 1990 as a radio sports director and disc jockey at WVBR-FM in Ithaca, N.Y. and, subsequently, joined the broadcast department of the Orlando Magic.

Watson resides in Orlando, Fla. with his family, where he serves on the board of trustees at Trinity Preparatory School and is a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

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