Changes at PTV end Turner’s Braves broadcast production
Braves games on Peachtree TV will look and sound more like Braves games on Fox Sports South and SportSouth, and should be available to a wider cable audience.
Peachtree TV is turning over production of its 45 Braves games to Fox Sports South, which will use its own producers, crews and broadcasters. Outside of Peachtree’s broadcast signal reach, the games will be carried on Fox Sports South or Fox-owned SportSouth — good news for some Braves fans in the South who previously couldn’t get Peachtree games.
Joe Simpson seems likely to continue as broadcast analyst on the 45 games that are switching production to Fox Sports South, but FSS vice president and general manager Jeff Genthner said on-air talent decisions haven’t been made.
Simpson teamed with play-by-play man Chip Caray on Fox Sports South and SportSouth games last season. On Peachtree TV games, Simpson teamed with play-by-play Ernie Johnson Jr., with John Smoltz also serving as frequent guest analyst.
Genthner said, “We certainly will work with Turner and the Braves [to decide on broadcasters]. I have not spoken with Joe Simpson or Chip Caray or anyone else in the mix. It’s just too soon….
“I think Joe is clearly someone who is a common denominator on the Turner telecast and the Fox telecast. That seems like a pretty comfortable fit with all parties. We have not engaged anyone on the play-by-play side yet. That conversation will start pretty soon. I’m not saying it’s going to be open or that there will be a lot of candidates.”
Johnson is under contract with Turner and serves as studio host for its TNT basketball broadcasts and postseason baseball. Smoltz worked for Turner on its Peachtree games in addition to his TBS duties on national games and postseason coverage.
The outsourcing of Peachtree TV’s Braves game and other sports content was one of the major changes announced Tuesday by the station, which is turning over its management to Meredith Corp. — the company that runs CBS Atlanta.
Before too much longer, the name on Turner Field might be the only remaining link between the Braves and Turner, the man and the broadcasting company that helped make it “America’s Team.”
For the first time 1972, no Braves games will be produced by Turner crews, other than occasional Braves appearances on TBS’ national game of the week.
Ted Turner bought the Braves in 1976, primarily to assure that the team remained in Atlanta and a programming staple on his station WTBS, which later blossomed into Superstation TBS.
Fox Sports Net and SportSouth became primary Braves carriers in 2008, continuing a migration of Braves games from Turner that began nearly a decade ago.
Shortly after he bought the Braves in ‘76, Turner put them on his pioneering Superstation, which bounced its signal off of satellites and beamed Braves broadcasts into homes across the country. The lowly Braves suddenly had more broadcast exposure than any team in professional sports.
It became known as “America’s Team” long before the Braves became a perennial playoff contender. It was a generally bad team for more than a decade on TBS, but some Braves players, along with broadcasters Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren, became wildly popular in every corner of the United States.
TBS showed about 150 games a year nationally until the early 1990s – except in Atlanta, where area residents got the local feed of those games on WTBS.
The beginning of the end of the Superstation-era Braves came after Turner Broadcasting Systems merged with Time Warner in 1996. Four years later, AOL and Time Warner merged.
By that time, TBS was carrying only about half of the Braves’ schedule, with the rest divided between Fox Sports Net and new regional network Turner South. In 2006, Turner South was sold to Fox Cable Networks, which moved Turner South’s Braves games to newly created SportsSouth.
The Braves were sold by Time Warner to Liberty Media in 2007, and that season was the team’s last on TBS. Also in 2007, WTBS was re-branded to become Peachtree TV
Peachtree TV is contracted to carry about 45 Braves games annually through 2013.
by David O’Brien, Braves blog
(Staff writer Kristi Swartz contributed to this story.)
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150 comments Add your comment
flint pierce
January 18th, 2011
12:57 pm
1
Ted Roof
January 18th, 2011
12:58 pm
Sad…oh the memories this story brings back!
2012 FEAR THE END
January 18th, 2011
1:00 pm
2
2012 FEAR THE END
January 18th, 2011
1:01 pm
fail
DevilInLaw
January 18th, 2011
1:01 pm
Worst news of the day is learning that Chip “There’s a drive, belted … routine pop fly” Caray is going to go every Braves game on TV in 2011.
UcantCLA
January 18th, 2011
1:02 pm
Hope they let Ernie Johnson call some games. I thought him and Smoltz did a great job.
eskippy
January 18th, 2011
1:03 pm
oo
Skip & Pete Fan
January 18th, 2011
1:09 pm
I’m so sad to learn of Turner and the Braves parting ways. That relationship brings back many memories as a kid. However, living three and a half hours south of Atlanta in the southwest corner of the state, I’m glad we don’t have to wait on DISH Network to decide the day before opening day that they’ll stream the PTV games. Great day!
Creighton
January 18th, 2011
1:11 pm
So, does this mean it will be Chip and Joe all the time? Big fan of Joe. But, frankly, my favorite team was Ernie, Joe and Smoltz.
PC
January 18th, 2011
1:17 pm
Living in Alabama and being a DirecTV customer, we got the PTV games, but only in SD. So if FSS or SS carries the PTV games in HD, I’ll tolerate having to listen to Chip.
Skip's proginy
January 18th, 2011
1:24 pm
DevilInLaw
January 18th, 2011
1:01 pm
Worst news of the day is learning that Chip “There’s a drive, belted … routine pop fly” Caray is going to go every Braves game on TV in 2011.
Yes, it’s wonderful news isn’t it? More of the Chipper in the booth, and the Chipper on the field. Wonder what ever happened to the chipper in Fargo?
ChopperToChipper
January 18th, 2011
1:28 pm
No dobut that Smoltz and Johnson were the best duo last year.
ChillyMutt
January 18th, 2011
1:29 pm
yawn.
collegeballfan
January 18th, 2011
1:37 pm
As long as they keep Joe Simpson in the booth. He is the best baseball TV announcer I have ever heard.
Simpson is one of the very few broadcasters not in love with the sound of their own voice.
David O'Brien
January 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
Rich, thoughtful response, ChillyMutt. Thanks for sharing with us all.
Sutton's Fro
January 18th, 2011
1:42 pm
I hope Comcast is involved in this. In the Savannah area, the Peachtree games were available via Comcast on an exclusive HD channel (nothing but Peachtree games). Comcast offers FSS in HD, but SportsSouth (the primary carrier of Braves games) is only available in SD. Hopefully Comcast expands its HD offerings, so that all the Braves games are available next season.
Mike
January 18th, 2011
1:48 pm
First, Boog leaves and sticks us with Chip on the Fox games. And now this move gets rid of the 45 times I looked forward to not having to put up with him. Nice guy, but just brutal in the booth.
UGASlobberknocker
January 18th, 2011
1:55 pm
This is a sad day for the Braves. If not for Turner and the Superstation, the Braves would be playing in another city right now. I know Ted has been out of it, but TBS remained. I hope today’s new fans will appreciate the role that TBS played in saving the Braves back in the 70s when they drew 5000 a game on a good night.
Ah tme memories..Chief Noc a Homa had some good blow back then as well. That smoke coming out of the top of his teepee wasnt a campfire.
On the positive side, as someone who traqvels in the SE occassionally, it will be nice to see the Braves ganes on SS that were on Peachtree TV..so out of state fans should be happy.
Fastball
January 18th, 2011
1:55 pm
I like Chip.
UGASlobberknocker
January 18th, 2011
1:56 pm
Hey DOB, whats the newest hot record?
UGASlobberknocker
January 18th, 2011
1:58 pm
Chip never shuts up. EJ Jr’s understated style is the best and when he has Smoltz as his sidekick, that is the best broadcasting team in the biz. IMO
I like Simpson, too, but for someone who hit about 270 in the majors, I think his endless hitting swing analysis is tiresome.
zenman
January 18th, 2011
1:58 pm
DOB-Dave, that may be the brightest word you hear from ChillyMutt. He just may have given you his all. In an other world he could be Mr. Excitement. Come down to Tampa this Sat., and join me at Skippers Smoke House for Del Castillo and Point 6. I’ll buy. If you have never seen Del Castillo, you will find the trip well worth it. Low of 60 Sat night. Join us for a great time.
will36206
January 18th, 2011
2:20 pm
Is this goodbye to JJ?
Somebody's gettin screwed,,say the Blue Jays
January 18th, 2011
2:22 pm
Great news on the Braves front..they signed JJ for 3.5 mill and Prado for 3.1.
at that JJ is a steal and Prado is worth it.
On the other side of the coin, Blue Jays gave Yunel Escobar 2.9 million !!!!
What?? And they wonder why they dont contend. Id rather give $2.9 mil to my daughter and send her to the mall.
ellaguru
January 18th, 2011
2:26 pm
Oh, man, some of us are getting old. Moved here in ‘76 and Ted had so little content he replayed every Braves game starting at, like, midnight. Good friend of mine had a sister who was pregnant and she skipped the games on the first go-around so she could watch the replay while her kid kept her up. She told us not to tell her what happened–as though anything good EVER happened to the late ’70s Braves teams. West coast people got to watch every game in prime-ish time, too. Ted may have been an accidental genius on that deal but a genius nevertheless. Total Braves Immersion was the order of the day. Now for that we have you, Dave.
Anybody but Chip
January 18th, 2011
2:42 pm
We were so close….. If only Boog had stayed with Sports South, Chip would have had no place to go after being fired by TBS. Now we don’t get any relief at all. I may have to resort to watching the games with the sound turned down and listen to the radio broadcast.
Herschel Talker
January 18th, 2011
2:48 pm
FIRE BOBBY COX
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 18th, 2011
2:49 pm
I miss Skip telling the viewers to tune in after the game to watch some B rated Chuck Norris film. He did it with such humor and sold it well. The Braves of our youth are no more, that is all this article really sums up. Just like all go things, they come to an end. I dare say within 5 years Turner Field will have a new name.
Anybody but Chip
January 18th, 2011
2:49 pm
FIRE CHIP CARAY
ATLfan15
January 18th, 2011
3:18 pm
@Lowcountry Bulldawg: those were the days, the dulcet tones of Skip Caray telling everyone to stay tuned for the next movie and then signing off with ’so long everybody’.
Tyler
January 18th, 2011
3:22 pm
Not a fan of Chip.
Smoltz – Simpson – Ernie Johnson Jr.
or
Place Chip on the radio and bring Sutton in w/ Simpson. I watch more than I listen.
I can’t take Chip. Just annoying. I’d rather listen/watch Gant and Lemke and that’s saying something.
Russ Orr
January 18th, 2011
3:47 pm
I’m a long time Braves fan in Oregon who misses the TBS broadcasts.
sean
January 18th, 2011
3:50 pm
anyones better than brian jordan!!,he cant even speak english.ever hear him talk about jason heyward?he calls him heywood!geez!
scottbravesfan
January 18th, 2011
3:52 pm
This is a good thing. A lot of non Comcast/Charter cable subscribers did not get the games. Time Warner cable here in Alabama put on a special channel just to show the Peachtree TV games but there were always issues with it at the beginning of the seasons. It took them a week or so before they would get the hang of it.
David O'Brien
January 18th, 2011
3:58 pm
zenman, thanks for the offer. But I’ll be flying to N.C. on Saturday, speaking at a hot-stove banquet in Wilson on Monday night. My parents live there.
AWE
January 18th, 2011
3:59 pm
I still want one of those Peachtree TV shirts.
LifeLongBravesfan
January 18th, 2011
4:02 pm
Joe Simpson is the best the Braves have, whether on radio or television. About the best on the National coverage for TBS during the playoffs too. Precise and with great insight as a former player who really knows the ends and outs of the game and doesn’t hold back when someone plays lousy. Don’t know why people have a problem with Chip. I say bring in Ernie SR!
Matt the Brave
January 18th, 2011
4:04 pm
Oh Lordy, could we just have Ernie Johnson Jr. and John Smoltz instead? I mean, Simpson darn near sounds like he is rooting for the other team now! I blame that on that red-headed midget that used to do Braves broadcasts while fully rooting for the Marlins and Mets every chance that he got.
bat hunter
January 18th, 2011
4:06 pm
i miss boog so much…
Tyler
January 18th, 2011
4:07 pm
DOB,
Wiltson? I used to live out that way for awhile while training for the Bank.
Would love to have some Bill’s right now.
David O'Brien
January 18th, 2011
4:13 pm
Matt the Brave, are you referring to Boog Sciambi as the “red-headed midget,” and if so, are you kidding? Dude’s about 6 feet and 230 lbs, give or take 10 lbs (he fluctuated a lot).
NCbravesfan
January 18th, 2011
4:30 pm
DOB,
looks like you will be in my area in NC. IF you have any idea would this make the Braves games televised in Southeastern NC with this new contract? I know in the western part of the state they receive the Braves games but here we have to buy the MLB package which does not make me happy..
Enjoy your trip to Wilson.
WE NEED THE DOB DAILY BLOGS BACK SOOOOON!!! COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS!!
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
January 18th, 2011
4:30 pm
Anybody remember when Ted would host “Friday Night Frights” on TBS?
He’d sit up in a coffin, face painted green, the fangs, the whole nine yards. Then he’d begin to speak.
NOTHING funnier than a vampire speaking fluent hillbilly/redneck English. With lots of errrrrs and dahhhhhs thrown in for effect. First vampire I ever heard say “y’all.” GREAT TV!
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
January 18th, 2011
4:33 pm
DOB “(he fluctuated a lot).”
Don’t we all..
jerry
January 18th, 2011
4:39 pm
A suggestion to Fox. Tell Joe and Chip to occasionally to shut the f— up.
Stuart
January 18th, 2011
4:42 pm
For all of the oddness exhibited by Ted Turner, TBS had great offerings on the tube and did spend a little on the Braves and the Hawks. Now the buraucracy known as Time Warner continues to denigrate and implode TBS. What a horrid joke.
Bob
January 18th, 2011
4:44 pm
I enjoy Chip and Joe. I hope they continue to do all the games!!
Capt. Obvious
January 18th, 2011
4:48 pm
At least Boog is gone!! Man did that guy suck.
ShakeWeightSally
January 18th, 2011
5:01 pm
Oh god! Please don’t tell me I have to hear more of Chip Carey! He is the worst announcer on the planet!
Bring back BOOG!!!!
FirePaulHewitt
January 18th, 2011
5:03 pm
Skip Caray was SO rude, I’m just glad he’s gone. Everyone in my dorm HATED him!
Ernesto
January 18th, 2011
5:07 pm
It is sad to know that the Braves games I am accustomed watching on Peachtree are no longer available to me here in the Mid Easter US. Our cable providers only want to broadcast Yanks, Orioles and Nats games.
Looks like MLB Network is going to take my money
Sarah P.
January 18th, 2011
5:13 pm
how come you guys are bloggin ’bout me?
Nate McLouth
January 18th, 2011
5:17 pm
Prado/JJ get more bucks—Hey, where’s my raise?
JEB
January 18th, 2011
5:20 pm
GREAT NEWS!
Every time a game is on PTV it gets blacked out in my area!
Glad to hear it!
Sad tale of how the Turner days have collapsed on us…. good memories!
James
January 18th, 2011
5:21 pm
In a perfect world Joe would be forced to go to Toronto and call games with Yunell Escobar and berate him so badly to the fans that they run him out of town there and we get our short stop back. Joe’s problem is he is stuck in the barnyard era. If you are not a good ole boy with the classic baseball look then you are a punk. Chip is just awful. Funny note: during one game Tom Glavine actually said he watched a game with the audio turned off! Get anybody else. A homeless guy off the streets could do a better job
The Murf
January 18th, 2011
5:22 pm
Agree with Ted Roof, this story brings back some memories! Simpson is the only link left from Pete, Skip, and Don years
flatFork
January 18th, 2011
5:22 pm
I hope this means games will air in Kentucky. We get FSS up here, but not Braves games. OhPleaseOhPleaseOhPleaseOhPleaseOhPleaseOhPleaseOhPleaseOhPleaseOhPlease!!!
Dave in Green Bay
January 18th, 2011
5:25 pm
Chip is the best since Ernie Sr.
Chip and Joe get my vote. (But I don’t get a vote)
OldBravesBag
January 18th, 2011
5:32 pm
DOB…does this mean Peachtree games shown by Fox Sports South will be in HD? Because outside of the Atlanta area they were not when they were just Peachtree. Thanks.
Shad
January 18th, 2011
5:35 pm
I wonder why the suits just don’t get it. People have been complaining about Carey for years. The mistakes he makes are unbelievable. I thought once about keeping track of them and writing a book. The best one last year was a road game and the hadn’t scored. Top of the seventh and Carey says “Well, the Braves better get going they only have three more outs”. Geeez
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2011
5:53 pm
Don’t really care about who owns Peachtree TV, but I’d like to see more EJ and Smoltz and less Chip Caray as much as possible.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2011
5:56 pm
Surprised to read the comments and see there are people who don’t like Joe Simpson. I guess there’s nothing special about him, but he does a pretty solid job and doesn’t get in the way… two things at which Chip fails miserably.
And really, if you didn’t like Skip Caray, you have no soul.
Unknown Hinson
January 18th, 2011
5:57 pm
P.S. Joe Simpson is great, as most agree, Chip’s gotta go.
Greene Hornet
January 18th, 2011
6:00 pm
You know there is good and bad with every broadcaster and most in television, radio, etc. If the Braves are winning, I don’t really care who is broadcasting the games. I just hope the changes will soon stop and we can get some broadcasters we can call our own in the seats which the fans and to some extent the country can identify with Braves baseball. I think we had that with Carey, Van Wieren, etc but we don’t have that now. I just would like consistency and someone I can call a true Braves broadcaster no matter who it is.
JEB
January 18th, 2011
6:08 pm
Chip is ok…. they just need to turn his volume back a few notches!
YAD
January 18th, 2011
6:19 pm
I miss Bill Tush and the original late night news.
yogi2
January 18th, 2011
6:31 pm
Boogi and Chpi stink Simpson and Sutton are the best. John Smoltz is pitiful
LTBF
January 18th, 2011
6:42 pm
Thank God this got settled, We will still have almost or all games on TV, however I still miss Boog he was great with Joe.
Goldenglove002
January 18th, 2011
7:08 pm
I’m disappointed. I thought the PTV broadcasts were miles better than the Fox broadcasts. Everything from picture quality to announcers to graphics. I guess it’s a positive for everyone who wasn’t getting the PTV games, but I’d call it a loss for those of us who had it.
MObravesfan
January 18th, 2011
7:09 pm
I just hope those games will be broadcast in HD over Directv now.
Cornelius McGillicuddy
January 18th, 2011
7:20 pm
Perhaps/hopefully the powers that be will take this opportunity to dump Chip. I long for the days of Boog and Joe. No one can ruin a good game faster then that nit-wit Chip. He got raked bad when he was doing national telcasts, i hope the bosses remember this when making their decision. Chip should take his “talents” to South Beach.
ph
January 18th, 2011
8:22 pm
not looking forward to more of Chip, Didn’t TBS drop him from their playoff crew because of how bad he was? He sure is No Skip or Harry.
nelson
January 18th, 2011
8:36 pm
i want TBS BACK !! Live in california follower of the braves and i have to pay nearly 211 $$ for view a swindle in truth, stop defrauding people . this year the F%%$%$ mother for all have monopolized the baseball and the channels do not paid a penny TO watch free .It is a brazen now to qualify for a team one has to pay those amounts .. shameless that they are . the vere free and, i tell to many friends my for stop view and fail to pay these sums of money
TB
January 18th, 2011
10:01 pm
The thing I’m going to miss is the production crews. There was, to my eye, a marked difference between Fox and Turner produced games. The old TBS productions had some of the crispest, best camera work I’ve ever seen on a baseball game. Great, great cameramen, and whomever was in the booth directing the feeds really knew his stuff. Fox games sometimes seemed a slight step down (and ESPN games were local cable quality by comparison.)
I don’t know much about that industry, but from a layman’s perspective, it seemed like a baseball game on a Turner channel had something I can’t quite put my finger on that just made for better television. I hope Fox is going to get that expertise.
EvansAtlanta
January 18th, 2011
10:08 pm
Mr. Turner should never have sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner. When he owned the Atlanta Braves, CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, The Atlanta Hawks, WCW, and the MGM Library, the City of Atlanta was an international cultural force. When he sold these assets, falsely believing that he was buying Time Warner, that is the actual expression he has used in interviews, he entered a corporate arrangement in which he gradually lost control and power of these assets, especially when America Online entered the bloated corporate umbrella.
Our Atlanta, the Capital of the New South, was the rest of America’s answer to the duopolic power of New York and Los Angeles over American culture. Now, we are just another large city, fifteen years separated from the Twenty-fifth Olympiad, which does not project the power and influence we once did. Yes, Atlanta still houses these cultural forces, yet none of these entities lead either broadcasting or sports, in case of the Braves, as they once did. We do have our memories, though instead we would rather have our memories and be at the present the cultural force we once could claim to be. Perhaps though, somewhere in the City Too Busy to Hate, there lies someone with an idea that will once again restore Atlanta as a cultural force on the world stage, or perhaps somehow the remains of Mr. Turner’s empire will each in their own right return to their previous form. Such possibilities will play themselves out in time.
Though I do not agree with many of Ted Turner’s opinions, his various companies offered much family friendly entertainment, and as we say goodbye to yet another aspect of the Turner connection, we remember how during its best days, one could watch TBS for the entirety of the day.
Wayne stuck in AL
January 18th, 2011
10:14 pm
Hey…at least Braves fans (or FSN South execs) got rid of Bob Rathbun!
Kentavo
January 18th, 2011
10:15 pm
WELCOME TO THE SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Kris
January 18th, 2011
11:15 pm
It just seems to be harder to watch the Braves if you don’t live in Atlanta. I’m from the Midwest, now live in MD and have to get the baseball package from my cable provider to see Braves games. I wonder if we will ever get another owner who cares about the fans and the team!
BringBackBoog
January 18th, 2011
11:25 pm
Bring back Boog!
Bring back Boog!
Bring back Boog!
Bring back Boog!
Bring back Boog!
Bring back Boog!
Goodoleboy58
January 19th, 2011
4:03 am
I just finished reading Pete Van Wieren “Of Mikes and Men”… Good book helped me relieve the 90’s all over again, however he stated that TBS pretty much turned their back on them when all this television changes started happening.
rc35
January 19th, 2011
7:17 am
It’s interesting how people disagree about announcers. My favorite combo was Pete Van Wieren and Don Sutton. Both knew baseball and were full of interesting stories while covering the game. On the other hand, “Clueless Joe” Simpson is a good guy, but his wandering coverage of the game and total ignorance of Southern culture (I still remember the day he couldn’t believe Don bought breakfast biscuits at a local gas station while visiting his family) would make him a much better announcer for the Dodgers or Brewers than a Southern team.
Due to local cable issues, I haven’t heard Chip enough to have an opinion. If you’re ragging him about exaggerating the length of fly balls, I don’t see any way he could outdo Milo Hamilton, the Braves’ play-by-play announcer from the 1960’s. A friend of mine and I used to tease that he’d say, “And there’s a drive…WAAAYYY back…and Niekro hauls it in just behind the mound!”
The truth of the matter is, I’m just looking forward to baseball again, no matter WHO’s calling it.
fred
January 19th, 2011
9:16 am
good move! i like joe . john, and pete… any is ok glad to see this as this will give everybody chance… now we have to beat up on all!! cant wait… good luck to ted also! fred in sc.
JWD
January 19th, 2011
9:24 am
If Chip Carey is retained as one of the Brave’s broadcasters I would hope he makes an attempt to just be natural in his delivery and not try to impress. The announcers make the game comfortable to listen to but are not the main attraction here so just call the game Chip! I really enjoyed listening to Ernie, Jr., John S. and Glavin. D. Sutton and J. Simpson are fine but bottom line I’m not convinced Chip is comfortable in the booth.
Chopper
January 19th, 2011
9:50 am
I wish they would put Don Sutton back on the TV broadcast instead of just radio. With Skip passing away and Pete Van Wieren retired, it would be nice to have at least the other half of that longtime Braves broadcast team on TV. I don’t think they need a traditional “play by play” guy. Joe and Don have done enough of that over the years. Chip doesn’t really add anything and Ernie is not involved enough with baseball to add anything to the mix. Why not have Don and Joe do the telecasts and add Smoltz to the mix from time to time? That’s what I’d like to see.
Lemke's Knuckler
January 19th, 2011
9:53 am
I actually liked the games on PTV. Where I live directv picked up the feed on an extra channel, so they would show the top of stadium camera during commercial time for PTV, so I got to watch the players warm up. Kind of felt like I was at the game.
rc35, I love Joe Simpson…’I've been to 2 rodeos & 3 goat-ropings but never seen anything like that.’ How can you beat that?
JWD, rag on Chip all you want (for the record I think he can be a little overly dramatic as well) but the man nailed the Heyward homer last year and that’ll go down along with Aaron’s 715 and the Bream slide as one of the most famous calls in Braves history.
tbone
January 19th, 2011
11:08 am
i live in southeast louisiana this is braves country always has been always will be and we are forced to watch the stupid houston astros but if i lived 2 hours east inside the mississippi state line i coud get fox sportsouth and sportsouth on my cable but mlb screws people in southeast louisiana were apart of the southeast not southwest ive emailed everyone humanly possible with fox directv no one i mean no one can give me a straight answer why we dont have a choice to watch foxsportsouth i seen recently kentucky added foxsportsouth why we in southeast louisiana not have that option the only option we have is being a slave to directv for three hundred or so dollars which is redicilous i only want to see the braves games i could understand if i lived in texas or california or new york but gosh i live in the southeast why are we not offered that choice its pathetic why cant something get done about this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
704_Brave
January 19th, 2011
11:45 am
Good news is that I don’t lose Braves coverage here in Charlotte. Not being able to go to more Braves games is the biggest thing I miss about living in Atlanta, so it’s good to see that I’ll be on tap for just as many games this year. Not the biggest fan of Chip, but losing Joe would be the worst…especially after seeing Boog with ESPN now.
Looking forward to Disney! Just 49 days until my visit!!
ramblingman
January 19th, 2011
11:47 am
Man, I am getting old.
I, too, miss Bill Tush from the old days. Him reading the late night news followed by the friar reading rock song lyrics as scriptures. Good times.
I miss replays of the Braves games in the wee hours. At the time, I was running a bar in SOWEGA that closed at 4 am. I would get home and be able to catch the replay in the 2nd or 3rd inning usually. Great way to unwind after work every night.
I miss Skip. And Ernie. And Pete. And Don.
I miss America’s Team. But I don’t miss the TBS Braves theme (it’s on my hard drive as an mp3)
Now I will miss those long field shots during the commercial breaks on PTV on my Directv channel. The field mics would pick up all sorts of chatter and you could watch the players warm up as was noted earlier. Also, just before the broadcast began again, when the director would switch to another camera angle, it was mandatory that the camera shot would be closeup on a cute young thing somewhere in the stands which would then pull back quickly just before you saw the score appear and the announcers welcome you back. LOL.
RIP memories.
roseman
January 19th, 2011
11:59 am
DOB-Did not know you were from here, I live in Rocky Mt. Now the key question, are you a Wolf Packer or a Tarheel…be careful how you answer. And does this mean we will actualy get the Braves on Fox Sports South on Directv or still be forced to watch the Nationals regional coverage? (That’s why I have the MLB package)
Glynn Rose, NC State Alumni, Class of 1978, GO PACK!
O-me
January 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
I’m just thankful we still will be able to see the games…………
Hammerin' Hank
January 19th, 2011
12:41 pm
No more MARTA shuttle from 5 Points to Turner Field means we’ll be watching ALL the Braves games on TV this season.
David O'Brien
January 19th, 2011
1:50 pm
roseman: I’m neither a Tar Heel nor a Wolfpacker — I’m a Jayhawk. But growing up in Greenville, I liked the Pirates (East Carolina, where my mom worked in Greenville) and the Wolfpack. David Thompson was my favorite player as a kid, without question.
toby
January 19th, 2011
2:48 pm
Please…. Joe Simpson is great,but Chip Caray,i have never heard anybody that terrible on tv or radio,he’s a joke,,,,,,,,if it werent for his name,he’d be selling insurance some where!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tony
January 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
Bring back Joe and Boog!
That is all.
Chuck
January 19th, 2011
3:05 pm
David Thompson was one of my few favorite college basketball players also, and I was in Alabama! He could “jump out of the gym”.
Chuck
January 19th, 2011
3:11 pm
Great memories of the old TBS broadcasts. I worked second shift one summer, and quite often (the Braves were in the West division then) we could catch the end of the games on the west coast) when we got home. I thought TBS camera crews were excellent, but didn’t realize it till I had to watch ESPN and normal network broadcasts – they looked like it was new to them. As I get older, I realize that I had tons of great stuff around me then, and assumed that was normal. It isn’t, and let me tell you, if you have something great now, you’d best enjoy and appreciate it, because it really doesn’t last forever!
markie mark
January 19th, 2011
3:20 pm
Wow….TBS memories….I remember when I moved to back to Atlanta in 1981….went to a Braves game that had so few people there that I screamed at Bob Horner (3rd base) “Horner, you suck”….and he turned around and looked right at me…
Scared me to death. Thought he was gonna whip my 23 year old butt….
And for those of you complaining of not getting the Braves, I moved to St Augustine, FL in 2000. 70 miles from the GA border; Time Warner owned team, Time Warner owned broadcast station, Time Warner was my local cable provider. And we couldnt get the Braves games. (they didnt have the baseball package, either)
When Peachtree TV came out, they wouldnt partake in the Comcast baseball package, either. So when Braves games were carried by PTV, Comcast in FLA gave us the feed from the OPPOSING team. If you think Chip is bad, try that one on for size.
Finally, I miss Bill Tush and his never ending late night gag of “skylab is falling”, and Skip Carey saying “the ball was caught by a fan from Kennesaw” and being asked by news organizations how he knew that……funny stuff…..
Tommy Boy
January 19th, 2011
4:27 pm
Chip Caray was much better than Ernie Johnson. Ernie had no passion, Chip is one of the best play by play announcers in the league
Chris Jackson
January 19th, 2011
4:52 pm
Chip Caray is a broadcasting legend bound for the Baseball Hall of Fame unlike BOOG THE BOOB Joe Simpson is terriffic and the Braves win the World Series!!!!!
ChicagoBrave
January 19th, 2011
4:57 pm
I have been a fan since 1957. I was in the 2nd grade for you fair weather fans, and the Milwaukee Braves AAA team was the Louisville Colonels right across the river from my Jeffersonville, IN home so the Braves got a lot of press and they were really good, too. Hank Aaron will always be the Man. Once I left the Louisville area, getting Braves news was catch as catch can. Then, while living in Acton, MA, the Braves showed up on TBS, and I thought I’d gone to heaven. It didn’t matter how good they were–it was the BRAVES. Moved back to Louisville, and the Braves followed via TBS no matter where I moved. But, then the roll back came and we Midwesterners were dropped from consideration. Now I watch via MLB.com, but those were the days. BTW, I’ve pretty much liked all the announcers especially during the period where they switched up mid-game. And, for those who don’t like Chip Carey, listen to some of the dough brains that announce nationally or locally (I listen on XM some where the home team announcers are on), and you might start giving the guy a break. At least, he has a knowledge of the game and focuses on the game at hand. Go Braves.
Chopper
January 19th, 2011
5:44 pm
Ernie jr. and Chip make me thankful for the mute button!
55 yr FAN
January 19th, 2011
8:00 pm
Chip Caray is the worst since Milo Hamilton, who was not a play by play announcer, but a CRITIC. And those were the days of some bad Braves teams. PLEASE replace Chip Caray as he is terrible. ANYONE would be better. Boog was sensational, as was Pete van Wieren. No one could be worse than Chip. I have been a fan for 55 yrs but last year I boycotted some of the sponsors and this year I will not even watch games done by Chip Caray. I could go on and on but I just hope I have already made my point loud and clear.
Born & Raised in Atl.
January 19th, 2011
8:18 pm
We lived in Atl. all of our lives, season tickets for 20+ years. Moved to Hiawassee 10 years ago to retire. Just keep EVERY game on HD tv.(regularm tv. doesn’t count!) Would prefer Smoltz to be in the mix. An ideal set up would be Smoltz, Simpson and Sutton. But All I really want is 162 games on Dish with no crap at playoff time as to whether it is on or not!
Marvel Goose
January 19th, 2011
9:05 pm
Turn off the sound and turn on the radio. Since the TV is on a seven second delay you get to hear Powell and Sutton and if something good happens you get two instant replays instead of one.
or, we can hope they trade Carey to Kansas City
Choppinmama
January 19th, 2011
9:35 pm
Gotta get in my vote for Ernie Johnson and my anti-vote for the anti-thesis of a talented broadcaster, good ol’ Chip off the ol’ block. Not much of his dad’s skill set in broadcasting rubbed off on him except his knowledge of the Braves.
Sure do miss the TBS production on the Braves telecasts. The camera was where it needed to be a second before the action happened. Good ol’ Glen Diamond knew where and which camera needed to be broadcasting. Each game broadcast was so in sync with the action in the game.
I love to see what’s happening in the dugout. TBS showed us. They had the cameras on every player on the field for every play it seemed, and could show us anything in replay, even all the great catches and other “action” in the stands.
But, I still hate the timing of this scenario: good hit causes runs to score, usually homers. The camera follows the player around the bases, hi-fives at the plate, then just as he is getting ready to enter the dugout, they switch to the replay of the homer, then cut back to the guy after he’s gone through the dugout, to show him getting a cup of water from Lovey and spitting it back out!
Show us the love in the dugout……….then show the replay and skip the H20 expectoration!
Tallahassee Fan
January 19th, 2011
9:58 pm
Skip Carey and Ernie Johnson for 4 1/2 innings, then Pete Van Wieren and John Sterling for the other 4 1/2. Those were the days…seems it all went to hell when Sterling left and Billy Sample showed up…
So THAT’S what Peachtree TV is
January 19th, 2011
11:35 pm
[...] the old WTBS station in Atlanta. This article tells us that Braves games on Peachtree will now be produced by Fox Sports South. There’s a [...]
Steve
January 20th, 2011
12:16 am
I really like Joe Simpson, so glad he is apparently coming back. Not sure why everyone is saying Chip Caray is back as the article mentioned outside of Simpson nothing had been decided .. unless I missed something. Chip is tolerable, but that’s about it. There ARE worse announcers out there.
That being said, I miss Syndrome. He had a flare for making the boring stuff interesting without being over the top with nonsense. Glad he apparently got a better job, but it sure stinnk being a proving grounds instead of one of the top jobs. The good old days as America’s Team and our first runs into the playoffs were a far better time than anything going on now. The fact that so many Braves fans dveloped and nurtured in years past can no longer watch the Braves is just sickening. Taking a nationally loved franchise and turned them into a very local team is the exact OPPOSITE you want to do in sports. Time Warner and AOL can go bankrupt for all I care.
Michael, The Abbreviation
January 20th, 2011
1:14 am
good, i guess this means no more JJ.. that goofy mulignan drove me crazy!
get rid of carey too please!
gotigers72
January 20th, 2011
1:37 am
Thanks denizens for all of the TBS memories. IMO, Ernie, Sr. and Skip were the best duo at announcing Braves games. Skip is one of the best ever, but Chip has an announcing job only because his last name is Caray. Joe Simpson is a very good analyst. Knows a lot about the game and is great at getting it across to the fans. Some analysts [McCarver], go way too far in trying to explain things.
I have really been surprised at how good Glavine has been in the booth. Another guy that is excellent at explaining things to the fans. He is way better than Smoltz. Smoltzie is just way too goofy, even though I actually like some [a few] of his lame jokes.
As far as media types on the newspaper side, there just ain’t no better than DOB. This comes from a guy that has read sports pages for about 55 years now. He researches well, writes even better, gives us lots of stats and stuff to make his columns clear and concise. Keeps up with the Braves by going to whichever Brave [usually Chipper or Heap] gives the best quotes. I’m glad Atlanta was able to pry him away from Miami. Carroll is an up and comer, but I do miss DOB when he takes his well deserved days off. If he ever decides he may want to go elsewhere, I’ll kick in to the kitty to keep him around.
Eddie
January 20th, 2011
7:01 am
Not mentioned by anyone are the 75 or so people who were doing a great job have been unceremoniously dumped. There are only 18 opportunities for them to be hired at Fox. I agree with others that Peachtree had a superior product to Fox; the Braves’ broadcasts made money. Yet these people are rewarded with a trip to the unemployment line in the worst ever economy. More classless behavior surrounding the Braves at Turner. Class should never be mentioned in the same breath as Turner.
George
January 20th, 2011
9:07 am
How about; no announcer; just watch the game? We can then focus on baseball which is the real reason for tuning in and not be required to listen to all the commentary.
johnnie
January 20th, 2011
9:38 am
I have been a Braves fan since 1958. I lived for years with a meagher 2 or 3 games per year on the NBC game of the week. I saw more Braves players on home run derby. I stood on my front porch one day in 1984 and watched the cable company digging ditches in my neighborhood. Finally, TBS. It was the happiest day of my life.
Anybody but Chip
January 20th, 2011
1:14 pm
There was a reason TBS fired Chip!
BraveMan
January 20th, 2011
1:46 pm
Hey broadcasters…listen to one long-term Braves fan…get rid of Chip Caray!
Sfblump
January 20th, 2011
2:25 pm
CHOPPER – Your choices of Simpson, Sutton and Smoltz would keep me watching TV. I, too, am a “turn down TV guy” and listen to radio
when Chip goes off on some prepared remarks at the start of the games.
Mutts
January 20th, 2011
3:10 pm
Before I moved to Atlanta, I was a Braves’ fan and TBS made it easy to follow the team. TBS’ recent coverage of the Braves has been a joke, with their emphasis on MLB games vs. Braves’ games. I sure do miss Skip, Ernie, and Pete and the “glory days” of Braves baseball on TV.
Mutts
January 20th, 2011
3:23 pm
Chip Carey’s name sounds like his dad’s, and after that, all similarity ends. Skip Carey was a great announcer. Chip Carey is Skip Carey’s son, but not even close to his dad (or grandfather) in his ability to announce a game.
BadgerFan
January 20th, 2011
3:53 pm
IMO:
Chip is simply not distinguishible unlike his dad and granddad. Not being sympatheric but he is really a victim of his era when announcers work on voice inflection and premeditated catch phrases. That said, he does annoy me but likely because I like almost everyone else.
Nothing was off the charts about Boog, but he was solid at everything….he was obviously ready for the next step in his career as he is still relatively young. I do enjoy listening to him every now and then on ESPN college hoops.
Mark my words, Smoltz will follow Boog down the road. I could see him anchoring the analyist’s position on the #1 FOX or ESPN team within a few years. His insight is great especially given that he played with and against many of the current players. I will enjoy listening to him in Atlanta before he moves on.
Humpback Liner
January 20th, 2011
6:01 pm
Can’t wait to hear what kind of cliche the Great Joe Simpson comes up with in 2011
ExBraves Fan
January 20th, 2011
6:15 pm
TBS dropped the Braves and became the silly sitcom network. Stupid is as stupid does. I never watch TBS any more. No great old movies, no Braves games, even no Hawks games like in the old days. TBS sucks.
Roja
January 20th, 2011
11:21 pm
Hope Chip announces every game. He’s the best!!
Roja
January 20th, 2011
11:25 pm
In the Harry Caray days I watched “silent Baseball”. I loved Skip though, especially on his call in show when he was asked to explain the “infield fly rule”. Then his real personality came thru!!!
faux positive
January 20th, 2011
11:46 pm
At least with fox sports taking over from PTV I don’t have to mute my tv whenever jj starts his ‘interviews’ [don't know what else to call it] I hated braves games on PTV because I knew he would be there and I would have to press mute.
RHR
January 21st, 2011
9:57 am
Smoltzy has gotta come back!
tbone
January 21st, 2011
12:31 pm
i live in louisiana and people complain about having to hear chip caray feel blessed that you can even see braves games people in southeast louisiana get screwed out of braves baseball and are forced to watch the stupid houston astros what a sad sad world mlb makes us live in!
tbone
January 21st, 2011
12:34 pm
major league baseball says you are our slaves bow down and pay outrageous prices or watch merely highlights on sportscenter what a corrupt world we live in!
David O'Brien
January 21st, 2011
12:36 pm
major league baseball says you are our slaves bow down and pay outrageous prices or watch merely highlights on sportscenter what a corrupt world we live in! — tbone
Then what do the NFL, NBA and NHL say? All of those leagues have higher ticket prices than baseball.
sam a
January 21st, 2011
1:50 pm
I been watching Braves baseball since the early 1960’s. I read lots of nice comments about Joe Simpson. He maybe a nice guy but I think when broadcasting Braves baseball..I think he loves himself. Yes loves himself. He tries to take the leadership when announcing color comments instead of the lead broadcaster. When the Braves start their regular season and Simpson is the color man..please take notice. This is my opinion.
william johnson
January 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
This is great news for those of us who don’t live in the southeast. Although I get the “extra innings” package we got very few games that Peachtree TV covered. This means a lot now that most of the games will have Braves announcers except for some of the Braves road games (we get their feed then). Keep Joe Simpson, he’s the best. Chip is okay. I though Ernie, Jr was boring. Whatever the powers to be decide, 2011 will be a great year for Braves TV.
Jason
January 22nd, 2011
1:03 am
I’m hoping I will still get the Braves in Charlotte,NC. Last season TimeWarner had “Braves TV” which was basically just the Peachtree feed without commercials. Hope we get the same thing this year because Sports South and Fox generally showed the Reds.
Boozer
January 22nd, 2011
7:36 am
At least all of the Georgia transplants in NC, without Directv, will be getting the games now…Bring back Boog!!! The last time I saw him on tv he was doing the broadcast for some random college basketball game that had maybe 20 people in the stands.
john from Smyrna
January 22nd, 2011
12:55 pm
Bring back Milo.
dilly
January 22nd, 2011
1:29 pm
I agree with Matt the Brave about Joe. He always sounds like he should be announcing for the opponent. I like Jim Powell and Don Sutton, as well as John S and Tom G. I can tolerate Chip, unfortunately when Joe is with him he tends to side with whatever Joe is saying. Don’t understand why FSS and SS are so in love with Joe. He’s just not that good.
Cranbery
January 22nd, 2011
5:15 pm
Pretty soon it will all be a new crew, new team, new everything………..Where did the Braves, Skip & Ted go????
Thanks for the memories…………..
Go Braves!
January 22nd, 2011
10:05 pm
When Joe does the game with anybody other than Chip, he sounds very upbeat and the broadcast has a very different feel to it. When he has to work with Chip, he sounds more monotone…like I hate working with this idiot so I’m just gonna get thru this attitude.
betty
January 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
I am a long time Braves fan, however, they have to get Joe Simpson off the telecast. I love the Braves and cheer for them always, but , I have never heard a homer like Joe. You have to call the game somewhat on a fair basis. I thought the Alabama broadcaster was bias, Joe takes it to another level. The game is not enjoyable, with Joe making excuses, or covering up when the Braves make a mistake. If you listen to Joe, if the other team wins a game they were lucky or the umpires missed a call. Have Braves pitchers ever thrown a ball in Joe’s eyes? We need a change.
Lotimus Pyle
January 23rd, 2011
8:52 am
If you miss Boog, he’s doing Big-12 college basketball for ESPN right now.
I welcome this news since I do get PTV on my satellite (live outside the perimeter) but none of the games are in high definition. I also subscribe to the MLB package so I get most of the games in the league. As a longtime Mets hater, it pains me to say that I like Gary Cohen (Mets broadcaster) a lot, and I probably prefer the Diamondbacks duo of Sutton & Grace over most other announcing “teams”. It’s too bad the team they cover is so bad!! On the other hand, the Braves have much better announcers than some teams. Ever hear the Yankees radio announcers? Whoa, not good!!
MGM
January 23rd, 2011
9:31 am
Anyone with anything bad to say about a Caray should leave the state. Anyone with anything bad to say about Skip should leave the planet.
MJ
January 23rd, 2011
10:13 am
Nice article- it does bring back memories of the Braves on TBS in the 70’s. Over the last 30 years I’ve traveled to every state, either on business or with my family on vacations, and have been amazed at how many people in out of the way places across the country – including Hawaii & Alaska – were Braves fans over the years. Ted Turner created so many Braves fans – I only wish the team were still his. I’d give anything to hear Skip & Pete one more time, and I’d like to see Braves “family” members continue to broadcast games. Joe – Ernie & Smoltzie would be great. If Chip isn’t part of the mix, I hope he can land a spot with the Cubbies, so that he finish his career in his grandfather’s domain.
Bringing The Sunday Linkage
January 23rd, 2011
2:17 pm
[...] O’Brien from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Peachtree TV is outsourcing production of its 45 Braves games to Fox Sports South effectively ending Turner Sports’ long [...]
Braves Fan Since 1966
January 23rd, 2011
4:31 pm
I like Chip and Joe and hope that continue.
Old Braves Fan
January 24th, 2011
7:11 am
To the Skip Cary Hater. I didn’t know they let mental patients use computers at the ward. And if your not there, you should be.
tony
January 24th, 2011
12:00 pm
I hate ernie johnson, he is terrible doing baseball. He makes factually incorrect statements half the game. I really don’t think he knows baseball that well.
Carroll Rogers
January 24th, 2011
12:02 pm
I disagree Tony. Andy why do you say you hate Ernie Johnson. You don’t know him.
MitchC
January 24th, 2011
12:40 pm
It’s sad to see what happened to Braves broadcasts. I became a Braves fan when I lived in CT in 1983. Ever since, good or bad, I followed them, and have been a loyal fan.
Although the Braves were mainly an awful team in the 1980s, Pete, John Sterling for a while,. The late great Skip Caray, and Ernie Johnson Sr, kept Braves games interesting. Later on, when Don Sutton and Joe Simpson joined the team, I still watched.
Three years ago, I had to start purchasing the “Extra innings package” to see my Braves, and will be doing so again in 2011. A lot of people who used to razz me about being a Braves fan in the mid to late 80s when they were terrible said “Ted keeps them on TBS 150 nights a year because it’;s cheap programming”.
Ted Turner might have made some unwise moves as Braves owner: Bruce “$40 million man” Sutter comes to mind.. but.. he has to be given credit for exposing the Braves to a national audience. Remember the night in 1992 the broadcasters got the letter “Hello from Tomahawk, Wisconsin” If the Braves had not been a nationally televised team, the Tomahawk Chop that was their signature in the 1990s, may never have come about.
I, for one, am sorry to see what happened to the Braves, and that they are not offered on free cable anymore. It’s a sorry reminder of the greed and complete capitalistic mentality nowadays.
Tomas
January 24th, 2011
6:31 pm
Really don’t see why Chip has such a bad rep. At least he is more exciting than Ernie jr.
What I would really like is some sort of mix between these guys: Joe Simpson/Chip Caray/Don Sutton/John Smoltz/Tom Glavine/And another play by play guy not named Ernie.
The only play by play guy on that list is Chip. Josh Lewin would be awesome but who knows if he is interested.
DON'TNO
January 26th, 2011
3:51 pm
can somebody help!! I live in FL panhandle and have very elderly parents who want to be able to watch the Braves on TV. I’m trying to help them but don’t know whether they should get cable or dish. Are SportsSouth or FoxSportsSouth the networks I need or do I need to sign them up for MLB exra innings,etc? Thanks
Larvell Blanks
January 27th, 2011
3:00 pm
I’m looking forward to hearing Sutton always emphasize the higher score, even if it’s not the one that just changed — e.g., 5-2 game, trailing team scores a run, and he says, “And now its FIIIVE to three.” Once you realize he always does it, you can’t stop noticing it. Can’t … stop …
Susan G. L. Hoss
August 5th, 2012
3:55 pm
Tom Glavin has such an annoying voice and he comes across as a (talkative) bore, please don’t use him often in the booth with Chip and Joe. We did enjoy Don Sutton.