Jason Benetti wrapped up a 26-week journey as the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” bringing a distinctive approach to the broadcast that paired him with different team analysts each week. His final broadcast of the season took place at Camden Yards, where he was joined by Baltimore Orioles commentator Ben McDonald and Milwaukee Brewers analyst Tim Dillard as they prepared for NBC’s concluding game of the series.

NBC’s decision to revive “Sunday Night Baseball” involved a departure from traditional broadcasting formats. Instead of a fixed booth with consistent announcers, Benetti was placed at the center, working alongside rotating color commentators from the respective teams featured in each game. This approach aimed to offer varied perspectives on the game while requiring the lead announcer to adapt quickly to different analytical styles and chemistry challenges on a weekly basis.

Benetti described the role as a unique challenge. “I have to bring it not knowing what they’re going to bring and see how it coalesces,” he said. He noted the opportunity to experience a wide array of viewpoints as a highlight, characterizing the assignment as “the job of a lifetime.” The format, while inherently unpredictable, allowed for a diverse range of commentary that offered multiple lenses through which to understand the season’s games.

The experiment appears to have been successful, at least by audience engagement metrics. NBC reported a 62% increase in viewership for “Sunday Night Baseball” after taking over the broadcast rights from ESPN. The series garnered significant numbers, producing five games with at least 3 million viewers — the highest viewership tally for the program since 2010. Notably, a matchup between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox attracted 4 million viewers, marking the most-watched “Sunday Night Baseball” contest since August 2011.

As the regular season concluded, attention now turns to the upcoming Wild Card games, for which “Sunday Night Baseball” will continue to serve as the flagship presentation. The innovative broadcast format demonstrated the ability to engage audiences in new ways, balancing fresh commentary dynamics with the traditional excitement of professional baseball.