Don Robertson (sportscaster)
Encyclopedia
Don Robertson is a retired American
television announcer for the CBS
television network. He was known as "The Voice Of CBS Sports", where he also voiced nearly every sporting event CBS had. Robertson also voiced the CBS network ID "This is CBS", along with promos for the sporting events that he would call.
, he once sang in the glee club with Andy Griffith
.
After working as a radio reporter throughout high school and college, Robertson received a degree in communications in 1950. He went in to the Air Force after college and served in Korea. In 1953, he left military service and returned to broadcasting, working for radio and television markets in North and South Carolina and Connecticut.
Robertson once worked for WBTV-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina when he got his big break. In 1961, he had moved to WBT-AM, where “I think I was on the air all day,” he said. He did news, weather and sports for a morning show, and hosted a mid-day interview show. He also did play-by-play sports announcing for Davidson College
.
Robertson was in New York announcing a basketball game between the college and New York University
at Madison Square Garden
when a producer with CBS Sports Spectacular
invited him to auditions that were taking place while he was in town.
About two days later, the station manager of WBT-AM came in and said, ‘Congratulations on your new job, Don.’ I didn’t want them to know I was auditioning, but he said CBS
had called to make sure it was okay to hire me. So that’s how I found out I had a job with CBS,” he said.
Ultimately, Robertson then moved to CBS Sports
. Management there had decided they wanted one voice that viewers could associate with all their sporting events, and the voice they chose was his.
As he advanced his career, Robertson was also raising a family with his wife Mary, whom he married in 1951 after knowing her for six months.
, and Jack Whitaker and he still remains close friends with them to this day. He has voiced the World Series
, The Masters, and every golf and tennis tournament that CBS
had the rights to.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television announcer for the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television network. He was known as "The Voice Of CBS Sports", where he also voiced nearly every sporting event CBS had. Robertson also voiced the CBS network ID "This is CBS", along with promos for the sporting events that he would call.
Early life and career
Educated at University of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, he once sang in the glee club with Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
.
After working as a radio reporter throughout high school and college, Robertson received a degree in communications in 1950. He went in to the Air Force after college and served in Korea. In 1953, he left military service and returned to broadcasting, working for radio and television markets in North and South Carolina and Connecticut.
Robertson once worked for WBTV-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina when he got his big break. In 1961, he had moved to WBT-AM, where “I think I was on the air all day,” he said. He did news, weather and sports for a morning show, and hosted a mid-day interview show. He also did play-by-play sports announcing for Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
.
Robertson was in New York announcing a basketball game between the college and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
when a producer with CBS Sports Spectacular
CBS Sports Spectacular
CBS Sports Spectacular is a sports anthology program produced by CBS Sports. The series began on January 3, 1960 as The CBS Sports Spectacular, and has been known under many different names, including CBS Sports Saturday, CBS Sports Sunday, Eye on Sports and The CBS Sports Show.The program...
invited him to auditions that were taking place while he was in town.
About two days later, the station manager of WBT-AM came in and said, ‘Congratulations on your new job, Don.’ I didn’t want them to know I was auditioning, but he said CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
had called to make sure it was okay to hire me. So that’s how I found out I had a job with CBS,” he said.
Ultimately, Robertson then moved to CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
. Management there had decided they wanted one voice that viewers could associate with all their sporting events, and the voice they chose was his.
As he advanced his career, Robertson was also raising a family with his wife Mary, whom he married in 1951 after knowing her for six months.
CBS Sports
Throughout his career, Robertson has worked with Pat SummerallPat Summerall
George Allen "Pat" Summerall is a former American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN.Summerall is best known for his work with John Madden on NFL telecasts for CBS and Fox.-High school:...
, and Jack Whitaker and he still remains close friends with them to this day. He has voiced the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, The Masters, and every golf and tennis tournament that CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
had the rights to.