There is no single, permanent figure skating commentary team for every TNT Sports broadcast. The names depend on the country, event, and platform; in European coverage connected with Warner Bros. Discovery, familiar skating commentators include Chris Howarth, Nicky Slater, and Mark Hanretty.
The important distinction is that TNT Sports is not the name used for every Warner Bros. Discovery skating broadcast. Some events appear on Eurosport or a streaming service instead, while US coverage often comes from NBC. Here’s how to identify the commentators for the event you’re watching, and how to avoid confusing one broadcaster’s team with another.
who are the figure skating commentators on tnt sports?
There is no fixed TNT Sports roster that covers all figure skating events. The commentators change with the broadcast rights, event, and country. In European coverage associated with Warner Bros. Discovery, commentators familiar to skating viewers include Chris Howarth, Nicky Slater, and Mark Hanretty. That does not mean all three will appear on every event, or that every broadcast featuring them is branded TNT Sports.
This branding distinction matters. Warner Bros. Discovery operates several sports services and channels, and figure skating may be shown under a different service name depending on the market. A competition might appear on Eurosport or a streaming platform rather than a TNT Sports channel. The event’s own listing is a better guide to the actual broadcast team than a general search for a channel-wide roster.
If you are watching in the United States, the familiar figure skating commentators are often associated with NBC’s coverage, not TNT Sports. Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir have been prominent voices on NBC figure skating broadcasts. Their names should not be presented as a standing TNT Sports team.
Why the commentator names change by country and event
Sports broadcasting rights are sold by territory. One company can show an event in one country while another company carries it elsewhere. As a result, the same competition can have different commentators, commentary languages, and even different broadcast platforms depending on where you watch.
There is also no guarantee that one commentator will work every event in a season. Broadcasters assign teams based on the schedule and production plan. A major championship may have a larger team, while a smaller competition may use a commentator and analyst, a single commentator, or a feed with no commentary.
Figure skating coverage can also be split across services. One channel may show live events, another may offer a replay, and a streaming service may carry a separate feed. The names you see in a TV guide may refer to a studio host or reporter rather than the people speaking during the skating performances.
What “TNT Sports” means in this search
TNT Sports is a broadcaster brand, not a universal label for all sports programming from its parent company. In the UK and other markets, viewers may encounter Eurosport or streaming services for figure skating even when those outlets are part of the same wider media group. In the United States, TNT Sports is best known for other sports coverage, while NBC has traditionally been a prominent home for televised figure skating.
So, if a search result lists a commentator as working for a related service, check the actual event and country before assuming the person is on TNT Sports. A person may work across more than one production, but that does not make every broadcast their TNT assignment.
Commentators you may encounter in major figure skating coverage
The following names can help you recognize the commentary teams, but they are not a guaranteed lineup for any particular TNT Sports broadcast. Their roles and appearances depend on the event and the broadcaster.
| Commentator | Common association | What to know | Best use of this information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Howarth | European figure skating coverage | A skating commentator associated with coverage on European sports services. Confirm the event listing to see whether he is assigned. | Useful clue when checking a Eurosport or related broadcast. |
| Nicky Slater | European figure skating coverage | A former competitive skater and commentator whose appearances depend on the broadcast and event. | Helpful when identifying a familiar European commentary voice. |
| Mark Hanretty | European skating analysis and commentary | A former ice dancer who has worked as a skating commentator and analyst. The exact role can vary. | Useful when the broadcast lists an expert analyst or skating voice. |
| Terry Gannon | NBC figure skating coverage | A prominent US figure skating play-by-play commentator. This is not evidence of a TNT assignment. | Helpful for distinguishing US network coverage from TNT Sports. |
| Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir | NBC figure skating coverage | Former champions and analysts known for US broadcasts; their roles are tied to specific productions. | Useful if the event is being shown by NBC or a related US service. |
“Play-by-play” means the person describing the action as it happens. An analyst adds explanation, often about technique, judging, or a skater’s choices. Some broadcasts make those roles obvious; others use a more conversational format in which the commentators share both tasks.
Do not assume a commentator’s former skating discipline tells you exactly what they will discuss. A former skater may explain technical elements, performance choices, or competition context. A play-by-play broadcaster may also know the sport well and provide detailed explanations. The on-screen role is determined by the production, not just the person’s background.
How to check the lineup for the event you’re watching
For an accurate answer, identify the exact event and the service carrying it in your location. Then check the listing close to the broadcast. This short process is more dependable than relying on a general article or an old social media post.
- Confirm the competition. Write down the event name, such as a national championship, a Grand Prix event, or a world championship. A broadcaster may use different teams for different competitions.
- Check your country’s broadcast rights. Search the broadcaster or streaming service available where you live. Do not assume the UK schedule matches the US schedule, or that a channel’s international version has the same commentary.
- Open the specific event listing. Look at the live programme, event page, or electronic programme guide. The listing may identify the presenter, commentator, or analyst, although not every service publishes all names in advance.
- Check again on broadcast day. Lineups can change because of scheduling or production needs. A late update may be more accurate than a preview posted weeks earlier.
- Listen to the opening introduction. If the listing does not name the commentators, the broadcast itself often introduces them. This is also a quick way to tell whether you have opened a main feed, an alternate feed, or a replay.
If the service offers multiple audio or video feeds, check their labels before the event begins. A world-feed version may use a different commentary team from the local broadcast. Some services also provide a clean feed, meaning the pictures are shown without spoken commentary.
What the commentators explain during a figure skating broadcast
A commentary team does more than name the skater and describe the jumps. Good coverage helps you understand what a performance is trying to do, which elements matter, and why a result may differ from the impression you get from the rink-side view.
Technical elements and difficulty
Skaters perform required elements such as jumps, spins, and step sequences. The technical panel identifies elements and records features that affect their value. A commentator may explain whether a jump was completed cleanly, whether a rotation was short, or why an element received a lower value than expected.
One useful distinction is between an element’s base value and its grade of execution. Base value reflects the element and its difficulty. Grade of execution, often shortened to GOE, reflects how well the element was performed and can raise or lower its value. A fall, an unclear edge, or a landing error can influence the score, but the exact scoring effect depends on the rules and the element.
Program components and presentation
Skating scores also reflect qualities beyond the listed jumps and spins. Judges assess areas such as skating skills, composition, and performance, using the categories and rules for that competition. Commentators may describe musical interpretation, speed, transitions, or how a program is constructed.
These observations can help you understand why a technically difficult program is not automatically the highest-scoring one. A skater may attempt harder content but lose points through execution errors. Another may deliver a cleaner performance with less difficult content. The final score reflects several parts of the judging system, not a simple count of successful jumps.
Scores, reviews, and changes
Some elements are reviewed after a performance. The technical panel may confirm or revise an element call, and the displayed score can take time to settle. Commentators sometimes discuss a possible review before the result is final, so treat early score predictions as analysis rather than an official decision.
For the same reason, a commentator’s immediate reaction does not replace the posted result. The official score is the one shown by the event’s scoring system after reviews. This is especially helpful if a replay or a commentary discussion makes an element look different from the final call.
How to tell whether you have the right commentary feed
Viewers sometimes search for the wrong commentator because they are watching a different feed from the one described in an article. Check the programme title and audio settings before deciding that a listed commentator is absent.
- Compare the programme title. A live event, highlights package, and replay may have different presenters and commentary.
- Check the audio menu. If more than one language or audio track is available, the active track may not be the main local commentary.
- Look for a clean feed. A feed without commentary may be intended for viewers who want arena sound only.
- Check whether the broadcast has started. A studio segment may begin before the skating, so the studio host may not be one of the event commentators.
- Verify the country setting on a streaming account. Rights and available feeds can change with location, even when the service has the same name.
A practical tip: save the event page or programme listing once you find the correct local broadcast. It gives you a reliable starting point for the next competition and helps avoid outdated roster lists that are copied from one season to another.
Common mistakes when looking up TNT Sports skating commentators
Assuming one channel has one permanent team
Commentators are assigned to productions, not permanently to every sport shown under a brand. A familiar voice may appear for one competition and be absent from another. Treat names as event-specific unless the broadcaster states otherwise.
Mixing up a parent company and a channel brand
Related services can share ownership without sharing a schedule or a commentary team. A commentator listed for Eurosport is not automatically working on TNT Sports for that event. Check the channel or service named on the exact listing.
Confusing commentators with presenters or reporters
A presenter introduces the programme or hosts a studio discussion. A reporter may interview skaters or provide updates from the venue. Neither role necessarily means that person provides live technical commentary during the performances.
Using an old lineup as a current answer
Search pages can retain a roster from a past championship. Even if the names are correct for that event, they may not apply to the next one. Check the date, competition, country, and service before relying on a list.
Assuming the most famous US names are on every international feed
Well-known NBC commentators are not a universal team for international skating. Their appearances should be connected to the specific US broadcast that carries them. Other countries and services may use different commentators, even for the same competition.
Quick answer by viewing situation
| If you are watching… | What to expect | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A European event on Eurosport or a related WBD service | You may hear Chris Howarth, Nicky Slater, Mark Hanretty, or another assigned commentator. | The specific event listing and language feed. |
| A US figure skating broadcast | NBC coverage may feature Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir, depending on the programme. | The NBC or streaming-service listing for that event. |
| A TNT Sports programme that includes skating | The roster depends on the country and the specific production; there is no universal lineup. | The channel’s local schedule and on-air introductions. |
| A stream with no spoken commentary | You may have selected a clean feed or an alternate audio track. | The stream’s audio and feed settings. |
The safest short answer is that TNT Sports does not have one confirmed, permanent figure skating commentary team for every market. European viewers may encounter experienced skating voices such as Howarth, Slater, or Hanretty on related coverage; US viewers should check whether their event is actually being carried by NBC or another service.
The answer to who are the figure skating commentators on tnt sports depends on the country, event, and broadcast service. Chris Howarth, Nicky Slater, and Mark Hanretty are names viewers may encounter in European coverage, while Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir are associated with NBC broadcasts in the United States.
Before the next event, check the local programme listing and confirm the selected audio feed. That simple step is the quickest way to find the commentators actually assigned to the broadcast you are watching.