Ray Hudson is back! After a year away from national TV, the inimitable soccer commentator returns to our TV and streaming sets for U.S. coverage of the Champions League in 2022-23. He’s one of many Champions League announcers you’ll be hearing this season.
In May 2021, soccer fans across the country lamented the loss of a great voice on our airways as Hudson left beIN Sports after a decade calling LaLiga matches to American audiences. The commentator with the vocabulary of Shakespeare and the excitability of a tween was only found on local Inter Miami broadcasts since then. Hudson will be back delighting fans with his bizarre metaphors and squeels of joy as part of the CBS Sports crew covering the 2022-23 Champions League.
Champions League Announcers On CBSSN, CBS, Paramount+
Ray Hudson is just one of many big names who will be Champions League announcers, commentators and analysts on CBS Sports’ coverage this season.
CBS Sports' @ChampionsLeague multiplatform coverage returns with @paramountplus streaming every match live.
Full Release: https://t.co/dIZDQqvsYF pic.twitter.com/oGI9q4udnI— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) September 1, 2022
The always excellent Kate Abdo returns as studio host where she’ll be joined by Thierry Henry plus the rapscallions that are Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards. Clint Dempsey will make appearances as a guest analyst. Peter Schmeichel, Guillem Balagué and Jules Breach will serve as on-site reporters. Christina Unkel returns as the officiating analyst.
During the match, the Champions League announcers will be Clive Tyldesley and Andrés Cordero (play-by-play) and Rob Green and Ray Hudson (analysts). Additional announcers will be featured from the world feed.
If you’re watching the Golazo Show (more on that below), you’ll see Nico Cantor resume hosting duties alongside Freddie Ljungberg. Other talent covering the Champions League for CBS/Paramount in various forms includes Luis Garcia, Jimmy Conrad, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ian Joy, Fabrizio Romano and host Poppy Miller, plus Lianne Sanderson, Ayo Akinwolere and Julien Laurens on Europa League duty.
Here’s a brief rundown of the Champions League announcers.
Champions League Announcers, Hosts, Analysts
Studio Hosts
- Kate Abdo
- Poppy Miller
Studio Analysts
- Thierry Henry
- Jamie Carragher
- Micah Richards
- Clint Dempsey
On-Site Reporters
- Peter Schmeichel
- Guillem Balagué
- Jules Breach
Referee Analyst
- Christina Unkel
Play-By-Play Announcers
- Clive Tyldesley
- Andrés Cordero
Match Analysts
- Rob Green
- Ray Hudson
Golazo Show (UCL)
- Nico Cantor
- Freddie Ljungberg
Golazo Show (Europa League)
- Nico Cantor
- Lianne Sanderson
- Ayo Akinwolere
- Julien Laurens
Additional Champions League Announcers/Reporters/Commentators
- Luis Garcia
- Jimmy Conrad
- Nigel Reo-Coker
- Ian Joy
- Fabrizio Romano
- Jonathan Johnson
- James Benge
- Marco Messina
One name missing from that list is Peter Drury, who had been calling Champions League matches but is now NBC’s lead soccer announcer, having replaced Arlo White for the 2022-23 season. White has yet to reveal his next non-MLS job.
Now you’re probably wondering how to watch these Champions League announcers. Here’s a quick rundown.
How To Watch Champions League On TV In U.S.
The Champions League TV rights in the U.S. are held by Paramount in English and Univision in Spanish. The following channels and streaming services will broadcast Champions League matches live.
How To Watch Champions League On TV
- English: CBSSN, CBS
- Spanish: Univision, UniMás, TUDN
How To Watch Champions League Streaming
- English: Paramount+
- Spanish: ViX, ViX+
In English, fans will once again be forced to subscribe to Paramount+ if they want to watch full matches live. Each match day in the group stage, CBSSN will air its Golazo Show, which is whip-around coverage trying to show the best moments of every match. This is a great way to keep an eye on all the action, but not ideal if you want to watch a specific match.
In Spanish, Univision, UniMás and TUDN will air some matches with ViX and ViX+ streaming the rest.
Stay tuned to The18 for all things Champions League this season. To start, check out our ranking of the toughest Champions League groups.
