Saturday, June 6, 2026

Snoop Dogg Will Lead Olympic Hockey Alt-Cast During Men’s Quarterfinal

Sports TV networks are increasingly rolling out “alt-casts” around major sporting events.

Feb 17, 2026; Milan, Italy; Snoop Dogg looks on in the womens figure skating short program during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena.
James Lang-Imagn Images

Snoop Dogg is again doing it all during NBC Sports Olympic coverage.

NBC’s special Olympic correspondent will lead an alternative “Snoop-Cast” on Peacock during the third period of Team USA’s men’s hockey quarterfinal against Sweden on Wednesday. The opening face-off is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET. The move is part of a growing trend of networks adding alternative telecasts around the main broadcast of major sporting events.

During NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the rapper turned sportscaster became a popular figure among athletes and viewers alike. For the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games, Snoop has been all over the place again, appearing on-air with host Mike Tirico, hanging out with Olympians, and serving as a torchbearer for Team USA. 

Wearing an NBC Olympic blazer, the 54-year-old entertainer went through some of his favorite moments so far in Italy with Tirico. 

“USA hockey. Let’s go. We are the best fans. We dress for the occasion,” said Snoop Dogg over a clip of an American fan stripping down to his red, white, and blue underwear. He also visited Milan’s famed La Scala opera house with fellow Olympics commentator Martha Stewart in a segment called “Snooping Around Italy.” 

Sweden was ranked third before coming into Milan. So they’re expected to be a tough opponent if Team USA is to make it to the gold medal game.

Previously, the rapper served as a ringside commentator for the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing match in 2020. He stole the show, too, with lines such as, “This is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue!” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said his commentary was the most “entertaining” part of the fight. In January, he joined NBC’s NBA announce team during a livestream of Warriors vs. Clippers on Peacock.

Using a fan favorite like Snoop for an alt-cast is a smart strategy. These telecasts tend to skew younger, attracting fans who might not watch the main game broadcast. 

For example, there’s likely to be at least three alt-casts surrounding ESPN’s first Super Bowl telecast on Feb. 14, 2027, Front Office Sports reported last week.

One would be a Super Bowl Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show, similar to the on-field alt-cast the show did during the College Football Playoff. The second would be a ManningCast with Super Bowl–winning brothers Peyton and Eli Manning. The third would be an animated alt-cast featuring Disney IP such as Star Wars, The Simpsons, Family Guy, or Cars.

ESPN would have to clear rights hurdles from the NFL. But McAfee wrote on X/Twitter those rights hurdles are “very hurdle-able.” A Super Bowl “Field-Cast” starring him and his crew would be “absolutely bonkers,” predicted McAfee.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Stanley Cup Final Viewership for Game 1 Nearly Doubles on ABC

The Vegas win was the most-watched Stanley Cup Final opener since 2019.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN Braces for More Layoffs

The cuts are expected to affect both talents and non-camera-facing employees.
exclusive

ESPN Evaluating AI Promos After Tony Parker Backlash

The network says it used AI for portraits of Parker and others.
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell arrives during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore.

NFL Defends TV Deals As Goodell Declines to Testify Before Congress

The league continues to tout its commitment to broadcast television.

Featured Today

Ai sports slop

How Sports Became Ground Zero for AI Slop

The category is the perfect breeding ground for AI content churn.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group A - Germany v Luxembourg - Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - October 10, 2025 Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann
June 4, 2026

‘Weird Corners of the World’: How to Find a World Cup Coach

National associations look for a winning record—and also hope for serendipity.
June 3, 2026

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Switzerland chose schools as their tournament base camps.
Frances Cabral-Delaney
May 29, 2026

How Arsenal Fandom Went ‘Manic’

“People do not become Arsenal fans because it’s easy,” says Zohran Mamdani.
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles the ball past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) in the first half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.

NBA Finals Game 1 Viewership Is Highest Since 2019

Game 2 between the Knicks and Spurs is Friday.
June 4, 2026

Duke-Michigan Hoops Moving to MLB Ballpark to Skirt Rights Issue

The crux of the move is due to media-rights complications.
Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; ESPN analysts Richard Jefferson (left) and Tim Legler (center) and play-by-play announcer Mike Breen during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.
June 5, 2026

ESPN’s Tim Legler: ‘I Don’t Think About Coaching Anymore’

Legler is making his NBA Finals broadcasting debut.
Sponsored

Landon Donovan: What Soccer in America Still Needs

Landon Donovan discusses the evolution of soccer in America and investing in the NWSL.
June 3, 2026

Spurs-Thunder Outdraws Last Year’s NBA Finals 

The 2025 NBA Finals drew 10.27 million viewers.
June 2, 2026

NHL Set to Enter Rights Talks With ESPN, TNT As Ratings Climb

The league’s recent run of heady viewership gives it greater bargaining power.
June 2, 2026

Knicks Keep Mitchell Robinson Away From Media Amid Mystery Injury

Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick. 
June 2, 2026

CFP Tweaks Schedule to Avoid More Head-to-Head NFL Clashes

The CFP is taking new measures to avoid competition with the NFL.