The 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo are fast approaching, with more broadcast announcements being made each day. CNBC has announced that Shepard Smith and Meghan Triplett will be anchoring primetime coverage on their network during the games. Both are making their Olympic broadcasting debuts together.
Triplett has had a quick rise in the sports media world. Our own Tyler McComas profiled the multimedia host on her new venture with Grind City Media this year. Triplett is hosting a podcast called “Rise and Grind” with Jessica Benson, which focuses on the Memphis Grizzlies. Triplett had to adjust to podcasting after being an anchor for the Lacrosse Sports Network.
“It’s very different,” said Triplett. “Even with the dynamic on our show, which you can watch live on YouTube, learning how to describe things, whether it’s an injury or something else, there was an adjustment period. I did a podcast a few years ago so that was a great help, but I loved the idea of hosting a podcast because you can work on your voice and it makes you more comfortable. In TV there are a lot of other aspects that you have to be thinking about at the same time.”
There is one piece of advice that Triplett has taken to heart from her best friend in the business, ESPN’s Maria Taylor.
“One of the things she’s teaching me right is you can say no to certain things. You don’t have to say yes to everything, because sometimes we’re in the space where we think, one day they’re going to take this opportunity away from us. That’s an awful space to be in.”
Triplett was ready to say yes to making her Olympic TV debut after rising up the industry over the past few years.
Some more debuts are happening on the USA Network side of the coin. Katherine Tappen is making her debut on Olympics coverage as a studio presenter. Ahmed Fareed and Liam McHugh will also help lead USA Network coverage, but Tappen will be the only one of the trio on-site in Tokyo.