Anyone else irritated by the girl sideline reporters on NFL broadcasts in recent years? They seem so out of place to me. And not knowledgeable about football. Why exactly are they there?
We already have to endure women announcers for college football, it’s inevitable for the NFL.
They are there for their looks!
Recently being the last 20 years? Really, as with all things, it depends on the reporter. Erin Andrews is a very good sideline reporter, best part of Fox’s A unit (Buck-Aikman). Probably the worst sideline reporter Tony Siragusa, which pains me because he was a great player, but man he stinks on the sideline. And what they’re there for is getting info, we actually probably only see 5% of their work, most of their stuff is going to the production trailer and booth guys. MMQB had a good article on how a broadcast is put together:
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/01/26/nfl-fox-television-broadcast-nfc-title-game-behind-scenes
it includes what the sideline reporter really does.