Boston Radio: NFL Patriots Change Broadcast Team

The New England Patriots have announced a lineup change to their preseason broadcast team.

Beginning this preseason, the familiar voices of Bob Socci and former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak will move from the WBZ 98.5 FM The Sports Hub's radio booth to the WBZ-TV television booth to call each of the Patriots' four preseason games, beginning with the opener vs. Washington on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. CBS Boston's WBZ-TV will once again serve as the flagship station for each of the locally produced preseason games

Former Patriots LB Rob Ninkovich will join the broadcast team and report from the sidelines. WBZ-TV's Steve Burton will continue to provide interviews and reports from the sidelines and Patriots Football Weekly's Paul Perillo and Andy Hart will remain in their role of providing insight and observations throughout the game, as well as engaging with fans through social media.

Scott Zolak and Bob Soccie

"Scott Zolak has quickly become a favorite among Patriots fans, not just for his insight and analysis, but for the passion in which he delivers it," said Matt Smith, the executive producer of Kraft Sports Productions. "He and Bob Socci have such great chemistry together on the radio, we thought they would be the perfect pairing for our preseason telecasts and give them exposure to a television audience that extends throughout New England. Adding Rob Ninkovich to the broadcast is another bonus. Rob retired from the Patriots just a year ago, so he is still very familiar with the current team and will be able to offer a unique perspective on what it is like to go through training camp and the preseason as a member of the Patriots."

Socci is best known as the radio play-by-play voice of the Patriots. He will enter his sixth season in 2018 when he broadcasts all 16 regular season games on 98.5 The Sports Hub, the team's flagship radio station. Socci also does work for patriots.com, including a weekly podcast during the season. Zolak is entering his seventh season as an analyst in the booth. Additionally, Zolak does a weekly interview with Head Coach Bill Belichick for Patriots All Access, including a popular telestrator segment previewing the upcoming opponent. Prior to moving upstairs, he spent the 2012 season as a sideline reporter with the legendary broadcast team of Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti. Ninkovich enjoyed an 11-year NFL career, including an eight-year career with the Patriots and helped lead New England to two Super Bowl wins.

Dan Roche from WBZ-TV and former Patriot and Super Bowl Champion Matt Chatham will do the broadcasts for the preseason games on 98.5 The Sports Hub, before Socci and Zolak return for the regular season.

Christian Fauria, a former tight end who previously participated in radio and television broadcasts of Patriots coverage, was suspended from his weekday show for five days earlier this year after impersonating athletic agent Don Yee with a racially offensive accent. Yee represents Patriots athletes including quarterback Tom Brady and receiver Julian Edelman.