FSO Announces New Reds Play-By-Play

Briefly: Fox Sports Ohio sent us a press release yesterday afternoon to announce the new play-by-play man for Reds games on the cable network.

Paul Keels is a Cincinnati native and has been doing Ohio State University sports broadcasts for over 10 years. He also has extensive experience in broadcasting, with his career beginning in 1979 for WLW-AM 700 here.

Here's the press release in its entirety:

FOX Sports Ohio Announces Cincinnati Reds 2010 Play By Play Lineup
Cincinnati native and longtime broadcaster Paul Keels joins broadcast team.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – FOX Sports Ohio is excited to announce its 2010 play by play broadcast team. As previously announced, Thom Brennaman, an already experienced and distinguished Reds announcer who previously split duties with George Grande on FOX Sports Ohio, will now take on greater responsibilities and serve as the play by play voice for the majority of Reds game telecasts.

Cincinnati native and longtime broadcaster Paul Keels has been named the new play by play announcer for the remainder of the Reds schedule. Both broadcasters will team with color analysts Chris Welsh and Jeff Brantley on FOX Sports Ohio’s Reds telecasts beginning next spring.

“The decision to select the new play by play announcers for the Reds was not an easy one, as our viewers have high expectations of our broadcasts. Thom Brennaman is a first-class Reds broadcaster and we are delighted for him to take on greater responsibility,” stated Henry Ford, FOX Sports Ohio Senior Vice President and General Manager. “Paul Keels is an accomplished broadcasting professional with a deep understanding and passion for Cincinnati Reds baseball. His presence will complete an already superb broadcasting team.”

Keels brings 30 years of broadcasting experience to the booth. Fans may recognize him as the play by play voice for Ohio State football and basketball on WBNS Radio in Columbus, where he has been since 1998. While in his new role with FOX Sports Ohio and the Reds, he will maintain his current responsibilities with Ohio State.

Keels began his career with Cincinnati’s WLW Radio as a news anchor, reporter and sports talk show host in 1979. After sports reporting and broadcasting jobs in Washington D.C. and Michigan, where he called radio games for the Detroit Pistons and University of Michigan football and basketball, he returned to Cincinnati in 1989 to serve WCKY Radio as sports director and play by play voice for University of Cincinnati football and basketball for three years. Keels then joined the WHIO Radio team in Dayton, Ohio as news anchor and morning show host (1992-95) before returning to WLW Radio as sports director and play by play announcer for UC football and basketball as well as sports anchor and reporter for the Cincinnati Bengals (1995-98).

Reds Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini said, “We’re very pleased to be able add to our television broadcast team someone of Paul’s experience and reputation. Fans in Reds country already are familiar with his talent, and he will be an outstanding addition to what we think already is a very strong broadcast team.”

In 2007, Keels was inducted into the Radio/TV Broadcasting Hall of Fame of Ohio and was the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters “Ohio Sportscaster of the Year” co-winner (alongside Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman).

Keels additionally has extensive freelance experience including work with the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and college football. He has also participated in various shows and videos, including Ohio State Coaches Shows, The History of Ohio State Football, Buckeye Classics TV Shows, and the Moeller High School recruiting video.

“I’m very excited to join FOX Sports Ohio as part of the Reds Broadcast team,” stated Keels. “Being a Cincinnati native, and having followed the Reds as far as back Crosley Field, it’s a thrill to be involved in working with others to bring Reds Baseball to some of the most passionate baseball fans in the country.”

Keels grew up in Silverton, the same home town of retired Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, and attended Moeller High School and Xavier University.

"Paul Keels will be a terrific addition to our Reds broadcast team," said FOX Sports Ohio Executive Producer Tom Farmer. "Paul grew up in Cincinnati, has tremendous knowledge of the game of baseball, and is passionate about the Reds. We feel very fortunate to be able to welcome him to FOX Sports Ohio."

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Our take: A good hire by Fox Sports Ohio. Keels will be a good addition to the team, which also added Thom Brennaman last week (Brennaman will do 100 games, with Keels doing 45 more). We've heard some pieces of his work on WLW from the late 90s and he knows sports...which you just about have to here, and he is a great broadcaster. He's in the Ohio Radio and TV Broadcasting Hall of Fame and 2007 Ohio Sportscaster of the Year.

One thing we didn't catch: Louisville River Bats announcer Jim Kelch was also added last week. (We didn't make it down to Redsfest where this was apparently announced). It appears Kelch will do mainly radio for the Reds. We've never heard Kelch, so we'll reserve judgement there.

But, the Fox Sports Ohio booth gets better with these two moves on the TV side. Again, we'll reserve judgement on the radio side of things until we actually hear the team of Marty and Jim...