BEREA, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns and News 5, the club's official flagship TV station for preseason games, unique team content throughout the year, and Browns shoulder programming, announced today that Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Browns All-Pro Joe Thomas, NFL Network studio host Chris Rose, and CBS Sports reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala will call all three of the Browns' 2025 preseason games.
| Week | Date | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1: at Carolina Panthers | Fri., Aug. 8 | 7 p.m. ET | News 5 |
| P2: at Philadelphia Eagles | Sat. Aug. 16 | 1 p.m. ET | News 5 |
| P3: vs. Los Angeles Rams | Sat. Aug. 23 | 1 p.m. ET | News 5 |
Cleveland-native Rose enters the booth for his fourth season as the play-by-play announcer. A centerpiece on NFL Network since 2012, Rose has broad experience that also encompasses play-by-play responsibilities for FOX's NFL coverage, in-studio roles with FOX Sports as well as MLB Network and serving as the lead commentator for BattleBots dating back to 2015. Following the 2023 Browns season opener, the late-great radio play-by-play announcer Jim Donovan went on medical leave to undergo treatment for leukemia and Rose, the proud graduate of Miami University, was named Donovan's substitute for the remainder of the season to call games for his hometown team.
Returning to the booth alongside Rose is Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Browns All-Pro Joe Thomas, who missed last preseason due to the onus of coaching the Munich Ravens in the European Football League in Munich, Germany. In his first year of eligibility, Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. During his 11-year career with the Browns, he was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and played every offensive snap at left tackle without missing a snap (NFL-record 10,363 consecutive). He is a three-time Browns Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honoree (2010, 2012 and 2016), which recognizes a player's commitment to impact the community and on-field performance. After a successful career on the field, Thomas is currently an NFL Network analyst who can be seen on various NFL Media programs.
"I am thrilled to be back in the booth for the Browns preseason broadcast this year," said Thomas. "It's an honor to be able to be a small part of the action as the team gears up for the 2025 season. Getting to work with two of the best in the business, in Chris Rose, who is fantastic to work with alongside the booth, and Aditi Kinkhabwala, who brings incredible insight and energy from the sideline, makes it even more special."
Current CBS Sports reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala will complement the duo from Cleveland's sideline to provide in-depth updates and interviews from Browns' players and coaches for her fourth season. With over two decades of experience covering the league, Kinkhabwala spent 10 years with NFL Network, and now hosts CBS Sports' "We Need To Talk" and is featured on both Sirius XM and local Pittsburgh radio. She began her journalism career in newspapers, first covering high school football at the San Antonio Express-News and college sports at The Record in New Jersey before moving to the New York Giants beat at the Wall Street Journal. During the 2021 NFL Draft, Kinkhabwala supported Browns' coverage as a special contributor for TV, radio and website content.
Last year, the Browns and News 5 announced a multi-year renewal deal, extending their decade long relationship to maintain the station as the club's official flagship TV station. The partnership provides Browns fans with exclusive experiences with engaging and informative content through game coverage, special interviews, and behind-the-scenes content. In addition, News 5 will continue to prioritize sharing the stories of the club's commitment to the community by championing youth football, education, and equitable opportunities throughout the state of Ohio.
Preseason games will continue to air through a special triple cast on Audacy's 92.3 The Fan (WKRK-FM) and sister station 98.5 WNCX (WNCX-FM) and Good Karma Brands' 850 ESPN Cleveland, as well as across the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns Radio Network. Nathan Zegura will serve as the color analyst, joined by Andrew Siliciano (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (sideline reporter).
In addition to the News 5 broadcast, Browns preseason games will extend to households throughout Columbus, Dayton, Hawaii, Toledo, and Youngstown. Below is a list of affiliate stations airing Browns preseason football.
- WBNS CBS 10 – Columbus
- WHIO CBS 7 – Dayton
- KGMB CBS 7 – Hawaii
- WTOL CBS – Toledo
- WYTV ABC 33 – Youngstown
An hour before each preseason game on News 5, Browns fans can also tune in for "Browns Countdown," hosted by Jon Doss and Kinkhabwala. The hourlong program provides exclusive Browns content and interviews each week heading into kickoff. News 5 will also air "Browns Postgame" an hour after each preseason game.
About Scripps:
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, ION Mystery, Laff and TrueReal. Scripps is the nation's largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way."
