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Batting 1000,
Howard Chen Talks Sports
Howard Chen
by V. HOANG
Comcast SportsNet Houston is a new regional sports network that was launched
this past October. The channel provides exclusive regional coverage of the
Astros and Rockets, extensive pre- and post-game coverage, team and player
programming, major collegiate and high school programming as well as the
latest news and analysis of the teams and events that matter most 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week. It is a partnership between the Astros, Rockets, and NBC
Sports Group. Howard Chen has recently returned to Houston to be the digital
reporter for this new and exciting avenue for Houston’s sports fans.
Howard Chen reports
regularly during Houston
Rockets game broadcasts and
also on Comcast SportsNet’s
variety of news shows at
6pm, 10pm, and midnight.
He is also periodically a guest
on Comcast SportsNet’s 5pm
TV talk show, “SportsTalk
Live.”
For more of his reporting,
visit CSNHouston.com.
Can you explain what is meant by being a “digital reporter?”
I’m a reporter, first and foremost. I’ve always been a reporter on the
television side of things and, now, I bring that to Comcast SportsNet
Houston. The difference is that now I add a digital element to it. I
do both TV and online work where I do my usual work for TV, but
I’m also creating online/digital content whether it is writing for
CSNHouston.com or engaging with my followers on Twitter. The
industry is gearing towards that online/digital side, so it’s extremely
important to transfer what I’ve done and am still doing for television
over to the web.
What is Comcast SportsNet Houston?
In short, it’s a 24-hour sports network/channel dedicated to covering
regional sports like never before. Comcast SportsNet Houston is the
new home of the Rockets and Astros. Outside of carrying the games,
though, all the shows appeal to local sports fans. It’s not nationalized.
It’s localized. And that’s the beauty of it.
The network is available to all cable providers and operates
independently of Comcast Cable. We’re one of 13 regional networks
under the NBC Sports umbrella. Presently, the channel is carried by
Comcast Cable as well as Phonoscope, Coastal Link, Consolidated Cable,
and En Touch. Fans who have other providers and want to watch the
Rockets and Astros should communicate that to their providers by
calling 1-800-4-CSNHOUSTON or by visiting iwantcsnhouston.com.
What motivated you to enter the field of sports journalism?
I’ve been a sports fan all my life, but I could kind of tell that I wasn’t
cut out for professional sports. What’s the next best thing? Going
to the games for free! And even better, getting paid for it! According
to my parents, I knew this from the time I was around 10 years old. I
had an epiphany while talking to my sister about it and she told me I
should do what I liked to do. I liked sports. Therefore, I chose to go into
sports journalism, considering I wasn’t going to be an NFL linebacker or
strong safety. At first I thought I was going to go into sportstalk radio
and I interned for SportsRadio 610 in Houston after my freshman year
of college. Later, I came to realize that even though there are a ton of
Asian-American sports fans, there aren’t many who choose to follow
their dreams. I figured that having my face on TV was more influential
than hearing my voice on the radio or seeing my name in a newspaper
or magazine. It was at that time that I shifted my focus to making it in
TV. I wanted to show other Asian-Americans that it could be done and
that if I could do it, they could do it, too.
What led to your decision to leave Toledo, where you were the Sports
Director at WUPW-TV FOX, and return to Houston?
Comcast SportsNet Houston was always a dream job of mine. I targeted
this job from the time I heard about it two years ago. I did whatever I
could to get to know the right people and am very thankful that those
people took the time to get to know me. FOX Toledo went through a
lot of transitions after being sold that resulted in many layoffs at the
beginning of 2012. Although I did have an opportunity to stay in Toledo
doing sports on TV, I considered the bigger picture. My main goal was
to join Comcast SportsNet Houston and to be close to family, friends,
and fantastic food. So I opted to move home with an uncertain future. It
certainly worked out better than I even dreamed. The proud expressions
on my parents’ faces (they’re in Sugar Land) when I see them are
absolutely priceless.
Who have been the most interesting people that you have interviewed?
Jeremy Lin. He represents. He shatters stereotypes. That’s everything
that I try to embody. As far as possessing a pure intimidation factor,
Bobby Knight tops the list. It was neat the first time I was in a media
group surrounding Tiger Woods. Jack Nicklaus seems like the perfect
grandpa. Hockey locker rooms have the most interesting smells for
interviews. By interesting, I mean bad.
What impression did you get when you interviewed Jeremy Lin?
My impression is that he’s a normal, down-to-earth human being who
is extremely humble. He’s a guy who wants to stay humble and doesn’t
exactly seek the limelight. The impression I get is that he’s kind-hearted
and considerate. He does all his media interviews without complaining
and is very courteous when he answers questions.
What is the target market for the Jeremy Lin reports you do in Chinese?
With the Internet being a worldwide phenomenon, and Lin’s fanbase
going global, the target market goes far beyond Houston. The stuff
on TV, which I do in English, is geared for the regional market. Most of
my work is in English and can be seen online, too. However, we have
observed that a significant portion of our web audience comes from
China and Taiwan. Since I speak Mandarin Chinese, it only made sense
to cater to this market on a web-exclusive basis, considering the web is
such a powerful platform.
I came to realize that even though
there are a ton of Asian-American
sports fans, there aren’t many who
choose to follow their dreams.
I figured that having my face on TV
was more influential than hearing
my voice on the radio or seeing my
name in a newspaper or magazine.
How many languages do you speak?
English is my first language. Mandarin Chinese is my distinct second
language, but I can speak it with sufficient fluency to get around Taiwan
if I need to and hopefully well enough to have a Mandarin Chinese
segment for CSNHouston.com. I can also speak limited Taiwanese and
very limited Spanish.
How is your life different now from the time you became a sports
reporter?
I represent my company on a full-time basis. When you’re seen on TV,
you have to be a little more aware of your actions. Seriously, though,
everything’s so positive about what this has brought me. It feels good
to get to where you’ve always wanted to be.
Had you pursued other fields of journalism?
Some executives have told me I would have moved up the ladder faster
had I shifted to news from sports. However, I knew that I wouldn’t have
enjoyed myself doing news. Sports is my passion. Sports is my dream.
Sports is my reality.
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