Jim Donovan (sportscaster)

American sportscaster

James Francis Donovan III (born July 17, 1956) is an American radio and television personality who serves as sports director and news anchor for WKYC channel 3 (NBC) in Cleveland, Ohio, and has been the radio voice of the Cleveland Browns Radio Network since 1999.

Donovan was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a 1978 graduate of Boston University and began his career as a sports director for WJON radio in St. Cloud, Minnesota. From Minnesota, he moved to Vermont, providing play by play basketball and hockey coverage for the Satellite News Channel in Burlington, Vermont. He also did play by play and sports anchoring at WVMT radio and WEZF TV. He also served for one season as play by play announcer for the Vermont Reds, a Cincinnati Reds minor league baseball team (which coincidentally is now the Akron RubberDucks, a Cleveland Guardians minor league team). In 2006, channel 3 and SportsTime Ohio now known as Bally Sports Great Lakes (BSGL) acquired the local TV rights to the Cleveland Browns. So in addition to his duties on WKYC, Donovan also hosts several Browns themed programs on BSGL.

On the national level Donovan had called play by play for NBC Sports' NFL coverage from 1987 to 1997. He also handled swimming and soccer play by play in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics for NBC, and World Cup Soccer in 1994. In 1999, when the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL, Donovan was named as radio play by play voice of the team. After WKYC acquired the local, over the air television rights to the Cleveland Indians, Donovan served as play by play announcer from 2006–2008.

Run William Run! in reference to William Green 64 yard touchdown run during a Cleveland Browns vs. Atlanta Falcons game in 2002. Is this how it feels? when the Browns defeated the New York Jets in Week 3 of the 2018 season, their first victory in 635 days. Chubba Wubba Hubb! in reference to Nick Chubbs 92 yard touchdown run during an Atlanta Falcons vs Cleveland Browns game in 2018.

On May 25, 2011, during the 11 pm newscast, Donovan announced he had been battling leukemia for the last ten years, and that he would be taking a leave of absence to undergo a (what would be a successful) bone marrow transplant. On September 11, 2011, Donovan returned to the Browns broadcasting booth in time for their opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The next night, he returned to the sports anchor chair at WKYC, as well as his hosting duties on STO. Donovan met with his bone marrow donor on Thanksgiving night in 2013, when Dallas Gentry from Wise, Virginia, visited the Donovan family. Donovan announced on May 31, 2023 that his leukemia had relapsed and would be once again undergoing treatment. On September 10, following his broadcast of the opening game of the 2023 season for the Browns, Donovan announced he would step away from announcing Browns games to undergo leukemia treatment.

On January 16, 2012, Donovan expanded his duties at WKYC as he became the anchor of channel 3's 7 p. m. newscast. He continues in his role as sports anchor at 6 and 11 p. m.

Donovan, his wife, and daughter live in Hinckley, Ohio.