SOCHI -- An eye infection has ended one of sports television's more remarkable streaks.
Bob Costas will not host NBC's Olympic primetime coverage for the first time since 1988, a streak of 157 consecutive primetime appearances on NBC's Olympic coverage between the Summer and Winter Games. The Today show host Matt Lauer will fill in for Costas.
An NBC spokesperson described the staffing situation is "day to day."
The Tuesday primetime show will be the first time since CBS aired the Nagano Games in 1998 that someone other than Costas will host an Olympic primetime show. It's also the first time in 36 years that someone other than Costas will host the Olympic primetime show on NBC.
Costas alerted viewers to his eye condition early in the games and eschewed contact lens for glasses while on the air in Sochi. He has had the infection treated with antibiotics but has been in discomfort since last week.
On Tuesday morning Eastern Time, he called into Today and spoke on the phone with Lauer, who inquired about his colleague. "Well, even worse than when you saw me this morning, Sochi time," Costas said. "So, reluctantly, I was trying to throw a complete game here, but I think we're going to have to go to the bullpen. I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but you're Mariano Rivera, at least tonight."
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