Biography

Twelve-time Emmy award-winner Raj Mathai is the weeknight news anchor for NBC Bay Area. He anchors the nightly 5pm, 6pm, and 11pm news and is among the Bay Area’s most well-known journalists. He has interviewed many high-profile newsmakers including Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Colin Powell, Tyler Florence, Jed York, and many more.

Mr. Mathai joined KNTV in 1998 as sports director and transitioned to primary news anchor in 2011. He has reported on-location from the Olympics in London, Vancouver, Turin, Athens, and Salt Lake City. He is among the handful of people in the world to have run the Olympic Torch three times (1996, 2002, and 2008). He was part of the San Francisco Giants broadcast team (2008–12) with Jon Miller and Mike Krukow during NBC Bay Area telecasts of the Giants.

Mr. Mathai grew up on the Peninsula and graduated from Los Altos High School. He went on to graduate from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and political science. Before arriving at NBC Bay Area, he worked for NBC stations in Fresno, San Diego, and Arizona. In 1995, he became the country’s first Indian sportscaster. Prior to his career in television, he served as a public relations assistant for the San Diego Chargers for five seasons.

Mr. Mathai and his family contribute to the Stanford Cancer Center, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, College Track, Indian Community Center, and various other Bay Area charities. He is a regular guest instructor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was born in Trivandrum, India.