Rod Black Leaving TSN

[overedge]

Rogers Media (owner of TSN) has been cutting back on staff at its outlets all across Canada. So Rod might have accepted a buyout or was simply told that his job was ending. No future plans at the moment, apparently:

Award-winning broadcaster Rod Black announces departure from TSN

Calling it a mutual decision, award-winning sportscaster Rod Black announced his departure from TSN on Thursday to end a decades-long run with the Canadian sports network. The 59-year-old was one of TSN's most prominent broadcasters, who could slide into just about any assignment and elevate...

ca.sports.yahoo.com

 

[dramagrrl]

But who will declare somebody "THE NEXT ONE!!!!" at this year's nationals???

He can definitely be hella annoying, but not gonna lie -- I'm going to miss his hyperbolic (though sometimes misplaced) enthusiasm.

 

[4rkidz]

Rogers Media (owner of TSN) has been cutting back on staff at its outlets all across Canada. So Rod might have accepted a buyout or was simply told that his job was ending. No future plans at the moment, apparently:

Award-winning broadcaster Rod Black announces departure from TSN

Calling it a mutual decision, award-winning sportscaster Rod Black announced his departure from TSN on Thursday to end a decades-long run with the Canadian sports network. The 59-year-old was one of TSN's most prominent broadcasters, who could slide into just about any assignment and elevate...

ca.sports.yahoo.com

Oh that’s too bad, I like him and totally associate him with sports in Canada. He was very nice looking when he was younger with his moustache and lovely blue eyes lol. I am just a few years younger than him.

 

[manhn]

Does TSN/CTV still have rights to Skate Canada events? I vaguely recall hearing their contract expired and the rights are now CBC’s. I think a Kurt/Rod/Tracy trio would be quite good for the Olympics.

I thought he was quite good when he covers basketball, the few times I watched it.

 

[Judy]

I just saw that too. I'm sure it would be a big package if he wants to retire Or continue doing other stuff. I'll really kind of miss him.

 

[mackiecat]

Does TSN/CTV still have rights to Skate Canada events? I vaguely recall hearing their contract expired and the rights are now CBC’s. I think a Kurt/Rod/Tracy trio would be quite good for the Olympics.

I thought he was quite good when he covers basketball, the few times I watched it.

You are correct ( the first paragrap….no idea about the second

 

[greenapple]

Rogers Media (owner of TSN) has been cutting back on staff at its outlets all across Canada. So Rod might have accepted a buyout or was simply told that his job was ending. No future plans at the moment, apparently:

Award-winning broadcaster Rod Black announces departure from TSN

Calling it a mutual decision, award-winning sportscaster Rod Black announced his departure from TSN on Thursday to end a decades-long run with the Canadian sports network. The 59-year-old was one of TSN's most prominent broadcasters, who could slide into just about any assignment and elevate...

ca.sports.yahoo.com

Bell Media owns TSN/CTV not Rogers. He probably had no choice as a "mutual" decision in legal terms means he was let go. The Bell network is no longer covering figure skating events so hopefully, for Canadian viewers, CBC will be the new host broadcaster.

 

[overedge]

@greenapple thanks for the correction. So many media in Canada are cutting back staff or finding reasons to fire experienced employees (ie the most expensive ones) that it's hard to keep them all straight ?

 

[skatingguy]

Does TSN/CTV still have rights to Skate Canada events? I vaguely recall hearing their contract expired and the rights are now CBC’s. I think a Kurt/Rod/Tracy trio would be quite good for the Olympics.

I thought he was quite good when he covers basketball, the few times I watched it.

CBC is broadcasting Skate Canada events this year.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figureskating/broadcast

 

[Frau Muller]

But who will declare somebody "THE NEXT ONE!!!!" at this year's nationals???

He can definitely be hella annoying, but not gonna lie -- I'm going to miss his hyperbolic (though sometimes misplaced) enthusiasm.

No more “GO GO, GOGOLEV!”??? Listening to Rod’s quips was half the fun of tuning into Canadian Nationals each year.
“Elvis is in the building” was another classic.

 

[quartz]

I loved his enthusiasm and his interest. He became a fan of figure skating for sure. I also was enchanted by his blue eyes/dark hair combo.

 

[Seerek]

Rod's first season covering skating events for CTV was in 1991 - it's a tenure only matched by Dick Button (although Terry Gannon is approaching similar territory at 25 years).

 

[Habs]

While he sometimes talked too much and the Elvis thing got old very fast, I always appreciated Rod's enthusiasm for skating. He didn't pretend to be an expert and he obviously became a fan of the sport. I met him at a Canadian Nationals once and he was extremely nice.

 

[cgh_11]

I watched Rod back in his Winnipeg days on the local affiliate. His plays of the week were epic. I remember his early days as a skating broadcaster being a bit rough, but his enthusiasm and interest made up for it. He was the ultimate skating fan. I will miss his video essays that came at the end of the skating broadcasts and his rapport with Tracy Wilson.

 

[Japanfan]

I'll miss his video essays also, and his enthusiasm. I remember seeing him at 2001 Nationals in Winnipeg, sitting against a wall with his wife and baby in the concourse. I've always had a fond spot for him.

I think @manhn is correct about CBC having taken over the broadcast rights for Skate Canada. Probably Nationals as well. I''ll miss CTV's coverage, it was always extensive, with lots of good fluff. CBC will probably offer less, although at least the whole comp should be available on You Tube.

More Kurt Browning commentary does not appeal. Nor does more Kurt Browning selling reverse mortgages. I could happily live without any more Kurt Browning on the TV.

 

[manhn]

CTV showed all of the skaters in Skate Canada because there are like 8 competitors in each discipline. Canadians, we were lucky to get the final group. And didn’t CTV start the whole first group starts way earlier from the real skaters?