Bryant Gumbel’s “Real Sports” newsmagazine on HBO will be ending after 29 seasons on the air, according to an announcement made by the network on Wednesday.
Often described as the “60 Minutes” of sports, the show has delved into social and economic issues beyond the realm of games and has been the recipient of 37 Sports Emmy Awards. Bryant Gumbel, who hosts the show, was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Sports Emmys earlier this year.
One of the seasons of “Real Sports” garnered a Peabody Award, featuring stories that examined football head injuries, athletes coming out as gay, hazing death of a college drum major, and a fatal plane crash involving a professional hockey team in Russia.
Gumbel expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to tell complex stories on race, gender, class, and other important topics throughout his almost three-decade tenure at HBO. He stated, “Being able to do so at HBO for almost three decades has been very gratifying. I’m proud of the imprint we’ve made, so I’m ready to turn the page. Although goodbyes are never easy, I’ve decided that now’s the time to move on.”
HBO clarified that the end of “Real Sports” was not influenced by financial considerations, despite the network experiencing cutbacks since the merger with parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. The final airdate for the show has yet to be announced.
“Real Sports” has left a lasting impact on sports journalism, and Casey Bloys, HBO’s chair and CEO, expressed their pride in being part of such an extraordinary journey.
