The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Christine Simpson Leaves Sportsnet After Quarter Of A Century

**Posted by RadioActive** September 11, 2024 5:01 pm

She's been at the cable sports network since 1998. But now, after 26 years, it's game over.

Christine Simpson leaving Sportsnet after many years with network

**Posted by TomTV** September 11, 2024 8:08 pm

Her statement sounds like it was a firing rather than her leaving of her own volition. I suppose this could be a case of aging out of the job as it was with Christine Bentley and Ken Shaw.

**Posted by Muffaraw Joe** September 12, 2024 8:05 am

Bob McCown's podcast needs a new co-host...just saying...Shannon left 10 days ago...

**Posted by Johnny B** September 12, 2024 9:50 am

Not suggesting this was the case for Christine....but I do feel for women that cover sports as they age...men get a pass, you can see it in many broadcasts from a variety of sports networks...women (usually under 45 and are attractive) are the hosts and teleprompter readers with the talking heads and pundits being men, some are ex athletes...even the female ex athletes and reporters that come on as guests or panel members tend to be much younger and easy on the eyes...this is the reality and the perception of the audience tuning in...the vast majority of that audience are men who have no trouble telling a woman covering sports that she's not as smart a man covering the same beat, or that her hair and clothes look bad, she's getting chunky, or that she's getting long in the tooth...

Last edited by Johnny B (September 12, 2024 9:51 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** September 12, 2024 4:12 pm

It's still not clear why this Sportsnet Day One original is out, but it doesn't appear she necessarily went willingly. Many are predicting you haven't seen the end of her.

"Streaming companies such as Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV, and even Sportsnet's rival sports network, TSN, are all rumoured to be in the mix to acquire the Canadian NHL broadcasting rights when the current 12-year, $5.2-billion deal between Rogers/Sportsnet and the league ends following the 2025-26 season. It wouldn't be a shock at all to see Simpson land at one of those companies in the near future."

'Trailblazing' NHL reporter Christine Simpson draws praise, admiration as her and Sportsnet shockingly part ways

**Posted by Fleadh** September 13, 2024 9:27 pm

Can her brother go, too?
Perhaps the most anodyne guy I've heard in that role in nearly 50 years.
Played in the league a decade-ish but 9/10 his "analysis" is describing the play like anyone who's watched the game a while could.

**Posted by g121** September 14, 2024 7:32 am

Fleadh wrote:
Can her brother go, too?
Perhaps the most anodyne guy I've heard in that role in nearly 50 years.
Played in the league a decade-ish but 9/10 his "analysis" is describing the play like anyone who's watched the game a while could.

*chuckles* I had to look the definition up ..

'anodyne' - intended to avoid causing offence or disagreement, especially by not expressing strong feelings or opinions.

It was all those years working with ultra boring play-by-play guy Jim Hughson rubbed off on Simpson. Agree that Simpson is neither invigorating or irritating; just pure no-name white bread.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 9, 2024 8:36 am

Why was Christine Simpson let go from Sportsnet after so many years? Neither Rogers nor Simpson is talking, but the Toronto Star's Bruce Arthur may have the answer.

"It seems obvious, doesn’t it? Simpson is good friends with former CTV anchor Lisa LaFlamme, who was let go by Bell at age 58 after allowing her hair to turn its natural grey. Simpson turned 60 on Oct. 5. As one connected Canadian TV source put it, “60 as a man in the business is a lot different than 60 as a woman...”

Late last week, though, it came out that Sportsnet had hired 25-year-old Anna Dua, who has been in the business since 2022, as a host and reporter. Maybe she wasn’t a replacement for Simpson, and Simpson would surely celebrate another woman in the industry. But the timing felt telling."

Inside Christine Simpson’s trailblazing Sportsnet tenure and shocking departure