TSN has announced that Michael Landsberg is departing the network after 37 years. The renowned host has most recently been co-hosting TSN 1050 (CHUM-AM) Toronto morning show, First Up with Landsberg & Colaiacovo.
Landsberg, 64, joined TSN at the network’s inception in 1984, beginning his broadcasting career as an anchor for Sportscentre (originally SportsDesk) and went on to host more than 5,000 episodes. Beginning in Sept. 1997, he helmed the long-running TSN’s Off the Record, a half-hour, daily sports debate program that served as a platform for Landsberg’s strong opinions and charismatic interview style. The show ended its run in 2015.
Landsberg has also hosted on the CTV network as the Whistler Host for Olympic Daytime on CTV during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and anchored TSN’s Olympic Daytime for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He’s twice been nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast.
“Michael is an integral part of TSN’s history, an incredible host, and a singular voice in sports media – always able to provoke passionate debates amongst fans because he never shied away from sharing his opinions,” said Jeff MacDonald, Program Director, TSN 1050, in a Bell Media release. “Michael is a legendary broadcaster, a relentless advocate for mental health support, and a devoted family man. We are honoured that he has spent the last five years with TSN 1050. We wish him the very best as he starts this new chapter.”
“I can’t even begin to say what TSN has meant to me and my family,” said Landsberg. “In 1984, as a 27-year-old with no TV experience, I was given the break of a lifetime. Over the years I have always felt respected, and valued. I have worked with, and for, amazing people. Saying goodbye is tough, but I leave with only fine memories from my 37 years.”
A fierce mental health advocate, who has been very public about his own battle with depression and generalized anxiety disorder, Landsberg has served as an ambassador for the Bell Let’s Talk initiative and founded SickNotWeak in 2009 to build awareness that mental illness is a sickness, not a weakness. In 2017, Governor General David Johnston awarded Landsberg a Meritorious Service Medal for his mental health advocacy.
His documentary Darkness and Hope: Depression, Sports and Me earned him a Canadian Screen Award (CSA) nomination in 2013. The Academy of Canadian Film & Television honoured him with a Humanitarian Award in 2015 for his dedication to promoting mental health awareness.
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