“Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel” ends HBO run after 29 seasons
Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel is coming to an end on HBO.
The sports talk series has been part of the premium cabler’s program for 29 years. Gumbel first aired the series in 1995 and has aired over 300 episodes to date.
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“Since day one at Real Sports, we have consistently attempted to look beyond the scoreboard and instead focus on the many societal issues inherent in the world of sports,” Gumbel said in a statement. “We had the opportunity to tell complex stories about race, gender, class, opportunity and much more. It was very gratifying to be able to do this at HBO for almost three decades. I’m proud of the impression we made, so I’m ready to turn the page. Although goodbyes are never easy, I’ve decided that now is the time to move on.”
“Real Sports” has won 37 Sports Emmys and three Peabody Awards over the course of its run. Each episode consists of several stories set in the world of sports. A number of prominent correspondents also attended the show including Soledad O’Brien, Ariel Helwani, James Brown, Jim Lampley and many more.
Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel is Executive Produced by Joe Perskie.
“‘Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel’ has delivered a masterclass in sports storytelling for 29 seasons, winning 37 Sports Emmy Awards and 3 Peabody Awards in the process,” said Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content. “As the longest-running HBO series, Bryant and his ‘Real Sports’ team have long been a cornerstone of HBO programming. The series will continue to resonate deeply in the sports journalism arena and we are so proud to have been a part of such a remarkable odyssey.”
Gumbel is an esteemed sports reporter and journalist. In addition to his work on Real Sports, he is known for his work on the NFL, Major League Baseball, college football and more. He also co-hosted The Today Show for 15 years between 1982 and 1997.
Deadline first broke the news of the end of Real Sports.
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