HBO’s award-winning investigative sports program Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel is ending after 29 seasons.
In an announcement Wednesday, Gumbel said he’s “ready to turn the page.”
“Since day one at Real Sports we’ve consistently tried to look beyond the scoreboard, and focus instead on the many societal issues inherent in the world of sports. In the process we’ve had the opportunity to tell complex stories about race, gender, class, opportunity and so much more,” Gumbel said in a statement. “Being able to do so at HBO for almost 3 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.”
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The monthly sports magazine profiles famous athletes and tackles issues surrounding sports.
The series premiered in April 1995, with Gumbel at the helm.
“For 29 seasons, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel has delivered a masterclass in sports storytelling,” 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 in the realm of sports journalism, and we are so proud to have been part of such a remarkable odyssey.”
Over the years, the show picked up 37 Sports Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards.
Joe Perskie is executive producer.
The show’s current roster of correspondents includes Soledad O’Brien, Jon Frankel, Mary Carillo, David Scott, and Andrea Kremer.
Gumbel, 74, previously worked as a sportscaster for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. The New Orleans native later joined NBC sports and went on to co-anchor the Today show for 15 years. After leaving NBC, he hosted The Early Show on CBS.
