Although no official statement has been made by SportsNet or Bob McCown, Toronto Sports Media, @yyzsportsmedia announced Canada’s premiere sports radio host will be leaving The Fan 590 by the end of this week. Toronto Sports Media’s Twitter account, which is no stranger to breaking local media stories, first stated on Tuesday that this could be McCown’s final week on Prime Time Sports and confirmed their initial report on Wednesday.
An iconic member of Canada’s sports media for over 40 years, Bob “Bobcat” McCown has been the primary host of Prime Time Sports since 1989, rated number 1 in sports radio for the larger part of three decades. If this is indeed the end of McCown’s tenure as a weekday sports radio host, it’s been a legendary career for the industry pioneer.
In December, 2017, McCown signed a “multi-year extension” to remain with SportsNet 590, although the exact number of years was not reported. Just over a year ago, and two months after McCown signed his extension, Prime Time Sports, which broadcasts from 4 – 7pm, retooled the show by adding John Shannon, Richard Deitsch and Stephen Brunt.
In an atypical radio format, Shannon joins McCown on Prime Time Sports during the 4pm hour only, with Deitsch and Brunt being brought into the studio to partner with Bobcat from 5 – 7pm daily. With the show’s moving parts, the one constant for Prime Time Sports continued to be McCown, as he has been for 30 years.
Although Toronto Sports Media has not reported on the futures of Shannon, Deitsch and Brunt at 590, the Twitter account did state Jeff Blair could be tabbed the interim host of Prime Time Sports. Blair is SportsNet 590’s late weekday morning host, broadcasting from 9am – 11am.
Nicknamed “Bobcat,” after the “Mercury Bobcat,” McCown has been known throughout his career for tenaciously challenging callers, although his fiery style has toned down in recent years. Often considered one of the best interviewers in Canada, McCown still dons a pair of sunglasses during his show’s TV simulcast and uses coined phrases such as “who gives a flying fadoo?”
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
