Why Michael Landsberg is leaving TSN after almost 40 years on the airwaves - The Athletic
After joining TSN as it launched in 1984, he is stepping away to pursue new opportunities. He wants to create an animated series that educates viewers about mental health. He wants to continue working with the charity he founded, SickNotWeak, and delivering public speeches.
Leaving TSN does not mean he is retiring.
“Oh god no, definitely not,” he said. “What is it? It’s a reload.”
Landsberg said he had begun to discuss his departure with his wife, Karen, over the last year or two. He had been a broadcaster for most of his adult life, and he felt there was more he wanted to accomplish. It moved into more official discussions earlier this year.
He said he had a conversation with Stewart Johnston, the long-time TSN executive who is now senior vice-president of sales and sports at Bell Media.
“He was super,” said Landsberg. “He said, ‘Look, you want to keep working? How do you want to handle this?’”
Landsberg said he opted for a quiet farewell. He had been off the air for several weeks, using some of his vacation time, before the press release was issued on Friday morning. (It was the Friday of a long weekend, which is traditionally prime time to hide news from a public heading away on vacation.)
It’s not clear what drove the timing, and Landsberg declined to outline the timeline specifically, but he was at peace with the departure.
“I needed to kick myself in the ass,” he said. “If you’re waiting for a signal that this is the right time, it’s never going to come, unless you’re dropping dead. And then you realize, ‘OK, well maybe this signal was a little bit too profound.’”
