TORONTO – Canadian sports broadcaster Johnny Esaw passed away Saturday at the age of 87.
Regarded as a pioneer of sports broadcasting in Canada and known for his involvement with figure skating, football, international hockey, and the Olympics, Esaw died Saturday in Toronto after suffering from respiratory problems, CTV said yesterday in an announcement.
“I remember Johnny for the many careers that he launched and the industry leaders that he created. He had the rare combination of being a brilliant business man and incredibly creative,” said Rick Brace, president of specialty channels and CTV production.
Brace, who is also former president of TSN, described Esaw’s support of figure skating as legendary. “His innovation in coverage of the sport, both as executive producer and commentator, is legendary around the world,” Brace said.
Esaw was born in North Battleford, Sask., in 1925. He began his career in 1947 as a sportscaster at CJNB in North Battleford. He made the switch to television in 1960 when he was appointed sports director of CTV. During his time with the network, he secured broadcasting rights for CFL Football, Wide World of Sports, international hockey and figure skating. He was also responsible for negotiating broadcasting rights for CTV’s first Olympic Winter Games in 1964, and remained a key supporter and producer of CTV’s Winter Olympics coverage.
Esaw rose through the ranks to become CTV’s vice-president of sports in 1974, a position he held until he retired from CTV in 1990. His broadcasting career didn’t there, however, as Esaw joined the Houston Group as vice-president of broadcasting operations. He continued in that role after the company was purchased by public relations firm Edelman, working on several sports events until finally retiring in 1996.
Among the many accolades and awards received throughout his career, Esaw has been honoured by and inducted into the Canadian Football Reporters Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, the North Battleford Sports Hall of Fame, the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2004.
