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Ken Sutcliffe announces retirement

Veteran sports presenter will wrap a 50 year media career, including 37 years with Nine.

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Veteran Nine sports presenter Ken Sutcliffe has announced his retirement, ending 50 years in the media, including 37 years with Nine.

Sutcliffe has presented Sport on Nine News Sydney since 1982 and will be replaced by Cameron Williams.

Sutcliffe began in radio in Mudgee in 1966 before joining local station CBN8 Orange as a newsreader. He joined TNQ7 in Townsville during the mid-1970s, before joining TCN9 in 1979 as an offsider to Ron Casey, producing and presenting feature spots on World Of Sport.

He began presenting sport on Nine News in 1982 and later filling in as co-host on Wide World of Sports and the Today show.

In 1988 he famously co-hosted Graham Kennedy’s late night news programme Coast to Coast before taking over from Mike Gibson as host of Wide World of Sport.

During his 37 years with Nine, Sutcliffe has covered almost every major sporting event including Summer and Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Wimbledon and US Open, Rugby League Grand Finals and the State of Origin, US Open Golf, Pan Pacific and World Swimming Championships, Brisbane Goodwill Games.

“I have always said you retire while they still want you and that’s the case at Nine. I have worked with and alongside some of the giants of Australian television including Brian Henderson, Graham Kennedy and Ray Warren,” he said.

“After 50 years of broadcasting it’s time for new challenges which I am looking forward to, including living in Mudgee and travelling with my wife Anne.”

Peter Overton  said, “I will miss his warmth, friendship, sparkling smile and laugh, as will the millions who have got to know Ken so well over the decades via their TVs. Ken is a rolled-gold Australian television legend.”

But the network is adopting an open-door policy should Sutcliffe wish to appear across any news or sports programming.

“Nine has left the door open for me to return from time to time, which I appreciate. Also, working with Peter Overton, a dear friend, has been a joy,” he said.

Cameron Williams said: “It was an easy decision to rejoin the best news and sports team in the business.”

“Like anyone who loves sport and TV I was saddened to hear Ken is calling time on his wonderful career. We have spoken at length and he was as kind and encouraging as he was the first day we met.

“It’s an honour to be asked to sit in his chair alongside Pete Overton five nights a week and continue a tradition of breaking news to Nine viewers.”

Source: Nine News

5 Responses

  1. A sad loss indeed for TV, Ken will be missed on several fronts. Enjoy retirement Ken. Having said that l am glad Cameron is back. Never understood the decision to give him the punt.

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