Vale: Gary Fenton

Former television executive Gary Fenton, who worked at both Seven and Nine, has died following a long illness.

In a statement, Seven said, “Seven West Media mourns the loss of Gary Fenton and extend their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Mr Fenton, an influential television executive with decades of experience in programming, production, and sports broadcasting, held several senior positions at the Seven Network, including Head of Sport. He played a crucial role in securing Seven’s broadcast rights for multiple Olympic Games and was the Chief Operating Officer for the Sydney Olympics Broadcasting Organisation during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. His impact on the Australian media industry was invaluable and long-lasting.”

Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, Lewis Martin said: “Born and bred in Melbourne and totally consumed by all sport on offer in this great city, Gary Fenton made a profound contribution to international sport and the global broadcasting of sport at the highest level. When commissioning television drama series, sketch comedy or footy theme songs, his instincts guaranteed success and touched the hearts of audiences everywhere.

“Gary leaves behind a legendary career and a legion of friends and colleagues around the world who respected his judgement and thoroughly enjoyed his company. Gary loved and cherished his family as much as they loved and cherished him. They are all in our thoughts today. Vale.”

Bruce McAvaney OAM, said: “Gary Fenton had a profound effect and influence on a legion of people in the television industry and I’m one of them. He brought me back to Channel 7 in 1989 and his guidance was crucial to the way I worked. He re-shaped the way the International Olympic Committee negotiated media rights and he should be lauded as the driving force behind the worldwide television coverage of the Olympic Games in our country, in Sydney 2000.”

Gordon Bennett OAM said: “Today I lost not just a colleague but, more importantly, a friend of over 43 years. Gary was the best friend and colleague I could ever wish to work with and our years together at Seven Network Sport have given me a wealth of memorable experiences.

“The enormity and scope of Gary’s contribution to the Australian television industry, in both the entertainment and sporting fields, cannot be overstated. He was a driving force in Seven’s AFL coverage through the 1980s and 1990s. Working with Gary on Olympic Games and other major sporting events at home and around the world, I believe we set new standards for how these events could be presented for Seven viewers. His knowledge and ‘smarts’ engendered the utmost respect by sport and television industry leaders worldwide. His achievements are unlikely to be matched in the future. Gary will be greatly missed by all who knew and understood him.”

For Nine he became Head of Sport, in 2003.

Michael Healy Nine’s Director of Television said, “Gary Fenton who passed away yesterday was a genuinely lovely man who was so knowledgeable about his craft and about sport of all kinds, he took the rest of us with him on his wonderful, magical journey through what seemed like endless Olympics. With his deft judgment and the expertise, immeasurable calm and skill he brought to the television coverage of sport. Throughout his career at Nine, as head of Wide World of Sports and as the leader of our Olympics efforts in London and Vancouver, Gary was the guy who so readily earned the respect of all around him. The competitors, the administrators and the colleagues he led through so many outstanding broadcasts. A story of great achievement, characterised by his dry and wicked sense of humour he will be missed, we extend our condolences to his family and friends.”

John Deeks also remembers asking Seven boss Gary Fenton in 1978 if he could move from being a contract player to a fulltime employee.

But Fenton told him, “Listen, between you and me, don’t. Do your own superannuation and everything else because when they’re looking at cutting out numbers, they always look at staff numbers, but they don’t look at contractors.”

That advice served Deeksy well for decades.