Today we turn to sports and recognise some of the most iconic names in sporting coverage across Australian television.
We’ve moved from shows and have started looking at the individuals in six of the categories ahead of the TV Boxies this Sunday, November 28.
If you missed it yesterday, Most Popular Actor is up, and today we dive into our final sporting category and the five finalists chosen by you – Most Popular Sports Broadcaster.
MOST POPULAR SPORTS BROADCASTER FINALISTS
MARK BERETTA (Seven)
Journalist and sports presenter for Sunrise, Mark Beretta is one of the most recognisable faces for Seven’s sporting coverage.
Beretta is on the ground for many of Australia’s, and sometimes the world’s, most iconic sporting events, including The Olympics.
This year he also rejoined the Supercars commentary team, after previously doing so from 2007 to 2014.
In a big year for Beretta, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours, for “service to the community through charitable organisations”. Recognition of his work could occur again at the TV Boxies.
IAN THORPE (Seven)
The Olympic gold-medalist and swimming legend, Ian Thorpe, was central to Seven’s swimming coverage at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Commentating from Seven’s Melbourne studios, Thorpe talked viewers through everything happening in the pool in Tokyo, and was there for the incredible Australian wins like Ariarne Titmus’ in the 200m and 400m Freestyle races.
Taking the commentary to the next level, sports journalist James Matthey said, “He’s nailing his gig behind the microphone just like he did the 400m freestyle back in his glory days”.
From expert predictions to accurate technical analysis, Thorpe’s short but sweet stint with Seven this year might be enough to claim the TV Boxie.
DAISY PEARCE (Seven)
Widely regarded as the face of women’s Australian rules football, Daisy Pearce has been an integral commentator for Seven’s AFL coverage.
The AFLW player has been a rotating panel member for AFL Game Day, and has served as a boundary rider for multiple games for Seven, including the sport’s Grand Final.
She became the first woman to provide special comments for the 2021 Grand Final, going on to win the Best Opinion/Analysis award in TV/Radio at the 2021 Australian Football Media Association (AFMA) Awards.
On why she won, the AFMA said, “Daisy’s football knowledge is incredible and she leaves viewers with a better appreciation of the game”. Another award may be in the cards this weekend at the TV Boxies.
PETER STERLING (Nine)
Former NRL halfback Peter ‘Sterlo’ Sterling was a staple figure in Nine’s NRL coverage for 27 years, but in 2021 it was time to step down from the commentary box.
Sterlo’s known for his sharp intelligence and critical analysis when calling a game, but also can be recognised for several program hosting gigs, including Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show, The NRL Footy Show, and Fox Sports’ On the Couch with Sterlo.
The four-time premiership winner reportedly left the sport’s commentary team to make way for a younger generation of broadcasters.
Saying goodbye to The Sunday Footy Show viewers early last month, Sterlo said, “the most important people are the people at home, who take us into their home… thank you for making us so welcome, and I hope we’ve provided good conduit to the game”.
BRUCE MCAVANEY (Seven)
One of Seven’s most iconic broadcasters of all time, Bruce McAvaney has been there for some of the greatest sporting events, such as the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, Australian Open, and The Olympics.
Usually designated the mantle of host with every program he appears, McAvaney’s career saw it first take off when he hosted the Adelaide end of the 1980 Moscow Olympics telecast for Seven.
After several decades being the face of many broadcasts, McAvaney began to scale back his duties with the network after a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia diagnosis in 2017.
In 2021, he retired from calling AFL games, although ensured he wasn’t done completely, and was just entering a new phase in his career at Seven.
With some of the greatest sports broadcasters Australia’s ever seen nominated in this category, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top. Vote now for your favourite and tune in on Sunday, November 28, for the TV Boxies!
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