Johnny Esaw

Johnny Esaw,CM(June 11, 1925 – April 6, 2013) was aCanadianofAssyriandescent, a sports broadcaster and television network executive.He was a pioneer of sports broadcasting in Canada, best known for his involvement with figure skating, football, and international hockey.

Early broadcasting career

Born inNorth Battleford,Saskatchewan,Esaw was unsuccessfully selling insurance in 1947 whenEmile Francishired him to cover semi-professional baseball games on radio stationCJNBin North Battleford. In 1949, he moved to a bigger market inRegina, SaskatchewanatCKRM,where he worked until 1956. He provided play-by-play coverage of the 1951Grey Cupgame fromVarsity StadiuminToronto—the beginning of what would become a long affiliation with theCanadian Football League.In 1956, Esaw became sports director ofWinnipeg'sCKRC.

Moves to television

Esaw made the transition to television late in 1960, becoming sports director ofCFTO-TV,Toronto's first privately owned TV station, as it prepared for launch.Foster Hewittwas an early investor in the station and helped persuade Esaw to move east. CFTO was part of theCTV Television Network,and Esaw headed negotiations for the broadcast rights for many prominent sports events. Under Esaw,figure skatingreceived significant coverage on CFTO and across CTV, making national stars out of Canadian world championsDonald JacksonandOtto Jelinek&Maria Jelinek.Esaw worked withRoone Arledge,head ofABCSports to secure North American rights to the world figure skating championships. CTV and ABC would also partner in bringingWide World of Sportsto Canada. Esaw also brought the1964 Winter Olympicsto CTV and bought the rights to the 1972 Canada-RussiaSummit Series(the broadcasts ended up being shared withCBC Television). Esaw hosted the English-language telecasts and is best remembered for conducting the famous post-game interview withPhil Espositofollowing Game 4 inVancouver, British Columbia.He was also the lead play-by-play man for theCFL on CTVfrom 1962 until 1973 and then the host from 1974 until 1986.

A network executive

In 1974, Esaw became vice-president of CTV Sports, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1990. He negotiated the host broadcasting rights to the1988 Winter OlympicsinCalgary.

After retiring from CTV, Esaw joined Houston Group as vice-president of broadcasting operations and remained in that role after Houston was acquired byEdelman,the world's largestpublic relationsfirm. With Edelman, Esaw worked on several sports events, including golf tournaments, tennis, and motor sports. He retired in 1996 at the age of 71. Esaw died in Toronto at age 87 on April 6, 2013, of respiratory problems.

Honours

Esaw was inducted into theCanadian Football Reporters Hall of Fame(1984), theCanadian Olympic Hall of Fame(1991),Canada's Sports Hall of Fame(1991), the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame (1991), the North Battleford Sports Hall of Fame (1992), theCABBroadcast Hall of Fame (1997), and the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame (1997). In 2004, he was made a Member of theOrder of Canada.

References

• "Johnny Esaw hangs up his mike after 41 years in broadcasting," Ken McKee,Toronto Star,February 19, 1990, p. D7.
• Johnny Esaw,Canadian Communications Foundation, retrieved December 15, 2006.
• Johnny Esaw,George Gross, Sports Media Canada, retrieved December 15, 2006.

Further reading

• Nolan, Michael (2001).CTV, the network that means business.Edmonton: University of Alberta Press.ISBN0-88864-384-5.
• Stoffel, Holden, ed. (2007). "Esaw, Johnny".Saskatchewan sports: lives past and present.Regina [Sask.]: University of Regina, Canadian Plains Research Center. p. 37.ISBN978-0-88977-167-3.