Tom Dundon isn’t just restructuring the Portland Trail Blazers’ front office under his new ownership of the franchise. Now he’s taking aim at the broadcast booth.
What We Know: According to Forbes, four broadcasters are gone: TV analyst Michael Holton, statistician Tom Haberstroh, host Neil Everett, and host Jamie Hudson. Also, TV play by play voice Kevin Calabro tells The Oregonian that he’s decided to step away from his role with the team despite attempts to work on a contract extension. Additionally, several other broadcasters are facing steep pay cuts or non-renewed contracts. Meanwhile, the TV production crew is shrinking too, after producer Greg Fonseca left for NBA Broadcasting. Graphics support will reportedly be reduced as well, which could affect on-air quality.
What Remains Unclear: The futures of radio voice Travis Demers remain unresolved with his contract up for renewal. Additionally, it’s unclear whether Portland will follow Dundon’s Carolina Hurricanes playbook, where he replaced radio coverage with a TV audio simulcast.
What It Means: Ultimately, these cuts point to a sweeping financial reset across Blazers operations. Dundon’s record is well known regarding TV/radio simulcasts with this ownership in Carolina. Dundon previously slashed Hurricanes radio costs by refusing to meet a veteran announcer’s pay, broadcasting appears to be a familiar target. Consequently, fans should brace for a leaner, less experienced booth in Portland. Meanwhile, the front office cuts and broadcast overhaul together suggest Dundon is prioritizing cost control over continuity.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.