Stephen McIvor is chasing a talkback radio role after Sky TV exit

A year after his 35-year run at Sky TV ended, sports broadcaster Stephen McIvor is still looking for his next opportunity—and says talkback radio is at the top of his list. At 61, he is determined not to treat his career as finished. McIvor told the New Zealand Herald that he sensed something was wrong before his departure. He arranged a coffee with then-head of sports content Gary Burchett and asked what the following year would bring. Burchett reportedly replied that things were “not looking good” and said he was struggling to find good male talent. McIvor answered that there was already someone sitting in front of him, but said Burchett did not respond. The broadcaster described being let go as a shock. He said his heart was pounding, and that he went home and cried. Live television and radio commentary, he explained, remains what he loves doing. What upset him most, he said, was not receiving an explanation for the decision. He also pushes back when people tell him he has already had a great career: in his view, it is not over yet. McIvor joined Sky when the pay-TV network launched in 1990, initially as a full-time staff member before moving to freelance contract work in 2016. Across more than three decades, he covered a wide range of sports, including the Warriors, motorsport, the ASB Classic and equestrian events. His major assignments included anchoring coverage of two Rugby World Cups, the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and the 2012 London Olympics. He also worked as a commentator and anchor at the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland, and covered the 2024 event in Barcelona. He told the Herald he believes younger presenters have replaced him, and said he chose not to continue dyeing his hair to conceal his age. McIvor acknowledged he had not planned carefully for life after Sky and had assumed another job would come along. So far, it has not—but he is still seeking a place behind the microphone.