September 21, 2023

After almost 30 years on the air, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel is coming to an end on HBO. The current 29th season of the monthly sports newsmagazine will be its last. A series finale date is not yet known.

"Since day one at 'Real Sports' we've consistently tried to look beyond the scoreboard, and focus instead on the many societal issues inherent in the world of sports," host Bryant Gumbel said in a statement. "In the process we've had the opportunity to tell complex stories about race, gender, class, opportunity and so much more. Being able to do so at HBO for almost 3 decades has been very gratifying. I'm proud of the imprint we've made, so I'm ready to turn the page. Although goodbyes are never easy, I've decided that now's the time to move on."

"For 29 seasons, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel has delivered a masterclass in sports storytelling, garnering 37 Sports Emmy Awards and 3 Peabody awards in the process," said Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content. "As the longest running HBO series, Bryant and his 'Real Sports' team have long been a cornerstone of HBO programming. The series will continue to resonate in the realm of sports journalism, and we are so proud to have been part of such a remarkable odyssey."