HBO's 'Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel' ending after 29 years

The breadth of HBO Sports continues to dwindle. The network announced Wednesday that Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, which has been on the air since 1995 and run more than 300 episodes, is coming to its conclusion.

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The breadth of HBO Sports continues to dwindle.

The network announced Wednesday that “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” which has been on the air since 1995 and run more than 300 episodes, is coming to its conclusion.

“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,” Gumbel, 74, said in a statement to Deadline.

“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.”

HBO Sports used to be a behemoth, with major live boxing rights and programs such as “Real Sports” and “Inside the NFL.”

The network took other swings on sports shows, trying out programs hosted by Bob Costas, Joe Buck, Bill Simmons and Bomani Jones over the years.

Now, essentially all that’s left is “Hard Knocks” and occasional documentaries (and “Winning Time” if you count scripted content).

Whether “Real Sports” was a direct casualty, HBO’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has undergone significant cost cuts adjusting to factors including new ownership and the decline of the cable and satellite bundle in recent years.

“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,” HBO/Max content boss Casey Bloys said in a statement.

“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.”

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