The sports broadcaster and author Mark Hebscher discusses his new book Madness: The Rise and Ruin of Sports Media (ECW Press, 2025), with Joseph Planta.

Madness: The Rise and Ruin of Sports Media by Mark Hebscher (ECW Press, 2025).

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Madness

Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Mark Hebscher joins me now. He’s got a new book out, Madness: The Rise and Ruin of Sports Media. It’s such an engaging book, there’s so much to talk to Mark about. He chronicles his work in radio and television, and the world of broadcasting around Canada and United States before and after. It’s a great primer on the personalities that brought the sports we all love and watch, as well as the big business that sports telecasts have become. These colourful, unforgettable people, Hebscher included, augmented the sports viewing experience for generations. Something Mark does in the book is chronicle how our viewing habits have changed, and how programs like Wide World of Sports, Hockey Night in Canada, and Monday Night Football have changed with it. In the book, he reflects on the cultural phenomenon that made Sportsline a hit in Central Canada, a show he co-hosted for many years. And Hebscher’s memorable encounters with Wayne Gretzky, MC Hammer, Youppi!, Doug Flutie, and Howard Cosell, make for such an enjoyable book. Mark Hebscher was co-anchor of the wildly popular Sportsline on Global TV, and helped revolutionise the way sports is presented on television. He spent forty-five years in sports media, and joined me from Toronto, Ontario last week. This new book is published by ECW Press. @hebsyman is his Instagram handle. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Mark Hebscher; Mr. Hebscher, good morning.

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