Rick Brace insists he still has his health, and a Florida home that doesn’t get much use.
So the veteran Canadian broadcaster, and current president, CTV specialty channels and production at Bell Media, is calling it a day at Bell Media by retiring at the end of the year after a near 40-year career.
But don’t expect Brace, who has seen the Canadian industry grow from roots in conventional networks to specialty channels and now online media, to stop watching TV with a programmer’s eagle eye for content and scheduling.
“I don’t know if you ever lose that,” said Brace on Monday on news of his pending retirement.
Brace will keep a hand in Bell Media as a consultant on special projects to be announced at a later date.
And he will continue serving as Bell Media’s representative on the board of directors of Discovery Canada and CTV Specialty Television, a legacy of his earlier involvement at Netstar Communications before its takeover by CTVglobemedia in 2001, and at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
His retirement, however, will prompt Phil King to add English-language specialty channels to his oversight duties, which already includes conventional and sports programming.
“Rick has been a leader and friend to many of us and is overwhelmingly respected in every corner of this industry. For me personally, he has been a true mentor and a role model,” said Bell Media president Kevin Crull in a statement on Monday.
Brace helped Crull and King transition when they acquired CTV on behalf of Bell in 2011, a takeover that saw Susanne Boyce, Ivan Fecan and Paul Sparkes leave the house.
After Brace’s departure, King is to become president, CTV, sports, and entertainment programming.
And Catherine MacLeod, whom Brace mentored, will continue as SVP, specialty channels.
Brace joined TSN in 1986, after starting in Canadian TV as a technician and producer, and eventually became key to steering Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium’s coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
After moving from TSN to CTV, Brace also helped bolster Bell Media’s specialty channel division, and in-house productions.
“I’ve had the pleasure of first of all working with some amazing people, and in seeing the evolution of the broadcast industry to now what we call the media industry,” Brace added, summing up his career.
From Playback Daily
Most of these folks “being retired” won’t miss their paycheques. They are landing on a Sealy Beautyrest vs. a thud on the pavement and a toss to the curb. Buddy system will ensure some of these folks continue to eat from the trough. If the “job function” is being parceled off i.e. not being replaced, then clearly, the consultancy and board membership is not “needed”
Totally agree with you. U R either retired or not. Programmer? Really. That was Susanne Boyce. Funny there is no mention of Brace two titles earlier as President, CTV. That’s because it was “in title” only and didn’t last. He is a sports guy.
Its a farce – how can this guy be “the President” but then we have seen it all. Connections – nothing to do with competency. Competent people are on the street while these deadweights continue to cash in well after retirement. Wonder where SBoyce went – saw her once in Yorkville – chatting on her cellphone – one would think someone would have brought her on board but then we see Malcolm Dunlop being put to the curb by Rogers – and once again buddy-ship prevails…guess it is everywhere. Unfair and perhaps unjustified but that is reality :(.