Longtime Edmonton sports broadcaster announces retirement
The Edmonton sports media landscape got another curveball this week.
Kevin Karius, who has become a staple in the city’s sports coverage for the past 35 years, is officially calling it a career, announcing his retirement on Wednesday morning.
The veteran reporter has been hosting The Kevin Karius Show weekday mornings on Sports 1440 since 2023. His final broadcast is set to air this Friday.
“It was an honour to be part of the Sports 1440 team from day one,” Karius said in a statement posted to the station’s social media page. “After 33 years in television, making the move to radio and hosting the morning show was the capper of a 35-year career in sports broadcasting.
“I have been so fortunate to work with so many great people over the years, and I would like to thank all the viewers and listeners for their unwavering support.”
An official statement from Sports1440. Thank you @KevinKarius! pic.twitter.com/1JiLVGGZPw
— Sports 1440 (@Sports1440) June 24, 2026
Karius got his start broadcasting in 1990 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and had stints in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Lethbridge, and Calgary before settling down in the Alberta capital.
For most local sports fans, Karius is most well-known as being the TV sports anchor for Global Edmonton, a role he worked for an astounding 25 years between 1998 and 2023. He also served as a fill-in colour analyst on Oilers radio broadcasts between 2003 and 2010.
He joined Sports 1440 at its inception in 2023, making the move to radio and becoming one of the original hosts on the new sports-talk station.
“We needed a respected name to launch the morning show, and I was happy Kevin believed in our vision and made the switch from TV to radio,” said Jason Gregor, Sports 1440 president and fellow host. “He was a great teammate, supportive, professional, and engaging with the audience.
“We wish him the best gardening, napping, and finding his golf ball in the trees.”
The Edmonton sports media scene has seen a couple of major moves this year. Back in January, respected Oilers beat writer Daniel Nugent-Bowman abruptly left his job at The Athletic, and just last week, Tom Gazzola announced he was leaving his post at rival sports-talk station Edmonton Sports Talk.
There has been no official announcement on who will be taking over for Karius after his final broadcast on Friday.