Toronto Maple Leafs voice Joe Bowen once explained that key differences between calling games on radio and TV broadcasts. The longtime play-by-play announcer has worked extensively in both formats, each with its own unique production style.
Bowen, 74, calls Maple Leafs games for their radio broadcasts. He also spent years calling regional TV broadcasts for Leafs games that aired on TSN, Sportsnet, and Leafs TV.
During a 2019 interview with VIBE 105.5FM Toronto, Bowen described how radio and TV requires different approaches. He noted that TV broadcasts have changed significantly over time.
“I find that television now has gone through a lot more of a conversational kind of active,” Bowen said. “When the play is on, everybody seems to be jumping in with their thoughts and what not. And, I’m not sure if that’s right or wrong. I’m not sure whether the general population likes it that way.”
Bowen also explained the contrast in structure between radio and television broadcasts. He emphasized how the announcer plays a more central role on radio.
“When you’re doing radio, the guy who’s doing the play-by-play is pretty much the producer and director of the show. What he decides to do is what you’re going to hear.”
He continued:
“Television, pretty much is run by the guy in the truck…He’s directing the people in the booth as to what’s coming next and who’s going to be talking, and what we’re going to be talking about.”
Maple Leafs’ Joe Bowen Opens Up About His Chemistry With Broadcast Partners
Bowen also shared insights on his chemistry with broadcast partners and how it translates on air. Whether paired with Jim Ralph or previously with Harry Neale, their interactions have always came off natural.
Speaking with VIBE 105.5FM Toronto, Bowen praised both Ralph and Neale as excellent broadcast partners. He noted that they shared similar character traits that helped on the broadcast.
Bowen explained that their strong personal connections often lead to smoother and more entertaining broadcasts.
“You have to have good people and I’ve been really and I’ve been really blessed,” Bowen said. “They like to have fun and enjoy themselves, and make it not just a hockey game, but a piece of entertainment.”
He continued:
“[Neale] would have a story about [Roger Neilson] or somebody else that he wanted to get in, but he needed me to kind of set the volleyball up, so he could spike it. And that kind of creativity and that kind of working together was really second nature to us.”
Bowen Shares Advice for Aspiring Play-by-Play Announcers
Bowen has called some of the most memorable moments in Maple Leafs history during his legendary career. His career experience has made him a mentor to many aspiring broadcasters, especially play-by-play announcers.
Bowen encourages young broadcasters to avoid exaggerating their delivery. He advised them to stay aware of the game’s natural rhythm and identify the appropriate moments to change their tone.
“You have to let the game breathe and you have to let it have a cadence almost like a singer,” Bowen told VIBE 105.5FM Toronto. “You can’t take it from ground zero and get it to one hundred percent, and then hope to maintain that kind of a level through the entire course of the game.”
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