Sportsnet’s Blue Jays radio broadcasters will call road games remotely from Toronto

Sportsnet, the team’s radio rightsholder, will not resume on-site radio broadcasts for road games this season and will instead provide remote coverage from its downtown Toronto studio.

“I’m very disappointed in the network for making that decision,” said longtime Blue Jays radio voice Jerry Howarth, who retired in 2018.

Sportsnet confirmed its radio plans in a news release this month that outlined its television, audio and streaming coverage details for 2023. Television crews will cover all 162 regular-season games in person while Wagner will only be on site for the 81 home games at Rogers Centre.

Requests to speak with Wagner and network executives Rob Corte and Greg Sansone were declined by Sportsnet’s senior manager of communications.

COVID-19 concerns and travel restrictions meant remote broadcasting was the reality for many TV and radio crews when sports returned in the pandemic’s early days. The difference was usually noticeable but viewers and listeners had to accept it given the unusual circumstances.

Almost all big-league baseball radio crews have resumed regular travel. Toronto is one of the few MLB markets that has not.