Full Breakdown
Portland Trail Blazers Broadcast Team Overhaul Amid Owner Tom Dundon’s Cost-Cutting Drive
7/23/2026, 2:15:00 PM
Broadcast Staff Reductions
The Portland Trail Blazers announced a restructuring of its broadcast operation. Long-time TV analyst Michael Holton (19 seasons) and statistician Tom Haberstroh were let go, as were former ESPN anchor Neil Everett and TV host Jamie Hudson. Play-by-play veteran Kevin Calabro said he is stepping away after labeling the renewal offers “subprime.” Radio play-by-play announcer Travis Demers is also out, with his contract expiring on June 30, 2026. The cuts follow staff reductions that began after owner Tom Dundon took control of the franchise.
Background & Context
Tom Dundon assumed ownership just before the 2024 NBA playoffs. Within weeks he instituted cost-saving measures: laying off more than 70 front-office employees, limiting travel accommodations for two-way players, and signing head coach Micah Nori to a low-value, one-year contract with team options. Similar reductions occurred with his NHL property, the Carolina Hurricanes, where longtime announcers John Forslund and Chuck Kaiton were released after refusing pay cuts.
Key Figures & Groups
- Tom Dundon – Private-equity investor and owner of the Trail Blazers and Hurricanes.
- Adam Silver – NBA commissioner, defender of Dundon’s “scrappy” business approach.
- Michael Holton – Former TV analyst, 19-year tenure with the Blazers broadcast team.
- Kevin Calabro – Lead TV play-by-play announcer (2016-2026), former Seattle SuperSonics voice.
- Travis Demers – Radio play-by-play announcer, contract expired June 30, 2026.
- Maury Brown – Forbes reporter who first reported the broadcast cuts.
Data & Statistics
- $4.25 billion purchase price for the franchise.
- >70 front-office employees laid off earlier in the offseason.
- 19 seasons for Michael Holton with the broadcast team.
- 9 seasons for Kevin Calabro as the Blazers’ TV play-by-play voice.
- 4 on-air personalities confirmed let go (Holton, Haberstroh, Everett, Hudson).
Official Statements & Responses
The organization added that radio play-by-play broadcasts will continue in the 2026-27 season and will not be televised as a simulcast.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Kevin Calabro’s status: Some reports state Calabro has formally stepped away after rejecting renewal terms, while other sources describe his status as “unknown” pending negotiations.
- Travis Demers’ future: One account indicates Demers’ contract expired on June 30, 2026, with a potential return under a reduced salary paid by iHeartRadio; another suggests he may not return at all.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People are starting to say he’s not really willing to spend the money. Remember, this is a guy who just won a bidding war, [spent], call it $4.5 billion to buy the team, and they’re calling him cheap. It just can’t be,” — Adam Silver, NBA commissioner
What’s Next
The Blazers will continue radio play-by-play coverage for the 2026-27 season without a TV simulcast. Negotiations are ongoing for Calabro’s freelance or college-broadcast opportunities, and Demers may return under a new compensation structure. The reduced broadcast team and anticipated graphics department cuts raise questions about the future fan experience for televised games.
