Protected: Kate Mason | Presenter for TNT Sports and Eurosport in Wembley

Kate Mason | Presenter for TNT Sports and Eurosport

Kate Mason is a well-known figure in the world of sports broadcasting – in the latest instalment of Industry Insider, we spoke to the presenter of TNT Sports and Eurosport about her career in sport in date.

Tell us about yourself, what is your current role and what roles have you done previously?

Thank you so much for having me—it’s lovely to chat about what I’ve been up to. My name is Kate Mason, and I’m a presenter for TNT Sports and Eurosport. Over the years, I’ve worked in almost every role in live sports broadcasting—except a director!

I’ve been a runner, produced football highlights, and even worked in travel news, which was one of my earliest jobs. It was great for learning how to broadcast live because it gave me so much on-air experience.

I spent an incredible couple of years as a presenter for Sky Sports, and before that for beIN Sports and I have now been with TNT Sports/Eurosport for two years – it’s a wonderful place to work.

What do you do in your current role?

In my current role, I lead the coverage of live sports events for TNT Sports and Eurosport, the two key areas I focus on are:

The Mountain Bike World Cup, a multi-round series of events held all over the world.

Cricket, which has been a huge highlight this year. Earlier in 2024, I presented the India vs. England men’s Test series, which was an incredible experience. Right now I’m presenting the England Men’s Test Series against New Zealand.

Another career highlight was covering the Olympics for Eurosport—an absolutely unforgettable experience.

“Normal” isn’t a thing in sport so what does an average week look like for you?

It’s true—there’s no such thing as a “normal” week in this job! When I’m on the road for events like the Mountain Bike World Cup, my week might look like this:

• One day of editorial meetings.
• Another day prepping pre-show shoots.
• Then three days of live shows.

When I’m at home, things are quite different. I write a biweekly column for the Metro , contribute to a regular slot on 5 Live , and work on various other projects. There’s also the less glamorous but necessary work—like invoicing, planning for upcoming weeks, and brainstorming ideas for future projects.

I also make a point of keeping in touch with my favourite colleagues – being a sports presenter can be a bit of a lonely life with all the travel and the unconventional hours so it’s important to nurture those relationships whenever I can.

How did you end up where you are right now? When did you know you wanted to work in sport?

Sport has always been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I played every kind of sport I could—football, cricket, running, triathlon, swimming. Squash was something I excelled at as a kid, but I loved playing anything and everything.

As I got older, I started noticing that fewer girls seemed as interested in sport as my male friends. I’d try to encourage them to get involved, but it didn’t always work. At the same time, I loved watching sport with my family—my mum especially loved football and would go to matches.

When I went to Cambridge University, I started to notice some of the inequities in sport more clearly. For example, I played squash and competed in the varsity match, held in an amazing venue in London. But the women’s teams didn’t receive the same priority or recognition as the men’s, even though we had achieved something incredible by coming third in the national finals. That experience made me realise how much I wanted to make a difference in this world.

I started by writing match reports and working on student radio while I was at university. After graduating, I moved to London because that’s where all the opportunities were. I worked every job I could find—interning at the BBC, working at Wembley, clipping highlights for ITN, covering golf events, and even writing for Arsenal Ladies (as they were called then).

These small jobs gradually built into something sustainable, and I was eventually able to make a living doing what I love. My career took off when I landed a full-time job with beIN Sports in Qatar, followed by a role at Sky Sports, and now my work with TNT Sports and Eurosport.

What is your number one focus when it comes to your work

My number one focus in broadcasting—specifically broadcasting, rather than writing—is to show respect to both the sport and its fans. For me, this means putting in the effort to prepare thoroughly, understanding the culture and meaning of the sport to its community, and empathizing with the journey the athletes have taken to get where they are.

It’s about connecting with people in a genuine, human way—being friendly, communicative, and expressing the significance of the sport or a moment within it. This applies to both casual fans who might be watching for the first time and dedicated viewers who follow every single detail. I also believe it’s important never to dismiss any sport, no matter how niche or large it is. Every sport deserves respect and attention.

Can you tell us about a time you failed and what you learned from it?

I had a two-year contract at Sky Sports News, but when it ended, I wasn’t able to secure an extension. At the time, many people were losing jobs, and realistically, there wasn’t much I could’ve done to change that outcome. Still, it felt awful—not knowing what was happening and questioning whether I fully understood what was happening in my workplace – and even if this was still a viable career path.

What I learned from that experience is the importance of believing in yourself. People might tell you you’re great one day and then change their minds the next. But the confidence I’ve developed—that I have something special to bring to any broadcast—can never be taken away from me. That self-assurance has helped me grow as a broadcaster and tackle new challenges since then.

What are you excited about in your industry at the moment?

I’m so excited about women—women’s sports, women in sports, and female broadcasters. A few months ago, I chaired a conference called Raise , which focused on women’s sports, women in sports leadership, and increasing access to sport for women. I was so inspired by seeing people from all kinds of industries coming together to help grow women’s sports, create opportunities, and build communities.

What excites me most is the momentum. We’re seeing more investment, more opportunities, and more of a focus on women becoming 50% of the conversation. It’s happening—and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

If you could change one thing about your industry, what would you change?

I’d shift the obsession with focusing solely on which video clips get the most likes or engagement. While I enjoy creating short clips and think they have value, I believe there’s so much more to storytelling. One of the strengths of TV broadcasting is its ability to tell deep, compelling stories in a way no other medium can match.

Not every story can—or should—be condensed into a one-minute video. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good or important story. Broadcasters and networks should trust their ability to reach audiences with rich, thought-provoking content. There’s a real appetite for “slow news” and deeper storytelling, and we need to have confidence in delivering that.

Sport is a hectic industry, what do you do to switch off?

Haha, well, I like to play sport! Yes, I’m one of those people who’s into padel —I’ve just started learning it, and it’s great. It’s social, fun, and a bit of exercise without being too intense. I also love swimming, running, cricket, netball, and kickabouts.

At home, I enjoy listening to audiobooks and doing puzzles. They’re a great way to relax and take my mind off things while still keeping my brain engaged.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to work in the sports industry?

The only way to become a good broadcaster, especially if you want to do live sports, is through practice. You need to get comfortable talking on air and in public settings. I found different ways to make that happen—like my early work in travel news, which gave me hours of live broadcasting experience, even though it wasn’t directly related to sport.

There are lots of ways to practice. You can download an app that simulates an autocue and use it to rehearse. Or turn the sound off on your TV and commentate on football matches or other clips. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at speaking confidently, clearly, and with authority.

How to connect with Kate Mason…

Social links are @kvlmason everywhere! And catch me on TNT Sports for the cricket – the England men’s New Zealand tour is next!

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