Hockey Playbyplay Guy Exits after New Owner Offers 80% Pay Cut

July 25, 2018

Chuck Kaiton Leaves After 39 Years As Voice of Carolina Hurricanes

Kaiton

Longtime CAROLINA HURRICANES radio play-by-play voice CHUCK KAITON is exiting after 39 years after he and the NHL team could not reach agreement on a new contract, reports the RALEIGH NEWS AND OBSERVER. KAITON began calling the ‘CANES games when they were the HARTFORD WHALERS in 1978-79; the NEWS AND OBSERVER reports that the team’s new owner TOM DUNDON offered KAITON an 80% pay cut and would not revise its offer, suggesting that KAITON sell sponsorships to make up the difference.

The team will use a simulcast of the television broadcasts from FOX SPORTS CAROLINAS in place of KAITON’s radio-only broadcasts. The ‘CANES are heard on CAPITOL BROADCASTING Sports WCMC-F (99.9 THE FAN)/RALEIGH.

“I was hoping for a reasonable offer to stay but obviously the offer was an invitation to leave,” KAITON told the NEWS AND OBSERVER. “That is how I look at it. I really was hoping we could make some headway. It’s his decision to offer what he offered and it was quite a substantial decrease. It really basically told me they weren’t that interested in keeping me. That’s life. It’s his team.”

Sean July 25, 2018 At 12:32 pm

I would leave too,insulting.

Ryan Ghidoni July 25, 2018 At 3:55 pm

TV audio does not make a radio broadcast. TV play by play supports the pictures. Radio play by play creates the pictures.

BMCQ July 25, 2018 At 9:16 pm

Of course we do not know all of the details but I believe we can safely assume Kaiton was doing a good job, just his longevity would support that.

Always hate to hear a story like this.

Only guessing but I would not think a move like this by a new owner would go over that well with the Fans.

Good Luck to Mr. Kaiton, I hope he lands on his feet.