CBC TV/Radio creates new sports unit with Bennett and Gelevan

It has been a rapid rise for Andie Bennett, who joined CBC Daybreak as sports anchor last spring via the former TEAM 990 (now TSN Radio 990). The talented and attractive broadcaster now adds television to her repertoire.  CBC Daybreak and TV have formed a “sports unit.” Bennett and Douglas  Gelevan will share the duties  between mornings and  the  90 minute supper hour news package.

Andie Bennett, shown here with Als great Peter Dalla Riva.

“We're looking at a four week rotation right now,” says news chief Mary Jo Barr. “It should be very exciting!”

The unit will be launched on October 17, with Bennett joining the Andrew Chang-Debra Arbec newscast.  This move was made necessary when Michel Godbout left CBC for TVA Sports. Bennett had replaced Sonali Karnack last May. She spent several years working on the Mitch Melnick drive home show and attracted a loyal following, even hosting her own program called Totally Broad.

 Gelevan  has been working in the Montreal radio and television newsroom for about a year now and substituted for Bennett a number of times. I was most impressed  with his blog in which he  provides clips of some of his own reports at

Gelevan, 28,   grew up in Bedford Nova Scotia. He has a degree in History from Mount Allison University (’05) and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Kings College Halifax (’10). He speaks four languages, considers himself a Trudeauist and stubbornly admits to remaining a faithful Toronto Maple Leafs fan.  He has over 27 different stamps in his passport, including working visas from Austria, Japan. 

“I'm very excited about the new challenge,” Gelevan told me.  “It's great that Andie and I are going to be able to combine our resources and provide our audience with more complete coverage of local sports. Having both of us on radio and television is going to be excellent for our audience.  Sports stories will seamlessly be covered across all our local platforms. Personally it will allow me to challenge myself in telling sports stories using the different styles and elements of both radio, television and the web. It  is going to be great.”

And does Douglas have a career in peforming arts? Catch this clip of him shaving off his beard.