Mike Murphy, TV Exec; Guardian obit
Hyfler/Rosner
TV executive who changed the face of sports broadcasting
Donald Trelford
Thursday January 30, 2003
The Guardian
Hearing the colourful tones of Mike Murphy, who has died of cancer aged 51,
down your earpiece was a familiar and often memorable experience for sports
presenters like Desmond Lynam, David Coleman and John Motson. Lynam
remembers having an intelligent conversation on television with Imran Khan,
the Pakistan cricket captain, when it was suddenly interrupted by Murphy's
voice, which has been likened to that of Michael Caine. "Who's this geezer?"
he demanded. "Can't understand a word he's talking about. Get him off!"
The stars may have got used to it, but as a novice presenter in the 1980s I
was seriously unnerved to have this disembodied voice thundering in my ear:
"Wake it up, old son! Even your mother must be fast asleep by now." My TV
career did not flourish, but my friendship with Mike did.
"Murph", as he was generally known, had left the BBC in 1984 to form his own
business when he saw his career path blocked. As editor of Grandstand he was
a great innovator, introducing the celebrity panel and white balls for
televised evening games, and constantly experimenting with better camera
angles for watching football. He covered all the great events - the Olympic
Games, the World Cup, Wimbledon, the Open Golf.
Born in Harlesden, north-west London, into a family from County Kerry, he
was the son of a painter and decorator. Educated at Cardinal Hinsley
Catholic school, from 1965 to 1969 he was a professional footballer at
Queen's Park Rangers and an amateur at Fulham. He learned his next trade at
London Weekend Television, where he worked from 1969 to 1974 with Jimmy
Hill - who had also played football with him briefly at Fulham - and John
Bromley.
When Hill departed for the BBC, Murphy went with him. He brought the same
ingenuity to his own company, Television Sport and Leisure, later Michael
Murphy Associates, creating a worldwide production and consultancy business.
He covered the Tour de France and the World Student Games, advised GMTV on
children's programmes and Channel 5 on their evening schedule. He helped to
set up Satellite Information Systems (SIS), which has beamed live racing
into Britain's betting shops since 1987. He also introduced American racing
to this country.
Executives at the state-run Russian station, RTR, were so impressed by his
tough negotiating skills that they entrusted him to handle their deals with
the American networks and Hollywood film studios. He bought and sold sports
rights to major events all round the globe, becoming a welcome and convivial
figure in many world capitals. He was an adviser at Twickenham, helping the
Rugby Football Union to increase its return from television and saving the
1991 Rugby World Cup by selling the overseas rights.
Murphy had an infectious love of sport, an engaging personality and an
eccentric way with words. He was an original, kind as well as tough,
enjoying nothing more than doing favours for his many friends. He leaves his
second wife, Christa, and two sons from his first marriage.
· Michael Daniel Murphy, television executive, born February 5 1951; died
January 19 2003