In the first segment of Fox NFL Sunday, Fox Sports Media Group President David Hill voiced a touching tribute to FSMG Executive Vice President of Production and Executive Producer Doug Sellars. He was only 50 years old.
Sellars, as mentioned in the previous post, began his career at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, starting with Hockey Night in Canada, then producing the CFL Grey Cup at the age of 27. He then was promoted to oversee all production for the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and other CBC sports series.
In 2000, he came to the United States to join Fox Sports to over production for all of the Fox Sports Net regional sports networks. In August, he was promoted to oversee all studio and event production for the entire Fox Sports Media Group.
Sellars leaves behind his wife and two children. We have this tribute from Fox Sports.
Doug Sellars, 1961-2011
It is with great difficulty and deep sadness that FOX Sports Media Group acknowledges the passing of Doug Sellars, Executive Vice President, Production and Executive Producer, who is being remembered today on all FSMG networks.
A truly good human being, a great friend, and consummate professional, Doug, age 50, was unable to recover from a recent heart attack and passed away on Friday (Dec. 30) in the presence of his closest family. He will be missed terribly by all of the lives he touched personally and professionally and will be remembered for his kind words and comforting demeanor.
The text of today’s on-air tribute, voiced-over by FOX Sports Media Group Chairman David Hill, is as follows:
There are many ways to describe a man like Doug Sellars. He was a brilliant television producer, an overwhelmingly proud Canadian, a true sports fan, and one of the kindest, people you will ever know.
Eleven years ago, Doug joined the FOX Sports family, overseeing live event production at Fox Sports Net. He was a main architect in the formation of SPEED, and in the last year, Doug Sellars became an Executive Vice President of FOX Sports.
He brought a leadership-style of teamwork, balance and fluidity with his easygoing personality, self-deprecating sense of humor and firm hand. A leader known for direct approach and honesty, Doug was calm yet assertive.
While he had an illustrious career in sports television, Doug lived for his family. So perhaps the best way to describe Doug Sellars is to say that he was a devoted husband and a loving father, because he lived and breathed for the ones he cherished – his family.
Doug is survived by the three loves of his life – his wife of 26 years, Barb and his two proud children, Tyler and Kelsey.
Doug Sellars, gone too soon…respected and loved by so many…he will be missed by us all.
Since August, Doug oversaw all studio and event production for the networks and entities within FSMG, including FOX Sports, Fox Sports Regional Networks, SPEED, FOX Deportes, FOX Soccer, FUEL TV and FOXSports.com, and was an advisor to the Big Ten Network. Prior to being named to this position, Sellars’ duties included oversight of Fox Sports Regional Network’s production of nearly 5,000 MLB, NBA, and NHL games, as well as national collegiate programming. Before joining Fox Sports in 2000, Sellars spent 12 years with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation holding a variety of production responsibilities, including senior executive producer.
We send our thoughts to his family and to Fox Sports on the passing of Doug Sellars.
UPDATE, 1:25 P.M.: Here’s the tribute video that ran on Fox NFL Sunday as voiced by Fox Sports Media Group Chairman David Hill.
