Martin Masafret says goodbye to "Sportaktuell" presenter

TV presenter Martin Masafret is retiring after 37 years at SRF. The 62-year-old became known to a wide audience through the sports background program "Time out", which he presented from 1990 to 2001. Now Martin Masafret is saying goodbye to the public. On Monday, May 29, 2017, he will present "sportaktuell" - live on SRF zwei at 10.35 pm.

37 years in front of and behind the TV camera

Martin Masafret shaped SRF for 37 years in front of and behind the camera. The 62-year-old became known to a wide audience through "time out". From 1990 to 2001, he was head of the editorial team and presenter of the sports background program, which he played a key role in developing.

Martin Masafret began his career with Swiss radio and television in 1980, following a traineeship as a sports editor, live reporter and presenter of various sports programs, including "sportpanorama". After "time out", the trained gymnastics and sports teacher devoted himself to various roles behind the camera. From 2001, he was head of training at SRF Sport and supervised the live commentators.

Producer of "Sportlive" and documentary filmmaker

Martin Masafret is still active today as a producer of "Sportlive" and as a documentary filmmaker. As a filmmaker, he accompanied Martin Buser on the Iditarod (1999), Silvano Beltrametti after his paraplegia (2002) and the Swiss national team in their preparations for the 2004 European Football Championships. Most recently, in the making-of "Countdown St. Moritz - Wie die SRG die Ski-WM zum Spektakel macht" (Countdown St. Moritz - How SRG turns the World Ski Championships into a spectacle), he showed the effort SRG put into producing the images for the World Ski Championships in St. Moritz.

Martin Masafret: "I would say that the 37 years were an 'awesome time' - not always easy, but mostly wonderful and exciting. I'm taking an incredible number of great experiences full of emotions with me. The fact that I can say goodbye to a Sports news I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to present my work. I really like that."

Peter Staub, Editor-in-Chief of SRF Sport, said in a statement: "Martin Masafret has played a decisive role in the development of sports reporting over the past 37 years. As a meticulous observer, conscientious listener and universally appreciated team player who never put himself at the center of attention, he shaped countless broadcasts, reports and documentaries. We would like to thank Martin warmly for his great commitment and wish him all the best and good luck in his new phase of life."