Jim Wilson (broadcaster)
Jim Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 29, 1967 Southport, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Sports journalist, reporter, radio host |
| Years active | 1980s–2023 |
| Known for | Sports presenting for Seven News, Drive presenter at 2GB |
Jim Wilson (born 29 December 1967 in Southport, Queensland) is a distinguished Australian sports journalist, reporter, and radio host.
Wilson dedicated 28 years to the Seven Network, where he worked as a sports presenter, reporter, and sports editor for Seven News. His career at Seven began in the Melbourne newsroom before relocating to Sydney. Prior to his tenure at Seven, he served as a sports reporter for the Nine Network based in Brisbane.
Career
In August 2012, Wilson succeeded Tony Squires as the sports presenter on Seven News Sydney. This transition was notable as it established the first married couple co-anchoring an Australian news program, alongside his wife, Seven News presenter Chris Bath.
By August 2013, he took on the role of sports presenter for the updated Seven Afternoon News. Starting February 2017, Wilson has been presenting sports segments from Tuesday through Friday on Seven Morning News.
Wilson’s experience includes covering the 2012 London Olympics for Seven, marking his sixth Olympic event as either a reporter or commentator. He also hosted panels during Seven’s broadcasts of friendlies involving Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs against Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC in 2013 and 2015. An avid supporter of the Western Sydney Wanderers, Wilson acted as an official ambassador for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which was held in Australia.
In March 2016, Wilson was promoted to head Seven's sports division while continuing to present sport on Fridays and Saturdays. This change allowed new recruit Mel McLaughlin to join the team. He led Seven’s coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and hosted broadcasts of both the Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League during 2018.
After nearly three decades with Seven, Wilson resigned in June 2020 to become the Drive presenter at 2GB, taking over from Ben Fordham. His final day at Seven was 27 June. In November 2022, Wilson announced his departure from the 2GB Drive show effective 10 November; he was succeeded by Nine News journalist Chris O'Keefe. By February 2023, Wilson had also concluded his association with the Nine Network.
Personal life
Wilson separated from his first wife Jackie in late 2008; they share two sons. Later that year in December, he began a relationship with journalist and media figure Chris Bath.
In 2009, Wilson’s younger son received a diagnosis of aggressive brain cancer and sadly passed away eight months later in April 2010.
After three years together, Wilson and Bath were married on 12 January 2012 in an intimate family ceremony held in the Hunter Valley.
Wilson’s elder sister, fellow sports journalist Rebecca Wilson, passed away from breast cancer on 7 October 2016.