Paul Graham

Paul Graham (born June 9, 1959) is a Canadian television producer. As vice-president and executive producer of The Sports Network from 2010 to 2025, he oversaw the long-term development strategy for live event production while negotiating broadcast agreements. Since 2009, he produced all Canadian Football League (CFL) games and the Grey Cup, and implemented new camera angles, microphones, and slow motion for instant replays. He advocated expanded coverage of International Ice Hockey Federation events, envisioning growth in interest and viewer ratings, leading to broadcasts for all games of the IIHF World Junior Championship.

Graduating from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, he worked the Edmonton Oilers' first National Hockey League season. His early CFL work began with CBC Sports in 1980, and continued with the newly established Canadian Football Network in 1987. He was a senior producer of Hockey Night in Canada from 1998 to 2009, and produced coverage of multiple other sports including the Winter Olympic Games. His honours include the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award, induction into the media section of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the IIHF Media Award, Canadian Screen Awards, and Gemini Awards.

Early life and education Graham was born on June 9, 1959, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. He grew up in the Westwood neighbourhood, As a child, he was a newspaper carrier for the Edmonton Journal, He was a regular member of the Knothole Gang at Clarke Stadium, watching the Edmonton Eskimos for 25 cents per game. He was also a ball boy for the Edmonton Wildcats, earning per week at their practices, and travelled with the team to road games in Calgary and Regina.

Subsequently working for CITV-DT (later Canwest Global) and CTV Television Network, Graham oversaw research, statistics, and graphics. With CITV-DT, he was promoted to associate producer, then television producer. Joining The Sports Network (TSN) in 1991, TSN initially covered only the Team Canada games, then added all games in Team Canada's pool. At the 1992 event, TSN had only five cameras, and broadcast only five games to Canada.

Graham became the senior producer of Hockey Night in Canada in 1998, He oversaw the long-term development strategy and production for live events, and production of the 2010 Winter Olympics coverage from Whistler Blackcomb as a leading member of Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.

In 2019, Graham interviewed with the Edmonton Eskimos for the vacant president and CEO position. The team were reportedly close to hiring him, but no financial agreement was reached. He interviewed again for the same vacancy in 2021, but remained with TSN.

International ice hockey Graham expanded coverage of the World Junior Championship and the Ice Hockey World Championships to include more games, and began coverage for the Women's World Championship, and the under-18 men's and under-18 women's championships. Bringing more international hockey to North American television, Graham produced coverage of the Spengler Cup and the Champions Hockey League. His final live event with TSN was the 2025 Championships, which exceeded 84 broadcast hours, and first made use of drones for new camera angles. Graham stated in 2025, "one of the things I'm proudest of is that Juniors are not just big in Canada", since multiple countries now access full coverage of the event.

Honours and awards In 2017, Graham received the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award for "leadership and significant contributions" to the CFL. In 2018, he was inducted into the media section of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He received the IIHF Media Award during the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Sweden, for contributions to televising international ice hockey. Other awards during his career include Canadian Screen Awards, a CANPRO Award, and Gemini Awards.