A staple of the St. Louis Blues television broadcast finds himself out of a job after the team opted not to renew his contract amid apparent cost-cutting measures.
John Kelly, who has called Blues games on television for two decades, will no longer be doing so next season, the team announced on Thursday.
Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale will simulcast games on @FanDuelSN_MW and @101espn; John Kelly departs amid strategic realignment and expanded pre and postgame coverage. #stlblues
DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/yzbuBsWz7u https://t.co/yzbuBsWz7u
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) July 10, 2025
With Kelly out, the Blues will now move to a simulcast model in which their announcing team will serve both television and radio audiences. Chris Kerber will serve as play-by-play while Joey Vitale will serve as an analyst for FanDuel Sports Network Midwest. The duo has seven years of experience together calling Blues games on the radio.
As one might expect, the move was not well-received among Blues fans online.
Love Kerbs and Joey. This isn’t a reflection on them:
This is shameful by FanDuel Midwest. https://t.co/EnIhop2Kqy
— Brenden Schaeffer🎳 (@bschaeffer12) July 10, 2025
John Kelly is Blues hockey. Horrible mistake. https://t.co/AdTNDVdres
— Darin Sims (@DSims_61) July 10, 2025
“Strategic realignment”? I’m about to strategically align my fist with a wall. #stlblues https://t.co/8mefsSwB2R
— Thomas Welch (@twelcher15) July 10, 2025
Kerber and Vitale are very good broadcasters, but this is a mistake. A shortsighted mistake.
John Kelly is a pro’s pro. https://t.co/x9K7zsrLfw
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 10, 2025
While the Blues described the move as a “strategic realignment,” most have chalked to move up to cost-cutting. It makes little sense to have announcers call a game for both television and radio; one is a visual medium while the other is audio. The information a radio listener needs conveyed is much different than what a television viewer needs. The only explanation for making such a move is saving money.
It’s a shame, and one that Blues fans will have to deal with on a nightly basis come next season.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.