Sports Hydrant

Stephanie Brantz

Type: Player/Athlete
Location: Australia

Occupation: Sports Presenter

Stephanie Brantz is a sports presenter on ABC TV and a self-confessed 'sports nut'.

Before joining the national broadcaster in 2010, Stephanie spent four years at Channel 9 where she presented sport on National Nine News, Nightline and The Sunday Show and the 2006/7 Ashes series as well as hosting the NBL highlights show. Stephanie spent the six years prior at SBS where she was host of SBS World Sport and the face of the 2006 World Cup coverage in Australia. She originally joined the SBS Sports team in 2000 working for On the Ball.

At ABC she hosts the Women's football, basketball and golf as well as the Champions Trophy Hockey, the Lanco Super Series and over winter the Shute Shield rugby.

She also hosts the Australian of the Year Awards, the Anzac Day Dawn Service from Gallipoli and the Paralympic coverage from London in 2012.

Before embarking on her sports presenting career, Stephanie represented her home state of Queensland in netball, basketball and swimming. She was a naturopath for more than 10 years, before a career change into media.

Stephanie is married to Simon Hill (Fox Sports football commentator) and has three children, aged between 18 and 11.

Stephanie Brantz in the News

Q&A

When did you first become interested in Sport?

I can't remember not being interested in sport - my parents played state level volleyball for queensland and the whole family has always been involved in some form of sport or another, so I was always out training for something...

Do you play sport now?

Still play basketball, it's more social than anything, but once you get on the court that competitive spirit takes over and you always want to win. Unfortunately, the mind is still 18 and the body is.....older! I coach my daughter's football team too

As a woman working in the Sports Industry, have you faced any unique challenges?

When I started, and we're talking over a decade ago now, there were fewer women working in sport, now there are loads of us across all different sports, so it's not such a big deal. Sometimes it was tougher, because the expectation of failure seemed to be higher if you were female, however I am certain I was also given some gigs on a gender basis which I guess is discrimination against my male colleagues

Any comments on the recent 'demotion' of Kelly Underwood?

I don't know Kelli and I haven't heard her commentate, but from what I understand she was perfectly competent in the commentary box. Not sure if other things were at play in her 'demotion', but good on her for giving it a go, and i'm disappointed that 10 didn't persevere for her sake and the contribution it would have made to changing the mindset of administrators in male dominated sports. Once no-one bats an eyelid at the sound of a woman in commentary for men's sport, we will have reached our holy grail!

Does the ABC have any plans to have a women call the W-League?

Our expert commentators are always former Matildas. To be a lead commentator is a different skill so not sure at this stage that there any women who fit the bill

Steph on Women's Sport

Womens' Sports Panel

Stephanie Brantz mediates a discussion with some of Australia's top athletes at the Sports Advocacy Group Women In Sport Dinner

Among those interviewed are Lucille Baile, WNBL Life member and WNBL Champion; Alicia Coutts, medley, butterfly and freestyle swimmer winning 5 gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games; Anna Flanagan, Hockeyroo defender winning Gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games; Alice Mills, Order of Australia medal winner and two Olympic Medals in the pool; and Allison Shreeve, 4 x Formula Windsurfing World Champion, A Class world speed record holder and Australia's Female sailor of the year 2006.

Q&A

Do you think that Women's Sport is something the Australian public would like to see more of?

There is definitely a market for it and if you look at the sheer number of girls and women that participate in all different sport, then YES, it's definitely something that needs more coverage. I've had a great time working on the ABC summer of women's sport, the women appreciate the importance of media profile and are genuinely enthusiastic and usually great talent too. it's wonderful for young girls to see women doing well in their sport. We've had very positive feedback on the Women's sport that has been on air this summer

What do you think needs to be done to better promote Women's Sport?

It would be nice to reach a place where women's sport is televised as much as the mens. We are slowly moving towards a more 'positive' situation, but we continue to battle against high revenue earners like League and AFL for prime time broadcasts. That isn't going to change anytime soon, but the more women's sport is on TV and preferably also reported on in the papers, the more it is in the public's 'face' and as it becomes higher profile, it becomes more attractive to sponsors and investors. While women's sport remains amateur it is a struggle to get the finance to give it more profile

How about a TV channel dedicated to Women's Sport and Lifestyle? Do you think it will fly?

Definitely!!! With so many more channels available, it has to be an obvious addition. The Role modelling offered by female sports stars is fantastic - they are often a sponsors dream, fit, healthy, attractive, educated and eloquent. In an age where we lose girls to fashion and celebrity fairly early, anything that encourages them to stay fit and healthy is a plus. A dedicated channel would allow promotion of women across any number of sports and create a more public profile that is lacking at the moment for all but a select few.

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