Veitch returning to on-air sports role

Tony Veitch has 'done his time' away from radio, says TRN's Bill Francis. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Tony Veitch's flagging career has been thrown a lifeline, with the sports broadcaster set to make a return to the airwaves early next year.

The Radio Network announced yesterday that Veitch would return as a sports-news bulletin presenter and journalist for Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport early next month.

The 34-year-old said he was "incredibly grateful" to TRN for giving him the opportunity to get back doing what he loves "and the only career I've known".

Bill Francis, TRN's general manager of talk programming, said Veitch, who has been out of the organisation, and a job, for nearly 18 months, had "done his time".

Media commentator Professor Jim Tully said Veitch's recall was purely commercial. "At some point The Radio Network has done its research and believes it is not going to be a decision that will adversely affect them in a commercial sense."

Professor Tully doubted that viewers would see Veitch on free-to-air networks any time soon. "It is possible he could have some kind of role with pay television."

Last year, police launched an investigation into allegations that Veitch had assaulted his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell.

In April, he pleaded guilty to injuring with reckless disregard.

After sentencing, Veitch said: "I hope average Kiwis will say, 'The bloke made a mistake ... It was inexcusable and maybe one day he'll be given a second chance'."