Once his playing career was over, Ian Day became, and continued for many years, as a television football commentator of note. Day joined Channel 7’s television commentary team in 1965 as a pioneer of League Football television coverage with Blair Schwartz and
Bob Jervis. When Channel 9 secured the broadcast rights, he joined as its leading football commentator. Day finished his commentary career with Channel 2’s commentary team, retiring in 1994. During his time in television, Day worked alongside the likes of Schwartz, Jervis,
Bruce McAvaney,
Peter Marker,
Rick Keegan,
Robert Oatey and
Graham Campbell and called a number of
SANFL Grand Finals as well as being the boundary rider. Day was quoted as saying, "I was extremely lucky in that the year I quit playing football was the year Channel 7 decided to televise the game. They asked me to become a commentator and when I pleaded I’d never done it before, they told me no-one had. We all learned together." As a testament to his professionalism, his colleagues offered the following: "Day felt for the players and was positive in his comments – although this did not stop him from analysing their style and passing relevant comment. Ian was never false in his presentation. Ian’s tone of voice was genuine when injecting excitement in the call. Day was renowned for his homework when calling both League and Reserves matches. Ian prided himself on the fact that as a commentator he did not “rubbish” players and did not show personal bias." == Personal life and death ==