Ron MacLean's broadcasting career began in 1978 when he took a part-time position at CKRD Radio in Red Deer, Alberta. In 1984, a producer saw MacLean doing an ad-lib weather forecast and hired him to host the Calgary Flames telecasts on CFAC, an independent TV station in Calgary. MacLean then became the sports anchor on the local evening news.

After joining the network in 1986, MacLean hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs' telecasts on Hockey Night in Canada before becoming the full-time national host in 1987.

His role expanded over the years to include hosting CBC's coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 1994. MacLean has also covered the Calgary Stampede, World track and field competitions around the globe, Export "A" Skins Golf, and World Cup Hockey.

MacLean hosted the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in September of 1998 and woke up millions of Canadians every morning as the host of CBC's coverage of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano.

At the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg in 1999, MacLean covered the track and field competition before heading to Seville, Spain to host the 7th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. In the fall of 2000, he hosted the Late Night and Early Morning shows at the Sydney Olympic Summer Games.

In August 2001, MacLean was CBC Sports' host in Edmonton for coverage of the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. In January 2002, MacLean hosted the third annual Hockey Day in Canada extravaganza, from Windsor, Nova Scotia, that took viewers across the country for a glimpse at hockey's impact and its prominent place in Canadian communities.

MacLean captured his sixth Gemini Award for his work as the host of the Daytime Show at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City where he used his unique style to delve into the many interesting stories surrounding the Games. MacLean also won the Gemini for Best Sports Broadcaster for his hosting duties at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He has won three Gemini Awards for his work on Hockey Night in Canada, one for The Legends of Hockey.

In August 2003, MacLean reprised his role as CBC Sports' host of the 9th IAAF World Championships in Paris, France.

MacLean and his wife Cari live in Oakville and spend the summer months sailing around Lake Ontario. A former Level 5 referee for the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, MacLean also plays hockey twice a week.