AUSTRALIAN broadcasting legend Tony Charlton has died.

The 83-year-old, who led the television coverage of the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 in the early years of his lengthy sports broadcasting career, died at his home today.

He had been battling bowel cancer.

Friend and Melbourne broadcasting colleague Neil Mitchell said Charlton was a great Australian.

"He was one of the real gentlemen of the media," he told Fairfax Radio.

"The overwhelming feeling I have about Tony was his decency. He was a compassionate, caring man."

Charlton was added to the AFL Hall of Fame in 2011 and was a member of the Order of Australia.