TSN Announces Its BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE Broadcast Schedule Through the End of February
TSN’s Aaron Ward Examines the Changing Culture of Homophobia in Professional Sports in REORIENTATION, Premiering January 15
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TORONTO (January 14, 2014) – TSN’s Aaron Ward explores changing attitudes towards homosexuality in professional sports in the three-part TSN Original feature series REORIENTATION, premiering Wednesday, Jan. 15 through Friday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. ET on TSN’s SPORTSCENTRE.
Powered by SPORTSCENTRE, Canada’s most-watched sports news and information show, REORIENTATION is hosted by 13-year NHL veteran Ward, and is directed by Gemini Award-winning TSN Feature Producer Mike Farrell.
<<MEDIA NOTE: Click here to watch the trailer for REORIENTATION >>
<<MEDIA NOTE: Aaron Ward and Mike Farrell are available for interviews upon request>>
“I’ve spent years focusing primarily on breaking down what happens on the ice, so this series is something of a departure for me, but we believe the issues of homophobia and the culture of sport need to be examined and discussed,” said Aaron Ward, NHL on TSN Analyst. “We knew the series would reveal some compelling insights, and I know I took away a lot from it personally. I hope viewers will be able to do the same.”
REORIENTATION takes a sobering look at the pervasive culture of casual homophobia that is common in the locker rooms of professional sports, and reveals the struggles of gay athletes to find acceptance. The series tells the stories of former NFL defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo, who struggled to hide his sexual orientation throughout his nine-year pro football career, and MLS midfielder Robbie Rogers, who in 2013 became the first openly gay man to compete in an elite North American sports league.
Ward also conducts interviews with a several NHL players, including Edmonton Oilers captain Andrew Ference, Los Angeles Kings captain and Stanley Cup champion Dustin Brown, NHL goalie Ben Scrivens, as well as league commissioner Gary Bettman, in order to examine changing attitudes in NHL locker rooms, as well as the impact made by the NHL’s partnership with social advocacy organization You Can Play. With the ongoing controversy over gay rights in Russia causing global scrutiny ahead of the upcoming Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, REORIENTATION charts the progress of professional sports culture as it slowly inches ever closer to equality.
REORIENTATION will be available for streaming on TSN Digital platforms after each of the series’ three parts appears on SPORTSCENTRE. Once it airs, fans can visit TSN.ca/ReOrientation to watch the series in its entirety, alongside a slate of bonus clips with interview subjects.
REORIENTATION appears in every episode of SPORTSCENTRE from Jan. 15-17, with each part premiering in the 6 p.m. ET edition.
The broadcast schedule is as follows:
- Part One: The Culture of Casual Homophobia – Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. ET on TSN
- Part Two: The Transition Phase – Where are we going and how do we get there? – Thursday, Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m. ET on TSN
- Part Three: The Players Speak – Friday, Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. ET on TSN
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
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Aaron Ward @aaronward_nhl
Mike Farrell @MikeFarrellTSN
#TSN #ReOrientation
TSN is Canada’s Sports Leader and #1 specialty network. With a broad portfolio of multimedia sports assets, TSN delivers world-class content across industry-leading platforms including TSN2, TSN.ca, TSN Radio and TSN Mobile TV. Official broadcaster of the Grey Cup, IIHF World Junior Championship and FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, TSN’s slate of live sports coverage includes NHL, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, Season of Champions Curling, UEFA Euro 2016, MLB Sunday Night Baseball, Barclays Premier League, Golf’s Majors, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Canadian Tire Series, F1, Grand Slam Tennis, NCAA March Madness, and Skate Canada events. TSN is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company.
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For More Information:
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