TSN Wins Three Gemini Awards for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting

    
       - NHL ON TSN host James Duthie named Best Sportscaster/Anchor -
        - Veteran broadcaster Brian Williams honoured as Best Host or
                Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast
     - SPORTSCENTRE wins award for Best Sportscast (National or Local) -
    

TORONTO , Oct. 19 /CNW/ - TSN's esteemed NHL, CFL and SPORTSCENTRE broadcasts scored a hat-trick earlier tonight, as they were each honoured at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards celebrating excellence in English Language Television.

James Duthie was named Best Sportscaster/Anchor for his work as host of TSN's multi-platform, 10-hour show, NHL ON TSN TRADECENTRE 09, while Brian Williams was recognized as Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast for his work during the three-hour pre-game show leading up to the 2008 GREY CUP on TSN. Rounding out the awards for TSN was the network's flagship sports news program, SPORTSCENTRE, which was honoured with its first Gemini Award for Best Sportscast (National or Local).

"This is a monumental evening for TSN. I am extremely proud of James, Brian, and the brilliant cast and dedicated crew that work so diligently on SPORTSCENTRE. I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to all our winners and nominees tonight," said Phil King , President, TSN. "It is an honour to work alongside some of the brightest men and women in sports television who have helped distinguish TSN as Canada's Sports Leader."

This marks the first-ever Gemini Award win for Duthie, who has been nominated on six previous occasions. As host of the NHL ON TSN studio show, Duthie's humour and quick wit complement the knowledgeable, passionate and outspoken panel consisting of Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger , analysts Pierre McGuire and Ray Ferraro , and veteran commentator Dave Hodge . Duthie, who joined TSN in 1998, is the former co-host of SPORTSCENTRE and also previously hosted TSN's highly acclaimed CFL ON TSN studio show and NBA coverage. In February, he will be the co-host of Olympic Daytime on CTV alongside CTV's Lisa LaFlamme during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This year, Duthie was also nominated for Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports program or Sportscast for his work during the 2009 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP Gold Medal Game on TSN.

For Williams, this is his seventh Gemini Award win and first-ever for his coverage of the CFL. His work during TSN's three-hour pre-game show leading up to the 2008 GREY CUP helped set the stage for Canada's biggest sports event of last year, which aired on TSN for the first time in network history. A decorated sports broadcaster for more than 30 years, Williams has garnered 20 Gemini Award nominations over the course of his illustrious career. He has covered every high-profile sporting event around the globe and will be the host of Olympic Prime Time on CTV during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Finally, this marks the first-ever Gemini Award nomination and win for Canada's most-watched sports news and information program, SPORTSCENTRE. Ken Volden , Executive Producer, and Steve Argintaru, Senior Producer, News & Information, accepted the award on behalf of the SPORTSCENTRE team and its anchors and reporters.

Earlier today, TSN was also honoured at the 2009 Sports Media Canada Achievement Awards Luncheon, as Phil King , President, TSN, accepted the prestigious President's Award in recognition of TSN's 25th Anniversary.

Official broadcaster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and London 2012 Games of the Olympiad, TSN, a division of CTVglobemedia, is Canada's Sports Leader and Canada's most-watched specialty network. TSN's comprehensive broadcast schedule features an exciting lineup of sports including NHL, IIHF, CFL, NFL, NBA, Blue Jays Baseball, Season of Champions Curling, Golf's Majors, F1, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Grand Slam Tennis, Championship Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts events. TSN properties include TSN2, TSN MOBILE and the industry leading sports website TSN.ca. TSN delivers more sports coverage in High Definition than any other network in Canada .

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