TORONTO (June 4, 2015) – CTV and TSN shine the spotlight on the most compelling stories at the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™ with an extensive slate of Original Features airing both in the lead-up to kick off on Saturday, and throughout the tournament.

Before the opening game featuring Canada vs. China on Saturday, June 6 at 5 p.m. ET on CTV and TSN, TSN’s Brian Williams conducts an in-depth interview with Canadian captain and star striker Christine Sinclair, whose unforgettable performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games elevated her into one of the most celebrated figures in Canadian sports.

[caption id="attachment_72391" align="aligncenter" width="527"] TSN’s Brian Williams sits down for an in-depth interview with Canadian women’s national team captain Christine Sinclair. DOWNLOAD PHOTO HERE: http://bit.ly/1BHtdjP [/caption]

In the interview with Williams, Sinclair discusses the lessons she took away from Canada’s last-place finish at the previous World Cup, the effect of the London 2012 Olympic Games on women’s soccer in Canada, and what’s at stake for the Canadian women’s national team as they compete at home in the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™. Click here to watch the trailer for the interview.

The CTV and TSN Original Features team is led by Canadian Screen Award-winning Senior Feature Producer Josh Shiaman, who oversaw the creation of more than 40 features surrounding the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™.

“The FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™ features so many compelling personalities whose stories we wanted to tell, stories that will appeal to all fans of the beautiful game,” said Ken Volden, Vice-President and Executive Producer, News and Information, TSN. “From getting to know the most fascinating players to approaching women’s soccer as a catalyst for hope in the streets of Brazil, CTV and TSN’s award-winning features team approached the tournament as a canvas for great storytelling.”

CTV and TSN’s Original Features airing in the pre-game shows of select games explore some of the most compelling stories in women’s soccer:

• FAVELA UNITED
  Airs during the pre-game show for Brazil vs. Spain on Saturday, June 13 at 4 p.m. ET on TSN
  TRAILER: http://bit.ly/1FW9f8Y
  Fronted by TSN Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead and produced by Josh Shiaman, FAVELA UNITED investigates the positive impact of street soccer culture upon girls growing up in extreme poverty in the most dangerous neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, known as favelas. In these urban slums, violent conflict between local police and drug traffickers is a daily occurrence, and children are commonly used as drug runners. Amid the gunfire, girls’ soccer programs offer a glimmer of hope, and an escape from being forced into the drug trade.

• GEORDIE JOHN
  Airs during the pre-game show for Canada vs. New Zealand on Thursday, June 11 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV and TSN
  TRAILER: http://bit.ly/1RJVGPr
  This Original Feature by TSN Feature Producer Tracy Britnell follows Canadian women’s national team head coach John Herdman as he returns to his childhood home of Consett, a small town in northeast England, to chronicle the humble beginnings of his soccer journey. Along the way, Herdman reflects on how growing up in this football-mad town shaped his identity, both as a soccer coach and as a person.

• SYDNEY LEROUX – THE FIGHTER
  Airs during the pre-game show for USA vs. Australia on Monday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN
  TRAILER: http://bit.ly/1Mp5xqK
  Produced by Tracy Britnell, this Original Feature tells the story of Sydney Leroux, who is set to make her World Cup debut as one of the USA’s star strikers despite growing up in Surrey, B.C. Since moving to Arizona at age 15 to pursue her dream of playing for the U.S. women’s national team, Leroux has become a controversial figure in the heated women’s soccer rivalry between Canada and the United States.

In addition to these Original Features making their debut in live broadcasts from the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™, CTV and TSN’s complete slate of more than 40 Original Features will be made available across CTV and TSN platforms, airing in SPORTSCENTRE, on CTV affiliates across the country, and on-demand through TSN Digital platforms including the TSN GO mobile app and TSN.ca/FIFA.

The networks will continue to unveil more Original Features throughout the tournament. Among the highlights:

• Marta – A five-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award who sits tied atop the all-time FIFA Women’s World Cup goal scoring list, Brazil’s legendary forward Marta is often called the most talented women’s soccer player of all time. At age 29, she arrives at the tournament looking to secure the one missing element of her resume: a World Cup title.

• Karina Leblanc: Island Roots – As a UNICEF Canada ambassador, the Canadian goalkeeper returns to her childhood home of Dominica to host soccer clinics aimed at making a difference in children’s lives.
• Melissa Tancredi: Tank – TSN’s Brian Williams gets to know this 11-year veteran of the Canadian women’s national team who goes by the nickname “Tank.”

• Kadeisha Buchanan: Unshakable: The 19-year-old native of Brampton, Ont. has become one of the world’s most ferocious defenders. TSN examines what makes her so impossible to beat.

• Erin McLeod: The Artist: Over the past four years, the Canadian starting goalkeeper has used her art for catharsis and mental healing. Her unique blend of classical and street art has garnered rave reviews.

• Jessie Fleming: The Next One: The search for Canada’s next soccer superstar has focused its spotlight squarely on Jessie Fleming. The 17-year-old phenom made her senior debut at age 15 years, 278 days.

• The Brain Game – The Canadian women’s national team’s mental performance manager Alex Hodgkins explains how he tunes up the minds of the players.
• The Power of Song – TSN’s Cabbie investigates the role of music in the Canadian women’s national team and their favourite anthem: Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love.”

• Dancing to their own beat – The Canadian women’s national team shows off the way they calm their nerves before a big game: their passion for dancing.

The CTV and TSN features team has also produced individual video vignettes getting to know the players on the Canadian women’s national team.

TSN, CTV, and RDS are official broadcasters of FIFA events from 2015 to 2026, including the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018, 2022, and 2026.

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™ on TSN and CTV

Television: From June 6 to July 5, CTV, TSN, and RDS deliver live coverage of all 52 matches from the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™. Currently ranked #8 in the world, Canada faces off against #16-ranked China PR in the tournament’s opening match on Saturday, June 6 at 5 p.m. ET on CTV, TSN, and RDS.

Taking place in six cities across Canada (Edmonton, Moncton, Montréal, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Winnipeg), the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™ culminates with the Final on Sunday, July 5 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV/RDS at BC Place in Vancouver.

Live Streaming: In addition to live television coverage of all 52 games on CTV/TSN, TV subscribers can live stream all games from the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™ on the corresponding GO platform – CTV GO or TSN GO.

Radio: Canadians can tune in to TSN Radio’s live coverage of every Canada match, plus Round of 16, quarter-final, and semifinal matches, and the Final.

TSN Radio’s package of games airs nationally on the TSN Radio Network presented by Amway Canada. The following radio stations, listed in order from West to East, will broadcast live coverage of the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™:

• CFAX 1070 – Victoria
• TSN 1040/1410 – Vancouver
• AM 1150 – Kelowna
• TSN 1260 – Edmonton
• TSN 1290 – Winnipeg
• CKOC 1150 – Hamilton
• TSN 1050 – Toronto
• TSN 1200 – Ottawa
• TSN 690 – Montréal
• Sirius/XM 167

Fans can also listen to live radio coverage on TSN.ca/Radio and on the TSN GO app.

News and Analysis: TSN.ca/FIFA is a one-stop shop for everything surrounding the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™, featuring news, analysis, and original content from the tournament.