From wrestlers and marathon swimmers, to the intensity of a soccer fan club, every sport has a tale that has become an intrinsic part of Canada’s history and national identity. The Canadian Screen Award-winning original series ENGRAVED ON A NATION returns exclusively to TSN to share these stories through six new 60-minute episodes. The season begins with an in-depth look at Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey in THE BAILEY EXPERIENCE, premiering Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN.
Every episode of ENGRAVED ON A NATION will also be available for on-demand viewing through TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN app, as well as the all-new Crave (Crave premiere date to be confirmed).
“TSN is incredibly proud to deliver a new chapter of ENGRAVED ON A NATION, chronicling uniquely Canadian stories from across the sports landscape,” said Shawn Redmond, Vice-President, Discovery and TSN. “Storytelling is a hallmark of the TSN brand, and with this original series, we’ve engaged the independent production community and acclaimed filmmakers to bring these compelling documentaries to life.”
THE BAILEY EXPERIENCE is a unique and immersive film journey, as Donovan Bailey, those closest to him, and a nation makes sense of what life was like leading up to the biggest race for one of the most celebrated, but scrutinized, athletes on the planet. Following the 1988 Olympic doping scandal, Canadians were hesitant to support Bailey and his run to become the fastest man on the planet. Featuring personal interviews with Bailey, who not only reveals the depths of the scrutiny he faced on the track, but also his struggle to win the support of Canadians, THE BAILEY EXPERIENCE features additional insights from TSN’s Brian Williams, as well as Bob Costas, Carl Lewis, Bruny Surin, and more. THE BAILEY EXPERIENCE is directed by Michael Hamilton, and produced by Adam Scorgie of Score G Productions Inc. in association with Bell Media.
The original installment of ENGRAVED ON A NATION was released in 2012, celebrating the 100th Grey Cup and the CFL’s indelible mark on Canadian history. The series went on to win the Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary Series.
The six episodes to be released in early 2019 deliver a collection of stories from across the Canadian sports landscape, including:
- MAN VS. MACHINE (Monday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET) – In 1997, when the Lou Marsh Trophy for Canadian Athlete of the year went to F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve, Larry Walker, the first Canadian MLB MVP, famously said he got “beaten by an engine.” MAN VS. MACHINE explores one of the most debated years of Canadian accomplishments in sports. MAN VS. MACHINE is produced by Anaid Productions in association with Bell Media, directed by Simon Ennis, and produced by Margaret Mardirossian, Ed de Rivaz, Helen Schmidt, and Karen Redford.
- THE IMPOSSIBLE SWIM (Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET) – In July 2018, Maya Farrell attempted her second crossing of Lake Ontario, following in the footsteps of great Canadian female marathon swimmers Marilyn Bell and Vicki Keith. Featuring interviews with Bell and Keith, THE IMPOSSIBLE SWIM explores the legacy, what it takes physically and mentally to be a marathon athlete, and the rising new regime. THE IMPOSSIBLE SWIM is produced by Circle Blue Entertainment in association with Bell Media, directed by Larry Weinstein and Ali Weinstein, and produced by Amos Adetuyi and John Booth.
- THE NORTHERN TOUCH (Tuesday, Mar. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET) – The fan culture of the Toronto FC is like no other in the league. THE NORTHERN TOUCH takes an in-depth look into the supporter groups, their origins, rituals, and the unique influence they have on the game and the league – both good and bad. THE NORTHERN TOUCH is produced by AK Films in association with Bell Media, directed by Brent Hodge, with executive producers Chris Koras and Kyle McCutcheon.
- OMEGA MAN: A WRESTLING LOVE STORY (Wednesday, Mar. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET) – Winnipegger Kenny Omega brought beauty, intimacy, and gay-friendly messages to the macho world of wrestling. He also happens to be the best wrestler on the planet that you never heard of. OMEGA MAN: A WRESTLING LOVE STORY introduces Canada to this unknown superstar and his phenomenal rise to stardom, as he turns the international wrestling industry upside-down. OMEGA MAN is produced by Jocumentary Productions Inc. in association with Bell Media, directed by Yung Chang, and produced by Dale Burshtein.
- ON THE LINE (Wednesday, Apr. 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET) – One of the greatest sports rivalries of all time can be found between the Canadian and USA women’s hockey teams. Over the last 20 years, the two teams have traded gold medals and championships back and forth in a bid to be the best. ON THE LINE looks at what fuels this rivalry and the need for domination. ON THE LINE is from Clique Pictures in association with Bell Media, directed by Juliet Lammers and Lorraine Price, and produced by Lauren Grant.