The only sports news show in Toronto that focuses on high school and post-secondary sports will air its first episode tonight at 7 p.m.
Called Trending T.O. Sports, the RogersTV show is produced by Melissa Kurtin, who decided to start a show that would focus on highlights exclusively from schools.
The show’s coverage includes Ryerson University, York University, University of Toronto, Humber College, Seneca College, George Brown College and Centennial College sports.
“All of the seven schools in Toronto were beyond excited to be on board and so far it’s been a great partnership,” Kurtin said.
Rogers Sportsnet will air Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey, basketball and football championships as they have in past years. Individual post-secondary sports games will still be available on cable television in the Toronto area and online, but Trending T.O. Sports, on channel 10 in Toronto, North York and Etobicoke and 63 in Scarborough, will be the source for post-secondary sports coverage.
Trending T.O. Sports will also feature background stories and prospect profiles on athletes from both public and Catholic high schools.
“With so many young athletes coming out of Toronto in sports other than hockey these days, like Andrew Wiggins and Milos Raonic, we feel like there should be more coverage of our athletes at the amateur level as they develop into world-class stars,” Peter Houston, Trending Sports T.O. host said.
Marc van Herk, Houston’s co-host said, “If you look at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) in the U.S., they obviously have extensive coverage of their athletes, we think that there’s just as many great storylines in our collegiate and university ranks that deserve attention as well.”
The hosts, both Toronto College of Sports Media graduates, will cover last week’s Red and Blue Bowl match in tonight’s show. They will also talk about Seneca and Humber’s soccer action, and include a profile on the Ryerson’s men’s soccer team.
Laura graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2015.