WXYZ-TV Announces New Sports Director

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- WXYZ-TV is pleased to name sports reporter and anchor Tom Leyden as the Sports Director for Channel 7.  Leyden follows in the footsteps of Don Shane who retired from the station earlier this year.

Leyden was hired at WXYZ in 2004. He counts among his favorite Detroit sports moments the Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup win in 2008, the World Series in 2006, and the 2009 Final Four at Ford Field, which he calls "one of the most powerful sporting events I've ever witnessed."

Leyden's sports reporting and producing has garnered him 19 Emmy nominations and 7 Emmy Awards from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.   In 2009 and 2011, he was named Best Sports Anchor in Michigan.  He received accolades as Michigan's Best Sports Reporter in 2006, 2009, and 2010.  The Associated Press honored Leyden in 2010 and 2011 with its Best Sportscaster Award.

"Tom is a talented sports journalist who covers the local sports scene in a compelling way each and every day," said WXYZ News Director, Tim Dye.   "Detroit is one of the greatest sports towns in the country and Tom is the perfect choice to lead our coverage of those major events."

Leyden says he enjoys the challenges of covering sports in a town with four professional teams and college teams from seven NCAA Division 1 schools.

"The fans here in Detroit are passionate, loyal, and knowledgeable," said Leyden. "They look to sports for that sense of unity...in many ways, it's what brings the community together." 

Before coming to WXYZ, Leyden worked as a sports anchor at WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  He also spent four years working in sports marketing at the National Football League and the National Hockey League.

Leyden plans to continue expanding the delivery of sports content on multiple platforms, including web and mobile.

"We need to continue to stay current and relevant.  That means finding new ways to deliver sports information to our viewers when and where they want it.  We want to be part of their lives."  http://media2.wxyz.com/html/images/TomLeyden-WXYZ.jpg

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SOURCE WXYZ-TV