 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Raycom Sports" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(October 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports broadcasting |
| Founded | June 19, 1979; 46 years ago (1979-06-19) |
| Founders | Rick and Dee Ray |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | United States (Nationwide) |
Key people | Hunter Nickell (CEO)[1] |
| Services |
|
Number of employees | 51 (2016) |
| Parent | Gray Media |
| Website | raycomsports |
| Footnotes / references [1] | |
Raycom Sports is aCharlotte, North Carolina–based producer ofsports television programs owned byGray Media.
The company was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Rick and Dee Ray. In the 1980s, Raycom Sports established a prominent joint venture withJefferson-Pilot Communications that made them partners on the mainAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) college basketball package. Raycom was acquired in 1994 by Ellis Communications. Two years later, Ellis was acquired by a group led byRetirement Systems of Alabama, which renamed the entire companyRaycom Media to build upon the awareness of Raycom Sports. The company was acquired by Gray in 2019.
Raycom Sports was well known for its tenure with the ACC, and also had former relationships with theSEC,Big Eight,Big Ten andSouthwest conferences.[1] In the 2010s, Raycom lost both its ACC and SEC rights toESPN (a network which had, in its early years, aired Raycom-distributed ACC basketball games for national broadcasts), which transferred the rights to in-house cable networks. Raycom Sports continued to produce apackage of syndicated ACC telecasts aired by theBally Sports channels and otherregional sports networks until Bally Sports ended the contract, whenThe CW bought the rights. Through Raycom Sports or its related operation Tupelo Raycom, Gray producesNFL preseason games for several teams, including theAtlanta Falcons,Carolina Panthers andNew Orleans Saints.
Raycom Sports was started in July 1979 by Rick and Dee Ray in Charlotte.[1][2] Rick Ray was a program manager atWCCB in Charlotte[3] when he proposed that WCCB, which had become anindependent station a year earlier after losing itsABC affiliation, produce more basketball games. Ray thought that the games would be very profitable for WCCB given North Carolina's reputation as a college basketball hotbed.
The company's first event was theGreat Alaska Shootout.[2] Ken Haines was one of the first hires for Raycom Sports.[3] In its first year, the company acquired rights to basketball games from theAtlantic Coast Conference, some of which were syndicated to the newly launched cable sports channelESPN.[4] In 1988, Raycom addedBig Ten Conference games to its portfolio after acquiring Rasmussen Communications. The company also extended its contract through 1995 to gain rights to all non-network conference games.[2] The following year, Raycom established a radio division, acquiring the rights to the University of Illinois and Purdue University radio networks.[2]
In 1980, Raycom made its biggest splash when it teamed with Jefferson-Pilot Communications for production of ACC basketball games. The package had begun in 1957 when Greensboro businessman C. D. Chesley pipedNorth Carolina's run to the 1957 national title to a hastily created network of five stations across North Carolina. It proved popular enough that it expanded to a full-time package of basketball games the following season.[5] The January 14, 1973 game betweenNC State andMaryland was the firstSuper Bowl Sunday college basketball national telecast. Chelsey would again syndicate an ACC game (Maryland at NC State) nationally onSuper Bowl Sunday the following year. TheACC title game was often syndicated outside of the ACC region (such as in New York) in these years.
The commentators that Chesley employed included Jim Thacker,Ray Scott,Billy Packer andDick Enberg (on theUCLA at Maryland game on December 28, 1974 and theNotre Dame at Maryland game on January 4, 1975, both which were co-productions withTVS). In 1978, Chesley (who controlled the ACC rights) wantedNBC to televise some ACC conference games as part of its national package as it had done the previous few years. However, NBC wanted to feature intersectional games. Chesley sold the rights to theACC tournament final toABC.
Chesley retained the rights to ACC games until 1981, when the conference bought the remainder of the contract and sold the rights toMetrosports ofRockville, Maryland. Some ACC games were telecast by Raycom alone in 1980 through several television stations inNorth Carolina, including WCCB.[6]
For the 1981–82 season, the two companies formed a joint venture, Raycom/JP Sports, that won the package after the ACC declined Metrosports' bid to renew its contract. Raycom also assistedESPN2 by selling a 1995 Duke–North Carolina basketball game that increased the channel's credibility with cable operators. In the 1983 season, Raycom experimented with a cable-oriented ACC service known as ACC Ticket.[3] Raycom had built a large array of broadcasting rights until the 1990s, with rights for ACC, SEC, Pac-10, Metro, Big Eight, Big 12 and Southwest conferences. Raycom sublicensed ACC games to national broadcasters (includingCBS andESPN),regional sports networks and local stations. However, with the rise of cable and regional sports networks, Raycom began to lose many of its college rights to competitors.[4]
In 1987, Raycom Sports created an entertainment division, Raycom Entertainment, with an hour-long special titledElvis' Graceland, hosted byPriscilla Presley, that originally aired onShowtime. The new Raycom Entertainment division was led by Peter G. Lenz, who had previously runThe Television Program Source.[7]
Unlike other sports syndicators, Raycom controlled nearly all advertising for its broadcasts, but it paid stations for airtime. While this was a risky strategy at first, Raycom reaped a huge windfall because ACC games frequently garnered high ratings. The ACC's regional territory included several fast-growing markets such asCharlotte, thePiedmont Triad,the Triangle,Hampton Roads,Richmond,Baltimore andWashington, D.C.
In 1994, Raycom Sports was sold to Ellis Communications but remained autonomous, with its own headquarters in Charlotte.[8] Dee Ray left in 1994 while Rick Ray left in 1995.[8] When an investment group led byRetirement Systems of Alabama bought Ellis in 1996,[8] the new owners elected to preserve the Raycom brand, renaming the entire broadcast groupRaycom Media.[1]
In 1994, Raycom first organized a preseason college basketball event known as the Great Eight, televised by ESPN, which aimed to feature two nights of doubleheaders between regional finalists from the previous season's NCAA tournament (with the highest-ranked team eliminated before the regional finals serving as a backup if a team declined an invitation).[8] The inaugural edition featured Boston College, Duke, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Purdue, Villanova and UConn (which replaced Arkansas as a backup).[9] In 1996, the event moved toUnited Center under a five-year contract.[10][11][12]
By August 1997, Raycom lost the Pac-10 and Big 12 college-football advertising sales rights toFox Sports Networks. Several executives also left the company, including Steedman.[8]
In 2002, Raycom founded the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte. It continues to operate the game, which later changed its name to the Meineke Car Care Bowl until 2011, when it became theBelk Bowl.[13]
Starting in 2004, the Raycom/JP partnership took control of production of syndicated ACC football games; Jefferson-Pilot had produced ACC football alone since September 1984. In 2007, Raycom began broadcasting the ACC men's basketball tournament in high definition and broadcast four ACC men's regular-season games in HD in 2008. In 2006, in accordance withLincoln National Corporation's acquisition of Jefferson-Pilot, Jefferson-Pilot Communications was renamedLincoln Financial Media, and the venture was renamed Raycom/LF Sports.
On November 12, 2007, Raycom Media announced its intention to acquire some of the television broadcasting properties of Lincoln Financial Media—including three television stations, plus Lincoln Financial Sports—for $583 million.[14] Lincoln Financial Sports was merged into Raycom Sports later that year, giving it full control over basketball and football rights for both the ACC and SEC.[15]
In 2008, Raycom lost its SEC rights toESPN, who reached a 15-year deal to become its main media rightsholder alongsideCBS. ESPN continued to provide a syndicated package of games in a manner similar to that of Raycom, produced via itsown syndication division under the on-air branding ofSEC Network until the launch of anSEC cable network under the same name in 2014.[16][17][18][19]
In 2010, ESPN also acquired rights to ACC football and basketball, replacing Raycom. In a discussion between ACC commissionerJohn Swofford and ESPN presidentJohn Skipper, Swofford acknowledged Raycom's longstanding relationship with the conference and requested that it continue to be involved in some way. ESPN ultimately negotiated a sublicensing agreement with Raycom that would allow it to continue producing a syndicated package of ACC football and basketball broadcasts (which, as a condition of the deal, were rebranded under the new on-air title ofACC Network in 2010). Additionally, Raycom became responsible for the ACC's digital media operations and sponsorship sales.[4]
In addition to the syndication component of the 2010 agreement, Raycom brokered a deal for another package of ACC football and basketball content that was dubbed the ACC Regional Sports Networks (RSN).[20] ACC RSN broadcasts were produced by Raycom Sports production staff asFox College Football broadcasts from the studios of flagshipFox Sports South and distributed across the cable sports networks of Fox and others, mainly throughout the eastern United States.[21]Wes Durham served as the lead play-by-play voice of both football and basketball RSN packages from 2013 to 2019.[22]
In 2012, Raycom Media acquired Tupelo-Honey, a producer of sports and entertainment programming. Three years later, it also acquired WebStream Sports, an Indianapolis-based producer of sports programming. In late 2016, the companies were merged to form the subsidiary Tupelo Raycom.[23][24][25]
Haines retired as president at the end of 2015.[3] Hunter Nickell, a former Speed Channel executive, replaced Haines as CEO in May 2016.[1]
In January 2018, Raycom Sports announced a partnership withBlizzard Entertainment to produce a weekly television program chroniclingHeroes of the Dorm—the official collegiate tournament of its video gameHeroes of the Storm.[26]
On July 21, 2016, ESPN announced a 20-year extension of its contract with the ACC and the launch of anACC Network cable channel in 2019. ESPN also acquired the secondary ACC rights previously held by Raycom.[27][28][29] However, Raycom Sports was to continue to serve as the ACC's RSN and digital partner, and would be subcontracted by ESPN to produce event coverage for the new ACC Network.[30] During the 2018–19 academic year, the ACC Network branding was reverted to Raycom Sports to avoid confusion with the ESPN-run ACC Network.[31] Raycom's final syndicated ACC telecast was the2019 ACC men's basketball tournament final.[32]
On June 25, 2018, Albany, Georgia-based media groupGray Television announced its purchase of Raycom Media (Raycom Sports' parent) for $3.65 billion. The FCC approved the sale on December 20, 2018, and it was completed on January 2, 2019, making Raycom Sports a wholly owned subsidiary of Gray.[33][34][35]
In July 2021, Raycom launched the streaming-only Origin Sports Network, which rebroadcasts games featuring famous athletes. The network also airs some original programming.[36]
On July 13, 2023,CW Sports signed a deal with Raycom lasting until 2027 to broadcast 13 college football games and 37 basketball games each season. The rights to these games were previously held byBally Sports. Raycom Sports would produce all games for the network. The first game of the CW era aired on September 9, 2023, asPitt playedCincinnati in a non-conference football game. Some of these CW stations were former Raycom/ACC Network affiliates that aired ACC coverage for the first time since 2019. The CW had started its first sports deal withLIV Golf in early 2023.[37]
In collaboration with Dome Productions, Raycom Sports is handling production of home games for U.S.-based teams in theProfessional Women's Hockey League.[38]
Raycom Sports' production department won 34 Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards between 2009 and 2020. The company earned a total of 73 nominations in that span. Winning streaks include six straight wins in "Sports Segment" (2014–19), seven wins in "Sports/Live Event" in an eight-year span and five wins in "Sports Program" in a six-year span.[39]
Sports Program/Series – "Football Saturdays in the South" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Jeremy Williams, Lance Stewart, & Beverly Rumley)
Sports Segment – "Skipper" (Alex Farmartino)
Editor/Short Form – "ACC football open featuringChris Daughtry" (Dave Barringer)
Photography/Short Form – "ACC football open featuringChris Daughtry" (Dave Barringer & Jeremy Williams)
Sports Program/Series – "Football Saturdays in the South" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Jeremy Williams, Lance Stewart & Beverly Rumley)
Sports Segment – "Cameron Crazies" (Jeremy Williams)
Editor/Short Form – "SEC football open featuringRascal Flatts" (Dave Barringer. Jeremy Williams, Chris Stevens)
Director/Short Form – "SEC football open featuringRascal Flatts" (Dave Barringer)
Magazine Special – "ACC Road Trip" (Tommy Kane, Alex Farmartino, Jeremy Williams, Dave Barringer)
Sports Program/Series – "Football Saturdays in the South" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Jeremy Williams)
Sports Segment – "Big Dawg" (Alex Farmartino)
Magazine Special – "ACC Road Trip" (Tommy Kane, Alex Farmartino, Jeremy Williams)
Sports Program/Series – "Football Saturdays in the South" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Jeremy Williams & Chris Duzan)
Sports Live Event Game – "ACC Basketball: Duke vs North Carolina" (Rob Reichley, Billy McCoy)
Sports Program/Series – "Football Saturdays in the South" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Jeremy Williams, Chris Duzan, Maxwell Brooke & Richard Brooke)
Sports Live Event Game – "ACC Football: NC State vs North Carolina" (Rob Reichley, Roy Alfers)
Sports Segment – "Rodney Rogers: The Durham Bull" (Jeremy Williams, Rob Reichley, Maxwell Brooke)
Sports Live Event Game – "ACC Basketball: NC State vs North Carolina" (Dave Barringer, Billy McCoy)
Documentary/Topical – "Head Impact Research in the ACC" (Alex Farmartino)
Sports Segment – "Toomer's Corner: The Final Roll" (Richard Brooke)
Sports Promo Spot – "Duke/North Carolina: Making of a Masterpiece" (Jeremy Williams, Boris Rogers, Josh Hairston, Richard Brooke)
Documentary/Historical – "Charles Scott" (Jeremy Williams, Rob Reichley, David Daly, Maxwell Brooke, Richard Brooke)
Sports Segment – "Brian Stann" (Dave Barringer)
Sports Promo Spot – "Numbers of a Rivalry: Duke/North Carolina 2015 Tease" (Richard Brooke & Maxwell Brooke)
Sports Live Event Game – "2016 ACC Tournament Championship" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Billy McCoy, Jeremy Williams, Chris Duzan, Jonathan Robbins, Josh Vinson)
Documentary/Historical – "The Red Bandanna" (Alex Farmartino, Chris Duzan, Maxwell Brooke)
Sports Segment – "Ever Faithful: The Resurrection of UAB Football" (Richard Brooke, Maxwell Brooke, Timothy Alexander, Jordan Smith, Kortney Cowart, Michael Shikany)
Sports Live Event Game – "2017 ACC Tournament Championship" (Rob Reichley, Lonnie Dale, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Jeremy Williams, Jonathan Robbins, Josh Vinson)
Sports Segment – "James Conner – Conner Strong" (Alex Farmartino)
Sports Live Event Game – "2018 ACC Tournament Championship" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Dave Barringer, Jonathan Robbins. Josh Vinson, Jordan Smith)
Documentary/Topical – "Ramah" (Alex Farmartino, Maxwell Brooke, Josh Vinson, Jonathan Robbins)
Sports Segment – "Rory Coleman" (Josh Vinson)
Sports Live Event Game – "2019 ACC Tournament" (Rob Reichley, Alex Farmartino, Lonnie Dale, Billy McCoy, Maxwell Brooke, Jordan Smith, Stone Hill)
Sports Promo Spot – "Battle of the Blues" (Jordan Smith, Richard Brooke & Maxwell Brooke)
Raycom was to have producedTeam Racing Auto Circuit auto racing forESPN in 2003; however, the league folded before ever staging any events.
In addition to college sports, Raycom has also producedpreseason games for variousNational Football League teams. Through either Raycom Sports or Tupelo Raycom, it has produced games for theCarolina Panthers,New York Giants (since 2010),New Orleans Saints (since 2015: team flagshipWVUE was owned by a group led by Saints ownerTom Benson and operated by Raycom, and was subsequently acquired by Raycom outright) and theAtlanta Falcons (since 2017).[44][45]
| Preceded by | Syndication Rightsholder toSoutheastern Conference football and men's basketball 2008–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Syndication Rightsholder toAtlantic Coast Conference men's basketball 1982–present (co-produced withJefferson Pilot Sports/Lincoln Financial Sports 1982–2007) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Syndication Rightsholder toAtlantic Coast Conference football 2005–present (produced in association with Lincoln Financial Sports 2006–2007) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Syndication rights holder toMetro Conferencebasketball 1985–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Rassmussen Communications Management (RCM Sports) | Syndication Rightsholder toBig Ten Conference men's basketball 1989–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Current members |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Championships & awards | ||
| Tournaments | ||
| Broadcast partners | ||
| Former competitions | ||
| ||
| Full members |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Championships and awards | ||
| Media | ||
| Former media outlets | ||
| Related articles | ||