Saturday, March 16, 2019 marked an end to one era for Raycom Sports, but the start of a new one. For 37 years, Raycom Sports syndicated live ACC basketball games across local network affiliates. The same model was used for our ACC Football package for 35 years and at one time was used across many other college conferences.
Raycom Sports was started in July 1979 by Rick and Dee Ray in Charlotte. Rick Ray was a program manager at WCCB in Charlotte when he proposed that the tv station produce more basketball games. Ray thought that they would be very profitable, given North Carolina’s reputation as a college basketball hotbed.
In 1982, Raycom made what would prove to be its biggest splash when it teamed up with Jefferson-Pilot Communications to take over the broadcast rights to ACC basketball games. Many will remember the “Sail with the Pilot” jingle that become a household tune along with the Raycom Sports and Jefferson Pilot names.
Raycom Sports hired some of the best talent in the industry through the years. Many announcers began their basketball broadcasting careers with Raycom. This group includes Cory Alexander, Debbie Antonelli, Jay Bilas, Dan Bonner, Tim Brando, Tim Brant, Marty Brennamen, Paul Cameron, Terry Cannon, Jason Capel, Bobby Cremins, Lefty Driesell, Wes Durham, Mike Gminski, Mike Hogewood, Steve Martin, Gil McGregor, Jeff Mullins, Brad Nessler, Dave Odom, Brian Oliver, Billy Packer, Mike Patrick, Bob Rathbun, Bucky Waters, Tom Werme, and Fred White.
While over-the-air syndication of ACC football and basketball has concluded, the relationship with ACC is not ending. Raycom Sports will continue to manage ACC digital platforms, social media channels, gaming and mobile apps and the ACC Digital Network. In addition, Raycom Sports will serve as a production vendor for ESPN and the new ACC Network.
“Sail with the Pilot at the wheel/On a ship sturdy from its mast to its keel”
Charlotte, N.C.-based Raycom Sports is a leader for compelling storytelling, production, and content distribution across all platforms. With an award-winning production team, Raycom creates original feature programming and manages the Atlantic Coast Conference’s archival footage, mobile applications, social media, and the official ACC website. Raycom Sports is also part of Raycom-Legacy Content Company, a venture that recently launched Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live in partnership with Mattel’s Hot Wheels. Raycom Sports’ parent company Gray Television owns and/or provides services for 145 television stations and 2 radio stations located in over 90 markets, covering 24% of U.S. television households.
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