The UK Sports Network, historically known as the Big Blue Sports Network (BBSN) and also formerly known as the UK IMG Sports Network, is the radio and television network of the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's and women's sports teams. It consists of five over-the-air television affiliates and 44 radio stations in Kentucky and neighboring states. Scroll to the "TV Affiliates" section for television affiliates or "UK Sports Network Radio Affiliates" section for radio affiliates.
History The radio network was established in September 1968 for the purpose of broadcasting football and basketball games to select radio stations across the state of Kentucky. Prior to this, individual stations in central Kentucky each held their own coverage of the games. The original group rightsholder was Host Communications. Later on, the broadcast syndicator of the UK Sports Network was Sports Productions, a joint venture of Host Communications, CBS television affiliate WKYT-TV of Lexington, and radio stations WVLK of Lexington and WHAS of Louisville. Cawood Ledford and Ralph Hacker were the first play-by-play commentators for the network.
In 2007, HOST Communications, a college sports marketing company based in the university's home city of Lexington, that had operated the Big Blue Sports Network, was purchased by the entertainment management company IMG. However, the name of the network did not change until the 2010–11 academic year.
Sale of media rights to JMI Sports On June 23, 2014, University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart announced that JMI Sports, owned by former San Diego Padres owner John Moores, had been awarded the multimedia rights to all University of Kentucky sports teams. UK's contract with JMI Sports was to initially begin upon the expiration of the university's contract with IMG College in April 2015. The university's contract with JMI include: Radio rights to UK's football, men's and women's basketball and baseball games (Television rights are covered by Southeastern Conference broadcasting arrangements, including the SEC Network); Stadium and arena corporate signage and game programs for all home UK events. (Prior to 2018, Rupp Arena corporate signage was managed by Learfield Sports (Rupp Arena Sports and Entertainment Properties) under a contract with the Lexington Center Corporation (LCC), who manages the arena for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. In 2018, control of all multimedia rights for the Lexington Center (including Rupp Arena), including naming rights, were turned over to the university, who subsequently awarded those rights to JMI.; Naming rights to university athletics facilities and premium areas; Sponsorship on UKathletics.com; Game sponsorships and game promotions; Coaches' endorsements; Pre and postgame television shows and specials and postseason highlight DVDs; Video features on video boards; Opportunities to develop UK Athletics Corporate Partnership Program; and The potential, at the university's discretion, to market campus multimedia rights, creating the potential for an integrated approach to multimedia rights and marketing.
On October 27, 2014, JMI Sports announced that they had bought out the final year of IMG's contract with the University of Kentucky. As part of that agreement with IMG, JMI immediately took over management of the entire University of Kentucky's Sports Marketing program, including the UK Sports Network.
On January 27, 2020, it was announced that Lexington Center's overall naming rights were sold to Central Bank, a local community bank, by the Lexington Center Corporation and JMI Sports. The Rupp name will continue to receive primacy in the fourteen-year agreement for the arena portion of the complex, and be known as "Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center".
On-air personalities
Current Tom Leach – play-by-play commentator (football 1997–present, men's basketball, 2001–present) Jack "Goose" Givens – game analyst (men's basketball, 2022–present)2015–16 Kentucky Basketball Media Guide, page 5 Jeff Piecoro – game analyst (football)
Former Source: Claude Sullivan, play-by-play commentator (men's basketball and football 1948–1967) Cawood Ledford, play-by-play commentator (1953–1992) Ralph Hacker – color analyst (1973–1993), play-by-play commentator (men's basketball 1993–2001, football 1993–1997) JB Faulconer, play by play commentator (1944–1953) men's basketball (Rupp), men's football (Bryant) Neil Price – play-by-play commentator (women's basketball, 2005–2017) Mike Pratt – color analyst (men's basketball and football 2001–2022)
Over-the air television affiliates
Current City of license (Market) Station Channel Primary affiliation Notes Bowling Green WBKOWBKO-DT2 13.113.2 ABCFox Cincinnati WCPO-TV 9.1 ABC Johnson City/Bristol, TN-VA WJHL 11.1 CBS Lexington WLEX-TV 18.1 NBC Flagship station of the network's television division Louisville WHAS 11.1 ABC Nashville WTVF 5.1 CBS Paducah WPSD 6.1 NBC
Former City of license/Market Station Channel Primary affiliation Notes Cape Girardeau, MO KBSI-DT2 22.2 MyNetworkTV Simulcast of WDKA/Paducah Evansville, IN WTVW 7.1 The CW Hazard WYMT-TV 57.1 CBS Semi-satellite of WKYT/Lexington Hopkinsville WKAG-CA 43 America One This station went defunct in 2011. Huntington, WVA (Charleston) WSAZ 3.1 NBCLexingtonWKYT-TV27.1CBSActed as the network's television flagship until 2020. Louisville WDRB 41.1 Fox Replaced by WBKI in 2016. Salem, Indiana (Louisville) WBKI 58.1 The CW Formerly WMYO; replaced the original WBKI in 2017.
Radio All listed radio stations are sorted by city of license. Areas served by these stations will vary. Most affiliates air coverage of football and men's basketball, unless otherwise specified.2014–15 Kentucky Men's Basketball Media Guide, page 8.2015–16 Kentucky Men's Basketball Media Guide, page 6.2015 Kentucky Football Media Guide, page 199. CallsignFrequency Band CityStateNetwork statusWLAP 630 AMLexingtonKentuckyFlagshipWBUL-FM 98.1 FMLexingtonKentuckyFlagshipWCMI 1340 AMAshlandKentuckyAffiliateWCBL 1290 AMBentonKentuckyAffiliateWLFX 106.7 FMBereaKentuckyAffiliateWMMG 1140 AMBrandenburgKentuckyAffiliateWMMG-FM 93.5 FMBrandenburgKentuckyAffiliateWGGC 95.1 FMBowling GreenKentuckyAffiliateWSEK-FM 93.9 FMBurnside-SomersetKentuckyAffiliateWKDZ 1110 AMCadizKentuckyAffiliateWKDZ-FM 106.5 FMCadizKentuckyAffiliateWCKQ 104.1 FMCampbellsvilleKentuckyAffiliateWAIN 1270 AMColumbiaKentuckyAffiliateWAIN-FM 93.5 FMColumbiaKentuckyAffiliateWCTT 680 AMCorbinKentuckyAffiliateWCTT-FM 107.3 FMCorbinKentuckyAffiliateWCMI-FM92.7 FMCatlettsburg-Ashland-HuntingtonKentuckyAffiliateWFLE1060 AMFlemingsburgKentuckyAffiliateWFLE-FM95.1 FMFlemingsburgKentuckyAffiliateWFRT103.7 FMFrankfortKentuckyAffiliateWUGO99.7 FMGraysonKentuckyAffiliateWCBL-FM99.1 FMGrand Rivers-Benton-Calvert CityKentuckyAffiliateWLGC-FM105.7 FMGreenupKentuckyAffiliateWKYA105.5 FMGreenvilleKentuckyMen's basketballWXBC104.3 FMHardinsburgKentuckyAffiliateWFSR970 AMHarlanKentuckyAffiliateWTUK105.1 FMHarlanKentuckyAffiliateWXMZ99.9 FMHartford-Beaver DamKentuckyAffiliateWSGS101.1 FMHazardKentuckyAffiliateWSON860 AMHendersonKentuckyAffiliateWHOP 1230 AMHopkinsvilleKentuckyAffiliate W257EV 99.3 FMHopkinsvilleKentuckyn/a (WHOP simulcast)WHOP-FM 98.7 FMHopkinsvilleKentuckyAffiliateWJRS104.9 FMJamestown-Russell SpringsKentuckyAffiliateWIFX-FM94.3 FMJenkins-Pikeville-HazardKentuckyAffiliateWRNZ105.1 FMLancaster-DanvilleKentuckyAffiliateWKHG104.9 FMLeitchfieldKentuckyAffiliateWFTG1400 AMLondonKentuckyAffiliateWWEL103.9 FMLondonKentuckyAffiliateWHAS 840 AMLouisvilleKentuckyFootball/men's basketballWKJK 1080 AMLouisvilleKentuckyWomen's basketballWKTG93.9 FMMadisonvilleKentuckyAffiliateWKLB1200 AMManchesterKentuckyAffiliateW283AH 104.5 FMManchesterKentuckyn/a (WKLB simulcast)WLLE102.1 FMMayfieldKentuckyAffiliateWNGO1320 AMMayfieldKentuckyAffiliateW238AN 95.5 FMMayfieldKentuckyn/a (WNGO simulcast)WFTM1240 AMMaysvilleKentuckyAffiliateWFTM-FM95.9 FMMaysvilleKentuckyAffiliateWFTM101.7 FMMonticelloKentuckyAffiliateWIVY96.3 FMMoreheadKentuckyAffiliateWMSK1550 AMMorganfieldKentuckyAffiliateWBKR92.5 FMOwensboroKentuckyAffiliateWOMI1490 AMOwensboroKentuckyAffiliateWKYX570 AMPaducahKentuckyAffiliateWSIP 1490 AMPaintsvilleKentuckyAffiliateWSIP-FM 98.9 FMPaintsvilleKentuckyAffiliateWPKE 1240 AMPikevilleKentuckyAffiliateWDHR 93.1 FMPikevilleKentuckyAffiliateWDOC 1310 AMPrestonsburgKentuckyAffiliateWQHY 95.5 FMPrestonsburgKentuckyAffiliateWWKY-FM104.9 FMPrincetonKentuckyAffiliateWPKY1580 AMPrincetonKentuckyAffiliateWREF97.7 FMSebree-MadisonvilleKentuckyAffiliateWAKY-FM 103.5 FMRadcliff-Elizabethtown-Fort KnoxKentuckyFootball/men's basketballW243CU 96.5 FMSebree-HendersonKentuckyn/a (WSON simulcast)WSFC 1240 AMSomersetKentuckyAffiliateWMSK-FM 101.3 FMSturgis-MorganfieldKentuckyAffiliateWXKQ-FM 103.9 FMWhitesburgKentuckyAffiliateWTCW 920 AMWhitesburgKentuckyAffiliateWEZJ-FM 104.3 FMWilliamsburgKentuckyAffiliateWNKR 106.7 FMWilliamstown-Dry RidgeKentuckyAffiliateWCKY 1530 AMCincinnatiOhioAffiliateWKYX-FM 94.3 FMGolcondaIllinoisAffiliateWRVC 930 AMHuntingtonWest VirginiaFootballWEKX 102.7 FMJellico-WilliamsburgTennesseeAffiliateWDXC 102.3 FMPound, VirginiaVirginiaAffiliate
Notable former affiliates City of license(Area served) Station Frequency Notes Bowling Green WBGN AM 1340 Affiliate 1983–19?? WLBJ AM 1410 This station went defunct in 1991 Lexington WVLK AM 590 Flagship station, 1968–2000 Russellville WRUS AM 610 Affiliate, 1968–198? WAKQ FM 101.1 Affiliate, 1974–1984; operations relocated to Nashville in 1994.
See also Vol Network, the Tennessee statewide network of the Tennessee Volunteers, Kentucky's southern neighbor.
References