The Vol Network is the radio and television network of the University of TennesseeVolunteers men's and women's sports teams known as the Vols and Lady Vols. Established in 1949 and since 2019, it has been operated by Learfield IMG College.[1]
It consists of two regional sports networks, about 67 radio stations (both AM and FM), as well as eight television stations across Tennessee, also serving varied portions of neighboring states, depending on the station and market.
Some of the Tennessee Vols’ pre-season exhibition and early season basketball games are also streamed via UTSports.com
History
The first Tennessee Volunteers football game radio broadcast was produced by the Vol Radio Network in 1949.
[2] The name of the radio network was given by the legendary Robert R. Neyland, with Lindsey Nelson serving as the first-ever play-by-play announcer.
Men's basketball games were added to the Vol Network's portfolio in the early 1950s. The Vol Network began broadcasting Tennessee Lady Vols basketball games in the 1977-1978 season.[3] When the Vol Network airs the women's basketball broadcasts, it is identified as the Lady Vol Network. It is claimed to be the largest women's college basketball radio network in the country.
Host Communications managed media rights to University of Tennessee athletics, and operated the Vol Network from 1989 until November 2007, when Host Communications merged with IMG College, a division of IMG.[4]
On-air personalities
Bob Kesling, Director of programming and Play-by-play announcer (1999–present) [5] 1977 UT graduate; originally with WBIR-TV and Jefferson-Pilot Sports for the SEC syndicated TV package.
Lindsey Nelson , first broadcaster on Vol Network, 1948–1951
Notable personalities
John Ward, the “Voice of the Vols” (1968-1999 football; 1965-1999 basketball), famous for the phrase, “It’s Football Time in Tennessee,” and his touchdown call,”Give him six!” [5]
Bill Anderson, former football color analyst and broadcasting partner of Ward
Programming
Current television programming
The Rick Barnes Show (2015–present) - men's basketball coach's show
Recent former television programming
The Pat Summitt Show (1974–2012) - women's basketball coach's show
The Holly Warlick Show (2012–2019) - women's basketball coach's show
Tennessee Volunteers games played at night used to be heard across 28 states in the eastern half of the United States and three provinces in eastern Canada thanks to a previous affiliation deal with Nashville's 50,000 watt clear-channel stationWLAC. This ended in 2010 when that station lost the Vol Network affiliation to WGFX.
All affiliates broadcast men's and women's basketball as well as UT football unless otherwise stated in the notes column.[9][10] Fans out of range of all stations can also listen to the game broadcasts via the TuneIn and UT GameDay app or via the University of Tennessee sports website.
Tennessee
City (Station location in parentheses if not city of license)
All sports broadcasts; also serves as the secondary Vol Network station for the Clarksville, TN/Hopkinsville, KY area, and also serves parts of south-central Kentucky, including Bowling Green
Affiliation moved to WGFX/Gallatin in 2010. This staton's night-time signal granted access to nighttime Tennessee Vols football and basketball games to listeners in much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and in three Canadian provinces.
