Vol Network

The Vol Network, or the Vol IMG Network, is the radio and television network of the University of Tennessee Volunteers women’s and men’s sports teams, sometimes simply referred to as the “Vols” and “Lady Vols.” Since 1989, it is operated by the IMG College networks.^[1]

It consists of two regional sports networks, about 67 radio stations (both AM and FM), as well as eight television stations across Tennessee, some of which also serves 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] IMG College has multimedia rights to UT sports through at least 2017.^[5]

On-air personalities

• Bob Kesling, Director of programming and Play-by-play announcer (1999-present) ^[6] 1977 Univ. Of Tennessee Graduate; Originally with WBIR-TV and Jefferson-Pilot Sports for the SEC Syndicated TV package.
• Mickey Dearstone - Play-by-play commentator (Women’s Basketball, 1998/99-present) ^[7]
• Tim Priest, Color analyst (football)
• Bert Bertelkamp, Color Analyst (basketball)
• John Wilkerson, Studio game day host
• Brent Hubbs, spotter and reporter
• Pat Ryan, analyst (football)

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!” ^[6]
• Bill Anderson, former football color analyst and broadcasting partner of Ward

Programming

Current television programming

• The Butch Jones Show (2013-present) - Football coach’s show
• The Rick Barnes Show (2015-present) - men’s basketball coach’s show
• The Holly Warlick Show (2012-present) - women’s basketball coach’s show

Recent former television programming

• The Pat Summitt Show (1974-2012) - women’s basketball coach’s show
• The Bruce Pearl Show (2005-2011) - men’s basketball coach’s show; revived onto the Auburn IMG Sports TV Network in 2015
• The Cuonzo Martin Show (2011-2014) - men’s basketball coach’s show
• The Donnie Tyndall Show (2014-2015) - men’s basketball coach’s show
• The Phillip Fulmer Show (1992-2008) - football coach’s show
• The Derek Dooley Show (2010-2012) - football coach’s show

Radio programming

• Big Orange Hotline - Monday evenings during football season (Knoxville, Tri-Cities, Nashville, and Chattanooga area affiliates only)
• Vol Calls - Monday Nights 8:00-9:00 PM ET (7:00-8:00 PM CT)
• The Rick Barnes Show - men’s basketball coach’s show (radio version)
• Tennessee Tip-off Show - men’s basketball pre-game show

Television affiliates

Regional Sports Networks

Former TV affiliates

Radio affiliates

Current affiliates

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 AM station WLAC. 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. ^{[10] [11]} 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

Other areas

Former affiliates

Tennessee

Other states

• Waynesville, North Carolina - WMXF-AM 1400 (football only, disaffiliated in 2010?)

Sponsors

• DISH Network
• Coca-Cola
• Food City
• Farm Bureau Insurance Tennessee

See also

• Tennessee Volunteers
• Tennessee Volunteers basketball
• Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
• Tennessee Volunteers football
• WVLZ-AM 1180 - Tennessee Sports Radio - Knoxville’s local sports radio station (not part of the Vol Network).
• UK Sports Network - Kentucky’s statewide radio and TV network for the Vols’ SEC neighbor to the north, the Kentucky Wildcats.

References

External links

• UTSports.com Official Website for University of Tennessee Athletics
• Vol Network on Facebook
• @VolNetwork_IMG on Twitter
• Tennessee Vol Network Online Store

Southeastern Conference
East Division	Florida Gators Georgia Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs Kentucky Wildcats Missouri Tigers South Carolina Gamecocks Tennessee Volunteers Vanderbilt Commodores
West Division	Alabama Crimson Tide Arkansas Razorbacks Auburn Tigers LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers Ole Miss Rebels Mississippi State Bulldogs Texas A&M Aggies
Championships and awards	National championships Conference champions
Media	SEC Network (SEC Nation - SEC Storied - SEC Rewind) SEC on CBS CBS Sports ESPN
Former media outlets	Raycom Sports Jefferson Pilot Sports Lincoln Financial Sports SEC TV (defunct) (list of affiliates) Turner Sports Lorimar Sports Network (defunct) TVS Television Network (defunct)