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| image = File:Bray Cary.jpg |
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| alt = Picture of Bray Cary |
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| birth_name = Albert Bray Cary |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|6|15}} |
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| birth_place = [[Clifton Forge, Virginia]] |
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| alma_mater = [[West Virginia University]] |
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'''Bray Cary''' is a US-based sports |
'''Bray Cary''', born June 15, 1948, is a US-based media and sports marketing entrepreneur and the President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of West Virginia Media Holdings, a multi-media company serving over 90% of West Virginia. In 1984, he founded Creative Sports, a sports & marketing production company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Creative Sports was acquired by ESPN in 1994.<ref>http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2000/02/21/story3.html</ref> Mr. Cary is credited as the architect of the growth of NASCAR through a $2.4B deal with FOX and NBC in 1999 and a historic Internet contract between NASCAR and Turner/AOL in 2000.<ref>http://www.be.wvu.edu/hall-fame/cary.htm</ref> Since 2008, Mr. Cary has served as a member of the board of directors of EQT Corporation, an energy corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange. |
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Mr. Cray currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia and continues to be a strong advocate for the state’s economic development. He is the host for Decision Makers, a statewide weekly public affairs television program that features West Virginia’s leading government, business and community leaders and covers topics important to the state and its citizens such as the economy, education, health and transportation.<ref>http://www.wowktv.com/category/222437/decision-makers</ref> He delivered the December 2000 commencement speech at WVU and the 2004 convocation speech at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. In 2002, Mr. Cary was inducted into the West Virginia University Business Hall of Fame, an award that “recognizes individuals with strong ties to West Virginia who have made significant impacts on the business world, demonstrated leadership and serve as a role model for students and business entrepreneurs”.<ref>http://www.be.wvu.edu/hall-fame/cary.htm</ref> He is also a past member of the West Virginia University Foundation Board and the West Virginia University Board of Advisors. |
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==Biography== |
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==Early Life== |
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Cary spent his early life in three [[West Virginia]] towns - [[Huntington, West Virginia|Huntington]], [[Madison, West Virginia|Madison]], and [[Hinton, West Virginia|Hinton]].<ref name=alumni/> After graduating from [[Hinton High School]] in 1966, he went on to receive degrees from [[West Virginia University]] - a bachelor's in journalism (1970) and a master's in [[public administration]] (1971).<ref name=alumni>{{cite web|title=Alumni. A. Bray Cary (‘70 BS, ‘71 MS)|url=http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/a_cary|publisher=[[West Virginia University]]|accessdate=2010-07-18}}</ref> |
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Mr. Cary was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia on June 15, 1948. His early life was spent in three West Virginia towns, Huntington, Madison and Hinton. Attending Hinton High school, he wrote for the Hinton Daily News, an eight page local paper that served Summers County, West Virginia.<ref>https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-14740764.html</ref> Graduating in 1966, he wrote an essay on his desire to pursue a degree in journalism; an essay he later credited with helping him earn a scholarship to West Virginia University.<ref>http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/back-community-tv/71698</ref> During college Mr. Cary worked in WVU’s office of Intercollegiate Athletics, combining his interests in journalism and sports. He graduated in 1970, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a masters degree in Public Administration in 1971.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=35223310&privcapId=2982375&previousCapId=285045505&previousTitle=EQT%20GP%20HOLDINGS%20LP</ref> |
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==Career== |
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Working in [[WVU]]'s Office of Intercollegiate Athletics as a student, he developed an interest in college sports and the media. After leaving WVU, he worked for the [[Sun Belt Conference]], an experience in collegiate athletics management that led him to found [[Creative Sports]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. Creative Sports specialized in syndicating televised college football and basketball games. The company became the largest business of its kind in the nation. |
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===Sun Belt Conference=== |
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Cary sold his company in 1994 to [[ESPN]], and it operates today as ESPN Regional. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Cary was a consultant for ESPN. |
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After graduating from WVU, Mr. Cary served as Assistant Commissioner in the Sun Belt Conference, a collegiate athletic conference associated with the NCAA’s Division 1. During the years he worked there, Mr. Cary began the Sun Belt Conference Television Network, producing their sports programming offerings in house and achieving profitability for the network within the first year.<ref>https://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/a_cary</ref><ref>http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/back-community-tv/71698</ref> |
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===Creative Sports=== |
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In 1998, he joined [[NASCAR]] as vice president of broadcasting and technology and helped consolidate all television rights to NASCAR races.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/timesdispatch/access/39632131.html?dids=39632131:39632131&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+09%2C+1999&author=Rea+McLeroy&pub=Richmond+Times+-+Dispatch&desc=NO+DOWNSIDE+TO+NEW+DEAL+TV+PACT+SHOULD+BENEFIT+SPONSORS%2C+OWNERS+AND+FANS&pqatl=google | work=Richmond Times | title=No Downside To New Deal Tv Pact Should Benefit Sponsors, Owners And Fans | first=Rea | last=McLeroy | date=1999-03-09}}</ref> |
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In 1984, Mr. Cary left the Sun Belt Conference and founded Creative Sports, a sports marketing and production company based in Charlotte, West Virginia. During his years running Creative Sports, the company promoted and handled collegiate athletic television broadcasts in the Atlantic 10 and Big West conferences.<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19891126&id=jIMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mmMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6840,6383398</ref><ref>http://articles.latimes.com/1991-06-21/sports/sp-1130_1_bill-mulligan</ref><ref>http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_5e354bc3-f55f-5606-833f-09300137e06c.html</ref> |
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In May 1994, ESPN acquired Creative Sports.<ref>http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/back-community-tv/71698</ref> The company was awarded exclusive rights to produce for syndication all men’s football and basketball games by the Big 10 athletic conference (expanding later to include women’s basketball and volleyball). ESPN’s acquisition of Creative Sports, renamed ESPN Regional, helped fuel ESPN’s expansion through the late 1990s into becoming the nation’s largest college sports syndication outlet.<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-10-07/sports/9410070078_1_espn-senior-vice-president-creative-sports-men-s-basketball</ref><ref>http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_5e354bc3-f55f-5606-833f-09300137e06c.html</ref> Mr. Cary continued to work as a consultant for ESPN from 1994-1998.<ref>http://wvmh.com/management.cfm</ref> |
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Returning to [[West Virginia]] in 2001, he assembled a group of predominately West Virginia investors that has acquired eight network television stations and a statewide business and leadership publication. [[West Virginia Media]] today owns and manages [[NBC]] affiliate [[WBOY-TV]] and an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[EBOY-TV]] Clarksburg; [[CBS]] affiliate [[WOWK-TV]] in Charleston/Huntington; CBS affiliate [[WTRF-TV]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[Fox Ohio Valley]] [[ETRF-TV]], and ABC affiliate [[GTRF-TV]]; and CBS affiliate [[WVNS-TV]] and Fox affiliate [[Fox West Virginia]] in Beckley-Bluefield. ''[[The State Journal]]'', the only statewide weekly business and leadership newspaper, also is a part of the West Virginia Media news network. |
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===NASCAR=== |
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While involved in the day-to-day management of the media company,he also serves as host for ''[[Decision Makers]]'', a statewide public affairs television program that appears on Sundays on all eight West Virginia Media television stations. The program features the state's leading government, business, and community leaders and touches on topics important to West Virginians, including the economy, education, health and transportation. |
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Mr. Cary joined NASCAR in 1998 as VP of Broadcasting and Technology where he helped to consolidate and leverage all television rights for NASCAR races. Mr. Cary is credited with being the architect of a six year, $2.4 billion television deal in 1999 with Fox and NBC that consolidated television rights, increased revenues and was viewed as helping to propel NASCAR from its southern regional roots to a more national presence.<ref>http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2000/11/20/Sports-Media/NASCAR-PART-II-BROOKS-SAY-BRAY-CARY-HAS-NEW-NASCAR-ROLE.aspx</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/12/sports/tv-sports-nascar-switches-drivers-and-rakes-in-a-fortune.html</ref> In 2000, Mr. Cary negotiated what was, at the time, the largest Internet sports contract between NASCAR and Turner/AOL.<ref>http://www.sporttoday.org/9_4dc0d1941bc78c60_1.htm</ref><ref>http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/23/business/fi-40747/2</ref><ref>http://www.be.wvu.edu/hall_fame/cary.htm</ref> |
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===West Virginia Media Holdings (WVMH)=== |
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In 2001, Bray Cary, Marty Becker, and other partners raised $100 million from a group local investors to form West Virginia Media Holdings to serve as roll-up vehicle for the acquisition of various West Virginia based media properties.<ref>http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151117/GZ03/151119558/</ref><ref> http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nexstar-buys-4-west-virginia-stations-for-130-million/158926</ref> As CEO of WVMH, Mr. Cary led the company in the acquisition of eight West Virginia television stations and a weekly business newspaper, The State Journal. |
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In November 2015, WVMH announced the sale of four of its television stations (WTRF in Wheeling, WVNS in Beckley, WBOY in Clarksburg, WOWK in Charleston & Huntington) to NexStar, a Texas based media company.<ref>http://www.statejournal.com/story/30538654/wv-media-holdings-tv-stations-purchased-by-nexstar</ref><ref> http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151117/GZ03/151119558/</ref> The deal provided NexStar coverage of the entire state of W. Virginia, allowing sharing of content and coverage, and expanding NexStar’s reach to 18.1% of US television households.<ref>http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151117/GZ03/151119558/</ref> Mr. Cary continues to serve as President and CEO of West Virginia Media Holdings. |
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==Awards== |
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* Inducted into the WVU Business Hall of Fame in 2002 |
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* Awarded the “One With Courage” by the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network |
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Cary's continued involvement with West Virginia includes support for its economic development, frequent lectures at [[West Virginia University]], including a December 2000 commencement speech, service on the WVU Foundation Board of Directors Board of Advisors, and a 2004 convocation speech at [[Alderson-Broaddus College]] in [[Philippi, West Virginia]].<ref name=forbes/><ref name=alumni/> In 2008 he was named the independent director of [[EQT Corporation]], a Pittsburgh-based energy company.<ref name=forbes>{{cite web|title=A. Bray Cary|url=http://people.forbes.com/profile/a-bray-cary/118202|publisher=[[Forbes]]|accessdate=2010-07-18}}</ref> He lives in [[Charleston, West Virginia]]. Cary is a self-admitted supporter of gun control, as stated during a January 2013 broadcast of ''[[Decision Makers]]''. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 12:43, 16 April 2016
Bray Cary | |
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Born | Albert Bray Cary June 15, 1948 |
Alma mater | West Virginia University |
Bray Cary, born June 15, 1948, is a US-based media and sports marketing entrepreneur and the President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of West Virginia Media Holdings, a multi-media company serving over 90% of West Virginia. In 1984, he founded Creative Sports, a sports & marketing production company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Creative Sports was acquired by ESPN in 1994.[1] Mr. Cary is credited as the architect of the growth of NASCAR through a $2.4B deal with FOX and NBC in 1999 and a historic Internet contract between NASCAR and Turner/AOL in 2000.[2] Since 2008, Mr. Cary has served as a member of the board of directors of EQT Corporation, an energy corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Mr. Cray currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia and continues to be a strong advocate for the state’s economic development. He is the host for Decision Makers, a statewide weekly public affairs television program that features West Virginia’s leading government, business and community leaders and covers topics important to the state and its citizens such as the economy, education, health and transportation.[3] He delivered the December 2000 commencement speech at WVU and the 2004 convocation speech at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. In 2002, Mr. Cary was inducted into the West Virginia University Business Hall of Fame, an award that “recognizes individuals with strong ties to West Virginia who have made significant impacts on the business world, demonstrated leadership and serve as a role model for students and business entrepreneurs”.[4] He is also a past member of the West Virginia University Foundation Board and the West Virginia University Board of Advisors.
Early Life
Mr. Cary was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia on June 15, 1948. His early life was spent in three West Virginia towns, Huntington, Madison and Hinton. Attending Hinton High school, he wrote for the Hinton Daily News, an eight page local paper that served Summers County, West Virginia.[5] Graduating in 1966, he wrote an essay on his desire to pursue a degree in journalism; an essay he later credited with helping him earn a scholarship to West Virginia University.[6] During college Mr. Cary worked in WVU’s office of Intercollegiate Athletics, combining his interests in journalism and sports. He graduated in 1970, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a masters degree in Public Administration in 1971.[7]
Career
Sun Belt Conference
After graduating from WVU, Mr. Cary served as Assistant Commissioner in the Sun Belt Conference, a collegiate athletic conference associated with the NCAA’s Division 1. During the years he worked there, Mr. Cary began the Sun Belt Conference Television Network, producing their sports programming offerings in house and achieving profitability for the network within the first year.[8][9]
Creative Sports
In 1984, Mr. Cary left the Sun Belt Conference and founded Creative Sports, a sports marketing and production company based in Charlotte, West Virginia. During his years running Creative Sports, the company promoted and handled collegiate athletic television broadcasts in the Atlantic 10 and Big West conferences.[10][11][12]
In May 1994, ESPN acquired Creative Sports.[13] The company was awarded exclusive rights to produce for syndication all men’s football and basketball games by the Big 10 athletic conference (expanding later to include women’s basketball and volleyball). ESPN’s acquisition of Creative Sports, renamed ESPN Regional, helped fuel ESPN’s expansion through the late 1990s into becoming the nation’s largest college sports syndication outlet.[14][15] Mr. Cary continued to work as a consultant for ESPN from 1994-1998.[16]
NASCAR
Mr. Cary joined NASCAR in 1998 as VP of Broadcasting and Technology where he helped to consolidate and leverage all television rights for NASCAR races. Mr. Cary is credited with being the architect of a six year, $2.4 billion television deal in 1999 with Fox and NBC that consolidated television rights, increased revenues and was viewed as helping to propel NASCAR from its southern regional roots to a more national presence.[17][18] In 2000, Mr. Cary negotiated what was, at the time, the largest Internet sports contract between NASCAR and Turner/AOL.[19][20][21]
West Virginia Media Holdings (WVMH)
In 2001, Bray Cary, Marty Becker, and other partners raised $100 million from a group local investors to form West Virginia Media Holdings to serve as roll-up vehicle for the acquisition of various West Virginia based media properties.[22][23] As CEO of WVMH, Mr. Cary led the company in the acquisition of eight West Virginia television stations and a weekly business newspaper, The State Journal.
In November 2015, WVMH announced the sale of four of its television stations (WTRF in Wheeling, WVNS in Beckley, WBOY in Clarksburg, WOWK in Charleston & Huntington) to NexStar, a Texas based media company.[24][25] The deal provided NexStar coverage of the entire state of W. Virginia, allowing sharing of content and coverage, and expanding NexStar’s reach to 18.1% of US television households.[26] Mr. Cary continues to serve as President and CEO of West Virginia Media Holdings.
Awards
- Inducted into the WVU Business Hall of Fame in 2002
- Awarded the “One With Courage” by the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network
References
- ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2000/02/21/story3.html
- ^ http://www.be.wvu.edu/hall-fame/cary.htm
- ^ http://www.wowktv.com/category/222437/decision-makers
- ^ http://www.be.wvu.edu/hall-fame/cary.htm
- ^ https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-14740764.html
- ^ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/back-community-tv/71698
- ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=35223310&privcapId=2982375&previousCapId=285045505&previousTitle=EQT%20GP%20HOLDINGS%20LP
- ^ https://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/a_cary
- ^ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/back-community-tv/71698
- ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19891126&id=jIMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mmMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6840,6383398
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/1991-06-21/sports/sp-1130_1_bill-mulligan
- ^ http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_5e354bc3-f55f-5606-833f-09300137e06c.html
- ^ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/back-community-tv/71698
- ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-10-07/sports/9410070078_1_espn-senior-vice-president-creative-sports-men-s-basketball
- ^ http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_5e354bc3-f55f-5606-833f-09300137e06c.html
- ^ http://wvmh.com/management.cfm
- ^ http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2000/11/20/Sports-Media/NASCAR-PART-II-BROOKS-SAY-BRAY-CARY-HAS-NEW-NASCAR-ROLE.aspx
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/12/sports/tv-sports-nascar-switches-drivers-and-rakes-in-a-fortune.html
- ^ http://www.sporttoday.org/9_4dc0d1941bc78c60_1.htm
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/23/business/fi-40747/2
- ^ http://www.be.wvu.edu/hall_fame/cary.htm
- ^ http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151117/GZ03/151119558/
- ^ http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nexstar-buys-4-west-virginia-stations-for-130-million/158926
- ^ http://www.statejournal.com/story/30538654/wv-media-holdings-tv-stations-purchased-by-nexstar
- ^ http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151117/GZ03/151119558/
- ^ http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151117/GZ03/151119558/