Bray Cary
Encyclopedia
Bray Cary is a US-based sports media entrepreneur, currently serving as media president and chief executive officer of West Virginia Media, a multi-media company that serves 90 percent of West Virginia
. He is credited with a role in promoting the growth of NASCAR
. In 2008 he was named the independent director of EQT Corporation, an energy corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange
.
towns - Huntington
, Madison
, and Hinton
. 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).
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.
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.
In 1998, he joined NASCAR
as vice president of broadcasting and technology and helped consolidate all television rights to NASCAR races.
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 ABC
affiliate EBOY-TV Clarksburg; CBS
affiliate WOWK-TV
in Charleston/Huntington; CBS
affiliate WTRF-TV
, Fox
affiliate Fox Ohio Valley
ETRF-TV, and an 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.
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.
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
. In 2008 he was named the independent director of EQT Corporation, a Pittsburgh-based energy company. He lives in Charleston, West Virginia
.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He is credited with a role in promoting the growth of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
. In 2008 he was named the independent director of EQT Corporation, an energy corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
.
Biography
Cary spent his early life in three West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
towns - Huntington
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
, Madison
Madison, West Virginia
Madison is a city in Boone County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,076 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Boone County.-History:...
, and Hinton
Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton is a city in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,880 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summers County. Hinton was established in 1873 and chartered in 1897. Hinton was named for John "Jack" Hinton, a prominent lawyer of Summers County and husband of...
. After graduating from Hinton High School in 1966, he went on to receive degrees from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
- a bachelor's in journalism (1970) and a master's in public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
(1971).
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
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
, an experience in collegiate athletics management that led him to found Creative Sports in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Creative Sports specialized in syndicating televised college football and basketball games. The company became the largest business of its kind in the nation.
Cary sold his company in 1994 to ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, and it operates today as ESPN Regional. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Cary was a consultant for ESPN.
In 1998, he joined NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
as vice president of broadcasting and technology and helped consolidate all television rights to NASCAR races.
Returning to West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
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
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate WBOY-TV
WBOY-TV
WBOY-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for North-Central West Virginia that is licensed to Clarksburg. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter east of downtown and U.S. 50. Owned by West Virginia Media Holdings, the station has studios on West...
and an ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate EBOY-TV Clarksburg; CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate WOWK-TV
WOWK-TV
WOWK-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Tri-States and Kanawha Valley area of West Virginia that is licensed to Huntington which is the second largest market east of the Mississippi River. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter...
in Charleston/Huntington; CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate WTRF-TV
WTRF-TV
WTRF-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and the Allegheny Plateau of Eastern Ohio that is licensed to Wheeling, West Virginia. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter in Bridgeport, Ohio. Owned by West...
, Fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
affiliate Fox Ohio Valley
FOX Ohio Valley
WTRF-DT2 is the primary Fox and secondary MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and the Allegheny Plateau of Eastern Ohio. It is a second digital subchannel of CBS affiliate WTRF-TV which is owned by West Virginia Media Holdings. Over-the-air, the...
ETRF-TV, and an ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate GTRF-TV; and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate WVNS-TV
WVNS-TV
WVNS-TV is the CBS affiliate for Southern West Virginia that is licensed to Lewisburg. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter on Keeney's Knob between Alderson and I-64. Owned by West Virginia Media Holdings, the station has studios on Old Cline Road in...
and Fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
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.
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.
Cary's continued involvement with West Virginia includes support for its economic development, frequent lectures at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
, 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
Alderson-Broaddus College
Alderson–Broaddus College — informally known as "A–B" — is a private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the West Virginia Baptist Convention located in Philippi, West Virginia, USA...
in Philippi, West Virginia
Philippi, West Virginia
Philippi is a city in — and the county seat of — Barbour County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 2,870 at the 2000 census. In 1861, the city was the site of the Battle of Philippi, known as "The Philippi Races"...
. In 2008 he was named the independent director of EQT Corporation, a Pittsburgh-based energy company. He lives in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
.