Bray Cary

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.[1] In 2008 he was named the independent director of EQT Corporation, an energy corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange.[1]

Biography

Cary spent his early life in three West Virginia towns - Huntington, Madison, and Hinton.[2] 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).[2]

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.[3]

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 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.[1][2] In 2008 he was named the independent director of EQT Corporation, a Pittsburgh-based energy company.[1] 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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "A. Bray Cary". Forbes. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Alumni. A. Bray Cary (‘70 BS, ‘71 MS)". West Virginia University. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  3. ↑ McLeroy, Rea (1999-03-09). "No Downside To New Deal Tv Pact Should Benefit Sponsors, Owners And Fans". Richmond Times.

External links