WLEX replaces WKYT as UK Athletics' TV partner

Big news in the UK sports media world: WLEX is replacing WKYT as the official TV partner of UK Athletics and the UK Sports Network. UK made the switch official this morning, announcing the partnership in a press release.

“We are pleased to have a television partner in WLEX that shares our commitment to student-athletes and sharing their stories with the Big Blue Nation,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “We are grateful for the amount of coverage this partnership will deliver and for the ways that the UK Sports Network continues to innovate in its media offerings.”

As part of the move, two new TV shows are coming to WLEX: BBN Tonight, a nightly show giving viewers an inside look at UK Athletics (Monday through Friday, 7:30-8 p.m.) and BBN Gameday, which will air Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. and preview the biggest games of the weekend. BBN Tonight will replace Hey Kentucky!, previously hosted by Matt Jones.

“We are extremely pleased and excited to be working together with the University of Kentucky as their official television partner in the Lexington market,” WLEX Vice President & General Manager Andrew Shenkan said. “This has been a long time coming for LEX 18, so our team is anxious to get started on delivering in-depth, engaging and authentic coverage of UK athletics on a Monday through Saturday basis. Our ultimate goal will be to provide Big Blue Nation the highest quality of sports programming here in Kentucky for many years to come.”

BBN Gameday premieres this Saturday, August 29 at 9 a.m., and will feature conversations with John Calipari and Mark Stoops. In addition to WLEX, it will air across local UK Sports Network affiliates and Fox Sports South and digitally on UKathletics.com, YouTube and the Kentucky Wildcats Facebook page.

WLEX has been named the official television partner of UK Athletics and @UKSportsNetwork! Welcome to the family, @LEX18News! 😼 #WeAreUK #BBN

📰: https://t.co/SEGRsMSJqb pic.twitter.com/9k15oI5L45

— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) August 27, 2020

On a side note, this move is a big one for former KSR editor TJ Beisner, now director of content development and digital media for JMI Sports and right hand man to John Calipari. He will serve as executive producer of BBN Tonight, BBN Gameday, and all UK Sports Network special presentations. Congrats, Beis!