WBTV selects SPARK to take on new media direction
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 22, 2014) — WBTV, the CBS-affiliated television station serving the Charlotte market, has chosen SPARK Strategic Ideas, a full-service agency in Charlotte, to manage all of their media planning and buying. The Spark team also plans to partner with WBTV’s in-house social media team to provide support in social media implementation.
“WBTV is excited to partner with SPARK to enhance our advertising and social media efforts through creative and strategic planning,” said John Rice, WBTV Director of Marketing. “We believe our partnership with SPARK will help to maximize the awareness of our brand in the Charlotte area through their innovative marketing ideas and proven track record.”
WBTV, a Raycom Media property, serves the country’s 25th largest designated market area (DMA) in the U.S. amid a total of 201 total television markets as measured by Nielsen Media Research. Founded by Jefferson Standard Insurance Company of Greensboro in 1949, WBTV was the 13th television station in the United States, the first in the Carolinas and the oldest station between Richmond and Atlanta.
“WBTV offers the Charlotte community a first class product and we intend to reciprocate that from a media planning and execution standpoint,” said Patty Reuss, SPARK Senior Media Planner and Buyer. “We’re very excited to have won this business.”
About WBTV and Raycom Media
WBTV, LLC is a Raycom Media television station. Raycom Media, Inc. was created in 1996 with the purchase of 15 television stations, two radio stations, and a sports marketing, production, events management, and distribution company. Shortly after this first acquisition, Raycom Media quickly acquired two other companies and began an unheard of growth in the media business.
Raycom, an employee-owned company, is one of the nation’s largest broadcasters and owns and/or provides services for 53 television stations in 37 markets and 18 states. Raycom stations cover 13.1% of U.S. television households and employ nearly 4,000 individuals in full and part-time positions. In addition to television stations, Raycom owns Raycom Sports (a marketing, production and events management and distribution company), Tupelo-Honey Productions (a NY-based production company), Limerick Studios (a Charlotte, NC-based motion graphics design house), and Broadview Media (a post production/digital signage company based in Montgomery, AL). Raycom is also responsible for the design and hosting of Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail website.
Raycom owns over-the-air syndication, regional cable, and digital media rights to Atlantic Coast Conference Athletics.
With a strong belief in community, Raycom Media television stations take editorial positions on key community issues. It is the vision of the company that it be involved in the communities its broadcast properties serve. By editorializing on local issues and seeking out divergent points of view, Raycom Media television stations create an atmosphere of community dialog.
Raycom Media is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.
