• Coaches Shows

     

    Over the years WRAL-TV aired and produced weekly programs for some of the ACC’s best-known football and basketball coaches, including Norm Sloan, Jim Valvano and Lou Holtz of NC State plus Mike Krzyzewski, Bill Foster, Steve Sloan and Mike McGee of Duke.

    The weekly shows were usually recorded late Saturday night or very early Sunday so they could be distributed in time for other network stations around the region to put them on the air. WRAL was responsible for producing and distributing the shows to the network.

    WRAL sports veteran Nick Pond, News Anchor Charlie Gaddy, and Hall of Fame sportscaster Tom Suiter all hosted ACC coaches shows at some point.

     

    • The Jim Valvano Show blooper

      This short video clip demonstrates that even pros like legendary WRAL sportscaster Nick Pond can get tongue tied.

      The early version of The Jim Valvano Show was taped in Studio A at WRAL-TV. The campus of NCSU is located across the street from WRAL which made it convenient for NCSU coaches and athletes. During this taping, Pond finds himself struggling to say “NAIA” while referring to the division below NCAA. He finally gives up. Valvano takes it in stride with a simple whistle. The director fades to black so they can regroup and record the segment again.

      Circa 1982.

    • Nick Pond promotion

      Promotion card for WRAL-TV sportscaster Nick Pond.

    • The Norm Sloan Show – NCSU basketball

      “The Norm Sloan Show” with WRAL-TV Sports Anchor Nick Pond and NCSU Basketball Coach Norm Sloan. December 29, 1974.

    • Nick Pond and Coach Sloan

      Sports Director Nick Pond interviewing NCSU coach Norman Sloan

  • College

     

    With the success of the ACC sports teams in the Triangle, WRAL-TV always had opportunities to provide special coverage.  Whether it was UNC, Duke or State chasing a national basketball championship or a look back at one of the area’s fabled arenas, WRAL’s college sports specials will bring back memories.

     

  • High School

     

    WRAL-TV’s sportscasters have always showcased high school athletics in a big way.  Whether it’s Tom Suiter’s trademark “Football Friday” highlight show or the weekly “Extra Effort Award,” high school athletes get plenty of attention and support on Channel 5.

  • Live Coverage

     

     

    • HighSchoolOT Partners with N.C. Coaches Association to Live Stream East-West All-Star Games

      For the first time, HighSchoolOT provided live coverage of the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Games July 15-17, 2019. The NCCA East-West All-Star Games were founded in 1949. The games feature players who graduated from high school this year. It
    • WRAL’s Holiday Traditions Continue Again This Year

      Plans include the 44th Year of Televising the Raleigh Christmas Parade For decades, WRAL has been THE station for live coverage of major holiday events across the community, and this year will be no different. On November 18th, the 2017
    • WRAL-TV to Broadcast Veterans Day Parade Nov. 5

      WRAL-TV and UNC-TV’s NC Channel to broadcast 2016 Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade Presented by the Cumberland County Veterans Council and the City of Fayetteville LIVE coverage begins 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 5 WRAL-TV and UNC-TV’s NC Channel will broadcast the
    • HSOT Live Debuts TONIGHT!

      For the first time ever, Triangle high school football fans can see LIVE coverage of local games online.  CBC’s HighSchoolOT.com debuts HSOT Live beginning at 6:55pm tonight, Friday, August 19, 2016.  Capitol Sports Vice President George Habel did such a
    • Behind-the-Scenes: Ringing in the New Year with WRAL-TV

      WRAL-TV Assignment Editor Kelly Riner gave capcom a sneak peek at the work behind WRAL-TV’s live coverage from downtown Raleigh during First Night 2015. Here’s the scoop: It all comes down to one night. The planning starts months ahead of
  • Professional

     

    As the owners of the Durham Bulls, Capitol Broadcasting Company knows what it takes to play ball with the professionals.

    CBC’s Capitol Sports Radio group is home to the play-by-play broadcasts of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Carolina Panthers, and CBC produces and broadcasts Durham Bulls home games all season long on WRAZ-TV’s dot-two digital channel.

     

  • Sportscasts

     

    The names read like a “Who’s Who” among North Carolina’s legendary sports announcers.  From Ray Reeve and Bill Currie to Nick Pond, Rich Brenner and Tom Suiter – WRAL’s broadcast history is filled with sportscasters who had a unique style that made sports come alive to their listeners and viewers.

     

    • Last UNC Men’s Basketball Game in Carmichael Auditorium

      The last UNC Men’s Basketball game in Carmichael. UNC vs NCSU. January 6, 1985.

      Carmichael was known as one of the loudest arenas in the country while the Tar Heel men played there. The architecture of the building had a low roof and a student section that ringed the court.

      UNC Men’s Basketball coach Dean Smith led North Carolina to its arena-opening 82-68 victory over William & Mary in 1965. UNC player, Bob Lewis, made the first shot in Carmichael.

      On January 6, 1986 North Carolina Coach Dean Smith led his Tar Heels to finish its 20-year stay in Carmichael Auditorium the way it started – with a victory. The No. 1 and undefeated Tar Heels defeated rival North Carolina State 90-79. A few weeks later, January 19, the Tar Heels started playing in the Dean Smith Center, AKA “The Dean Dome.” That first game was against Duke.

      The Tar Heels record Carmichael Auditorium, AKA “Blue Heaven” was 169-20.

      Who made the final basket at Carmichael? *Spoiler Alert*
      NCSU basketball coach Jim Valvano made a lay-up basket after the game. He claimed bragging rights to be the last one to make a basket in Carmichael.

    • 1992 NCAA Basketball Final Four tournament Compilation of WRAL Sports Coverage

      Enjoy watching a compilation of newscasts featuring coverage of the 1992 NCAA Basketball Final Four and championship game. Spoiler alert! Duke University won the championship.

      WRAL sent a news and sports team to cover the excitement of the event. You’ll meet the student who was the Duke Blue Devil in 1992.

    • WRAL Sports anchor Tom Suiter tosses hat like Mary Tyler Moore

      The 1992 NCAA Basketball Final Four tournament was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Duke University won the championship game. WRAL Sports anchor Tom Suiter was part of team coverage of all the festivities that surrounded the sporting event and of course the game itself.

      This short clip shows Tom having fun imitating the iconic hat toss by Mary Tyler Moore as seen during the open of her highly acclaimed weekly CBS comedy show during the ’70s.

    • WRAL Sports anchor Tom Suiter’s Last Sportscast Dec 18 2008

      WRAL Sports anchor Tom Suiter retired as the primary WRAL Sports anchor on December 18, 2008.
      Tom Suiter started at WRAL in 1971 and worked under legendary sportscaster Nick Pond. He worked his way up in Sports and joined the 6 PM anchor team in 1981 … a position he held for nearly 28 years. In 2008, Tom went part-time and continued to play a major role by continuing his signature franchises – Football Friday and the Extra Effort Award. WRAL Sports director Bob Holliday presents Tom with his own Extra Effort Award at the end of the sportscast.

      Surrounded by the WRAL News and Sports staff, Tom thanked the viewers for letting him into their homes, via television, every evening.

    • WRAL Sports anchor Tom Suiter farewell 2008

      Tom Suiter, worked at WRAL in sports for 45 amazing years. Tom started at WRAL in 1971. He worked his way up in Sports and joined the 6 PM anchor team in 1981 … a position he would hold for nearly 28 years. In 2008, Tom went part-time and continued to play a major role on our Sports staff. His signature franchises have truly stood the test of time. Football Friday and Extra Effort have been going strong for 35 years!

      This video commemorates his retirement from the sports anchor chair in 2008. It was produced by Bob Holliday, long time WRAL Sports Anchor.

  • Wrestling

     

    One of the most popular and long-lasting programs in WRAL-TV history was Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. The matches were recorded every Wednesday night in WRAL’s Studio A and were televised on Channel 5 on Saturdays.

    WRAL-TV was the main studio home for the wrestling productions that were syndicated throughout the region by Jim Crockett Promotions. Raleigh promoter Joe Murnick coordinated the Raleigh events and is also remembered as the ring announcer for many of the WRAL matches in the 1970s.

    The weekly influx of wrestlers and their entourages made for interesting times at WRAL-TV. Colorful personalities like Wahoo McDaniel, Black Jack Mulligan and Ric Flair made WRAL home every Wednesday afternoon–recording promos, playing cards, wandering the halls and occasionally getting into shouting matches that brought a carnival atmosphere to the station. By and large the wrestlers were a genial group, but when the matches got underway in front of hundreds of screaming fans in Studio A – it was all business.

    WRAL on-air personalities became some of the most popular play-by-play hosts for the matches. North Carolina Hall-of-Fame sportscaster Ray Reeve was first to call the matches, followed by Nick Pond and the legendary Bob Caudle—who gained his greatest fame as the voice of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Weatherman Bob DeBardelaben even got in on the action, putting his voice on the famous announcement that always preceded commercial breaks: “Let’s take time for this commercial message about the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling events coming up in your area.”

    The first known wrestling program at WRAL-TV was recorded on January 31, 1959. The matches ran continuously for more than two decades before coming to an end July 29, 1981.

     

    • “Wrassling” and Heavyweight Boxing Champ Joe Louis

      During the 1960’s, the highest rated locally-produced show in the Raleigh/Durham television market was WRAL’s Championship Wrestling. The program was produced weekly in studio A and aired each Saturday afternoon at five o’clock. The show was produced by promoter Joe
    • Championship wrestling at WRAL-TV

      Professional wrestlers mix it up in Channel 5 Studio A in early 1959. Hundreds of spectators crammed into the studio each week to watch the action.

    • Earl Ashe first director at WRAL

      Earl Ashe was the first director to be hired at WRAL-TV. Ashe shares his stories about the weeks leading up to sign-on in December, 1956. He also shares his background as a pioneer in eastern North Carolina television prior to his arrival in Raleigh. Ashe worked with legendary WRAL personalities Ray Reeves, Bill Armstrong, Bob Knapp, and more. He tells an interesting story about meeting President Ford.

    • Joe Murnick

      WRAL-TV sales representative and wrestling promoter in 1960s staff photo

    • Bob Caudle

      Weatherman and wrestling announcer in 1960s staff photo