UK Sports Network, LEX18 2024-25 Broadcast Lineup Offers Exclusive Access to UK Athletics

LEXINGTON, Ky. — As the University of Kentucky’s 2024-25 athletics schedule gets underway, the UK Sports Network will continue to provide the Big Blue Nation with unrivaled exclusive access to the Kentucky Wildcats programs.

The portfolio of coverage includes BBN Tonight, presented by UK HealthCare, BBN Gameday, presented by Central Bank, radio broadcasts and UK Sports Network All-Access digital content on UKathletics.com and the UK Athletics app. 

TV Coverage
BBN Gameday, presented by Central Bank, airs on Saturday mornings across local UK Sports Network affiliates, giving Cats fans a chance to get ready for the biggest games of the weekend with exclusive access and expert analysis of upcoming matchups. BBN Gameday also airs digitally on UKathletics.com and the Kentucky Wildcats Facebook page every Saturday at 9 a.m. ET., and all the time on BBNGameday.com.

As the official television partner of UK Athletics, LEX18 produces BBN Tonight, BBN Gameday and all UK Sports Network special presentations.

The one-hour Kentucky Football Preview Special, presented by Floor & Decor, airs this Saturday, Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m. ET on LEX18 and any time after that on BBNGameday.com.

UKathletics.com and the @UKAthletics (Kentucky Wildcats) Facebook page will also stream the Football Season Preview Special.

BBN Gameday, which airs in Lexington, Louisville and across the state has been added to Nashville on WTVF, Cincinnati (WCPO) and Ashland, Ky., (WOWK) for 2024.

The full list of markets where BBN Gamday airs is below: 

• Lexington (WLEX) 

• Louisville (WHAS) 

• Nashville (WTVF)  

• Cincinnati (WCPO)  

• Ashland (WOWK)  

• Bowling Green (WBKO) 

• Paducah (WPSD) 

• Pikeville (Mountain Top Media) 

• Johnson City, TN (WJHL) 

BBN Tonight, presented by UK HealthCare, airing Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 p.m. on LEX18, gives viewers a daily 30-minute insider’s look into UK Athletics. 

The program features unparalleled access to UK coaches and student-athletes on a nightly basis. BBN Tonight includes discussion and analysis of current topics from UK Sports Network talent giving insider perspective on the biggest stories in the world of UK Athletics. 

Fans can watch show segments and full episodes anytime on BBNTonight.com.

“We are pleased to continue our television partnership with LEX18,” University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said as LEX18 and JMI Sports announced their continued partnership earlier this month. “LEX18 shares our commitment to student-athletes and Big Blue Nation. BBN Tonight and BBN Gameday provide a unique and important platform to help tell our teams’ stories. We are grateful for the coverage they have provided over the course of our partnership and look forward to the future together.”

LEX18 is Lexington’s NBC affiliate and serves communities in 40 counties across central, eastern and southern Kentucky. From the moment it signed on as Lexington’s first television station, WLEX has built a long and proud tradition of covering UK sports. WLEX is now owned and operated by Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Company, the nation’s fourth-largest independent TV station owner, which operates 60 stations in 42 markets across the country. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”  

Radio Coverage
The Don Franklin Auto Countdown to Kickoff Show airs two hours prior to each game.  Christi Thomas, Jeremy Jarmon and, new in 2024, Logan Stenberg, host the radio preview show.

UK Sports Network is the home of the radio broadcast of each Kentucky Football game. Join the Voice of the Wildcats, Tom Leach, former UK wide receiver Jeff Piecoro and veteran sideline reporter Dick Gabriel as they bring all the action live from Kroger Field and away game sites. 

Darren Headrick hosts the Halftime Report and the Wildcat Wrap Up Postgame Show from the UK Sports Network studio with postgame interviews and reports live from the stadium.

Football head coach Mark Stoops will begin his weekly call-in show Monday, Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET on the UK Sports Network. A live video stream of The UK HealthCare Mark Stoops Show also will be available on UKathletics.com and on the official Kentucky Football Facebook page. 

The UK HealthCare Mark Stoops Show is hosted by Leach. Fans will have the opportunity to ask Coach Stoops questions via Twitter at @UKSportsNetwork or by calling 1-800-606-GAME (4263) or 859-280-2287 (CATS). 

The show is broadcast in Lexington on 630 WLAP, online at UKathletics.com and statewide on UK Sports Network radio affiliates. 

Following The UK HealthCare Mark Stoops Show, Clark’s Pump-N-Shop BBN Radio, hosted by Headrick, will air from 7 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET on the UK Sports Network.  The show provides insight straight from UK Sports Network personalities, UK coaches and student-athletes. Fans will get the opportunity to have their voices heard each week through phone calls and social media interactions.

Fans will also be able to watch a livestream of the show on the UK Sports Network Facebook page or UKathletics.com.

A complete list of radio affiliates can be found at UKathletics.com/UKSportsNetwork.  

Digital Coverage
The UKSN digital media team of Michelle Knezovic, Jensen Linder, Curtis Burch and more of the UKSN talent staff will provide coverage of the Wildcats throughout the year on UKathletics.com, the UK Athletics App and @UKSportsNetwork social media.

The ”Cats by 90” shortform interviews, hosted by Knezovic, as well as the “Meet the Cats” introductory interview series, are a few of the many new digital initiatives Big Blue Nation can enjoy from UKSN n the year to come.

The Big Blue Brew, UK Athletics’ free daily email newsletter, presented by Commonwealth Credit Union also returns for the coming season. 

Every weekday morning, the Big Blue Brew hits subscribers’ inboxes delivering a blend of news, trivia, top highlights and crucial information about upcoming games and events.

About UK Athletics   
UK Athletics is a leader in college sports, sponsoring 23 varsity sports teams (12 women’s teams, 10 men’s teams, plus the coed rifle team) and hundreds of student-athletes, competing for championships, ensuring their education and well-being, and providing opportunities for the present and future.