In a bold step that redefines how Tennessee Volunteers football fans connect with the team, Gray Media, the University of Tennessee Athletics, and the Vol Network have announced the launch of a groundbreaking over‑the‑air television partnership. Central to this initiative is the creation of the Tennessee Valley Sports Network (TVSN) and its flagship live pregame show: Volunteer Gameday. Broadcasting live two hours before kickoff from Neyland Stadium or any road game, Volunteer Gameday is poised to become a Saturday staple across East, Middle, and West Tennessee, reaching fans in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, and soon Chattanooga and Jackson Facebook+5Stock Titan+5Learfield+5.
TVSN’s launch is anchored by Gray’s flagship stations—WVLT in Knoxville, WSMV in Nashville, and WMC in Memphis—offering free, over-the-air access to exclusive programming for the Volunteers’ ardent supporters. This aligns seamlessly with Gray’s strategy of delivering premium regional content without cable subscription barriers, an increasingly essential move in today’s dynamic media landscape Learfield+3Stock Titan+3Nasdaq+3.
Volunteer Gameday, the show at the heart of this initiative, is set to air live two hours prior to kickoff on TVSN. The program features a robust on-site presentation capturing the vibrant energy of game day at Neyland Stadium—and occasionally from road venues—offering interviews, highlights, and exclusive segments. Its marquee on-air team includes the revered “Voice of the Vols,” Mike Keith, WVLT award-winning anchor Brittany Tarwater, and former Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler Stock Titan+3Learfield+3https://www.wsmv.com+3. Their seasoned insights and electric chemistry promise a show that is both professionally polished and passionately authentic.
The partnership doesn’t end with Volunteer Gameday. It extends into a broader content ecosystem across TVSN. Fans can look forward to over seven hours of exclusive Tennessee Athletics content per week, including shows featuring Volquest personalities Brent Hubbs, Austin Price, Rob Lewis, and Grant Ramey Facebook+5Stock Titan+5Learfield+5. This multi‑show offering—from postgame analysis to insider features—marks an unprecedented elevation of local collegiate sports coverage in Tennessee.
The agreement is designed to benefit all stakeholders. For Gray Media, it reinforces their dominance in local television with exclusive, highly sought-after sports programming. It aligns with trends in media consumption where live sports over-the-air provides valuable resonance with audiences and ad buyers alike. For the Vol Network and the University of Tennessee, the deal unlocks new visibility and connection with fans across the state, bolstering brand presence and fan engagement https://www.wsmv.com+1Nasdaq+1Nasdaq+2Stock Titan+2Learfield+2.
The scope of coverage is expansive. Initially launched across the three largest media markets via WVLT (Knoxville), WSMV (Nashville), and WMC (Memphis), TVSN’s footprint is set to grow. Plans call for expanded coverage to include Chattanooga and Jackson, ensuring true statewide reach for volunteer athletics Learfield+3Stock Titan+3https://www.wsmv.com+3. With over 37 percent of U.S. television households already served by Gray stations, the initiative taps into Gray’s deep infrastructure and influence, especially in the Southeast https://www.wsmv.com+3Stock Titan+3Learfield+3.
Executives from all entities celebrated the pivotal nature of this partnership. Gray’s Regional VP and WSMV GM Jasmine Hardin described it as a realization of a long-held vision for Vol fans statewide, while WVLT GM Bruce Austin highlighted how TVSN enhances the longstanding UT-Gray collaboration https://www.wsmv.com+3Learfield+3Nasdaq+3. Tennessee Deputy Athletics Director Alicia Longworth emphasized its role in “seamlessly connecting the entire Volunteer State,” and the Vol Network’s GM Brandon Parks framed Volunteer Gameday as “another bold and exciting step” in sports television programming, offering a live glimpse into the campus atmosphere before kick-off Facebook+6Learfield+6Nasdaq+6.
Key details of the deal include:
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Official TV partnership runs through June 2028, ensuring a multi-year commitment to fan-forward sports content Wikipedia+4Learfield+4Nasdaq+4.
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TVSN will produce and air over seven hours of nonstop Vols-related shows weekly, blending pregame, postgame, and insider coverage Nasdaq+2Stock Titan+2https://www.wsmv.com+2.
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Volunteer Gameday will originate live from game sites, immersing viewers in the on‑campus atmosphere of Neyland and away venues LearfieldStock Titan.
This initiative also marks a shift from traditional cable-based regional sports networks to a free, over-the-air model that bypasses carriage fees and alleviates streaming friction. That ensures wider access and potentially stronger advertising revenue tied to live sports events. In today’s streaming-heavy climate, live sports remains the strongest draw for appointment viewing—and this partnership smartly leverages that habit Stock Titan.
Moreover, as Vol Network’s flagship in multimedia collegiate sports coverage, the Vol Network (a Learfield company since 2019) brings decades of experience, strong relationships, and expert production capabilities. Adding TVSN extends its reach and adds a visual dimension to complement its established radio and digital platforms Facebook+7University of Tennessee Athletics+7Learfield+7.
For fans, the offering means more televised coverage than ever before—fully accessible and crafted with Tennessee pride. The immersive Volunteer Gameday experience, paired with expert analysis from recognizable Vol voices, gives Orange Country a reason to tune in early, stay informed, and rally behind the team.
Looking ahead, several exciting developments are on the way. TVSN will debut Volunteer Gameday this fall at the start of the football season, with additional programming set to be unveiled later in the year University of Tennessee Athletics+. As coverage expands to Chattanooga and Jackson, and as over seven hours of weekly content rolls out, Tennesseans can expect more exclusive interviews, insider access, and regional flair.
This marks a watershed moment in Tennessee sports broadcasting. Volunteer Gameday on TVSN is more than a pregame show—it’s a statewide celebration of the Volunteers that honors tradition and taps into the energy of Big Orange. Broadcast live from Neyland’s heart to fans across Tennessee, it cements Gray Media, the Vol Network, and UT Athletics as pioneers in delivering unmatched local sports media.
As autumn Saturdays approach, Saturdays across Tennessee will no longer just be game days—they’ll be Volunteer Gameday.
