Business in the Bluegrass and Beyond

Abstract

While working with the Lexington Tourist and Convention Commission, Jim Host began to network with individuals from the National Tour Brokers Association (NTBA). Eventually, he convinced the NTBA leadership (including Joe Casser and Arthur Tauck) to hire his company and allow him to serve as the organization’s executive director. In a short span of time, Host dramatically increased the NTBA’s membership and revenue. He then won the exclusive radio rights for the University of Kentucky’s basketball and football broadcasts. Host traversed the state, signing affiliate stations for the UK Radio Network. Within a few years, he had created the largest college sports radio network in the country, which included power stations WHAS and WCKY. Cawood Ledford was the voice of the network. While traveling with UK’s basketball team, Host learned that the NCAA outsourced its radio broadcasts for the Division I men’s basketball tournament. Host made an offer to Tom Jernstedt and Dave Cawood of the NCAA to take over the radio broadcasts, and NCAA executive director Walter Byers gave his approval. Host then started building the NCAA Radio Network.