The Charlotte 49ers have announced that media rights holder IMG College has entered into a three-year deal with WCCB Charlotte to broadcast available Charlotte 49ers home football games. In 2013, they will broadcast all six home games from Jerry Richardson Stadium.
“We have been working for several months now with WCCB to make these games available to those fans who aren’t able to get out to campus,” said Judy Rose, Charlotte 49ers director of athletics. “We are thrilled to grow a partnership with Jim Babb and WCCB. Their enthusiasm for our program was apparent from our very first meeting, and we are excited to have them on our team. To be able to televise each of our home games in our very first season speaks to the excitement surrounding our program, and we thank both WCCB-TV and IMG College for their work in making this happen.”
The television broadcasts will include the 49ers inaugural game, Saturday, Aug. 31 against Campbell University. Each of the 49ers home games in 2013 will be played at noon, Saturdays, in the 15,300-seat Richardson Stadium.
“WCCB-TV and Bahakel Communications are extremely pleased to be able to offer Charlotte 49ers football to our viewers throughout the Charlotte market and we believe the 49ers will be a very attractive addition to the televised sports menu,” said Jim Babb, executive vice president and COO of Bahakel Communications. “With over 26,000 students, 60,000 alumni plus faculty, staff and friends in the Charlotte area, we believe 49er football will be very popular and well received. Jim White, VP and general manager of WCCB-TV, and our entire staff is very excited about this opportunity and we look forward to working with Tod Rosensweig, his IMG colleagues and especially with athletic director Judy Rose, Coach Brad Lambert and the entire University family.”
Through Charlotte 49ers membership in Conference USA, the league’s television partners have first right to broadcast Charlotte 49ers home football games. Once partners make their selections, those rights are available for local broadcast. WCCB Charlotte will televise each available game for the next three years, including all six home games in 2013.
The Charlotte 49ers will debut their start-up football program in 2013 under head coach Brad Lambert. In 2013 and 2014, the 49ers will compete as an FCS Independent. Charlotte, which joins Conference USA in all other sports in 2013, will begin competition in Conference USA football in 2015 as a member of that FBS conference with an opportunity to gain full FBS member status with bowl eligibility in 2016. Charlotte, which accepted an invitation into Conference USA on May 4, 2012, is one of the nation’s first teams to be welcomed into an FBS Conference before having held its first practice.
A limited number of Football Seat licenses (FSLs) are available and can be purchased by calling the 49ers Athletic Ticket Office at 704-687-4949.