Beginning in April 2020, the Carolina Panthers and Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) have reached a partnership that will include preseason broadcast rights on WRAL-TV. The three-year agreement, which includes CBC properties WRAL-TV, FOX 50 (WRAZ-TV) and radio station 99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio (WCMC) will activate immediately and supports a wide variety of programming including the Panthers pre-season games and up to six original Carolina Panthers Television Network programs. The announcement also renews a long-standing relationship with 99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio and further solidifies 99.9 The Fan as the Triangle’s premiere destination for sports radio fans.

“The partnership between Capitol Broadcasting Company and the Carolina Panthers is a perfect fit,” explains James F. Goodmon, Jr. (Jimmy), President and COO, Capitol Broadcasting Company, “We are both deeply committed to the people and communities of North Carolina and both take pride in being recognized as outstanding corporate citizens who want to win. Together, we are better.”

WRAL-TV and FOX 50 will air up to 4 of the Carolina Panthers preseason games. That schedule will be released later this spring.

The new agreement will also include Carolina Panthers Television Network original programming, including Panthers Huddle with Matt Rhule. The original programming will air on both WRAL-TV and FOX 50. Additional originals will include up to six Panthers Specials over the course of each agreement year. Carolina Panthers Television Network special programs will begin airing mid-May with several program originals scheduled in May and June 2020.

"We are extremely pleased to be expanding our partnership with Capitol Broadcasting from radio into television as well. The strength of WRAL and WRAZ, coupled with the significant multimedia offering of one of the preeminent independent companies in the industry, should provide NFL fans with an excellent opportunity to enjoy Panthers programming across multiple platforms in the Triangle and beyond,” said Eric Fiddleman, Affiliate Manager-Radio and Television for the Carolina Panthers.

99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio is the Triangle’s flagship sports radio station and the longtime home of the Carolina Panthers games and will air the 2020 NFL Draft beginning today. Carolina Panthers fans in the Triangle can continue to listen to all pre- and regular season Panther games on 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio in addition to top local sports talk shows like “The OG” with Joe Ovies and Joe Giglio (weekdays 3pm-6pm) and “The Adam Gold Show” (weekdays noon-3pm.)

WRAL-TV and FOX 50 are the television ratings leaders in the Raleigh-Durham TV market and reach 85% of the Raleigh-Durham TV market each month. WRAL is the #1 station sign-on to sign-off. Together, the two stations will offer unrivaled audience and viewership for the Carolina Panthers programming offerings.

Many of the Carolina Panthers regular season games air on FOX 50 as part of the dominant NFL line-up that the two stations present. Additionally, Sunday Night Football games air on WRAL-TV (NBC) during the regular season.

“This agreement for additional games and programming across our two stations is a partnership that makes sense. Many viewers in The Triangle are already accustomed to watching Panthers football on FOX 50 and now viewers will experience even more Panthers programming,” reinforced Joel Davis, Vice President and General Manager, WRAL-TV & WRAZ-TV. “With the full complement of the regular season NFL schedule, the Carolina Panthers locally produced programs, and now the pre-season schedule, Triangle sports fans will get more of what they want: Panthers football.”