and impact. It’s important to note
that in the Abby Award competition,
TV stations are not separated by size,
like high schools are with the seven
classifications. So, smaller stations are
competing against larger stations in
cities such as Birmingham, Huntsville,
Montgomery and Mobile. As Sharon
Tinsley, president of the Alabama
Broadcasters Association puts it, “For
TV24 to win an award over the bigger
stations, with what are possibly fewer
resources, is a big deal.”
Jon Holder, Mickey Shadrix, and Gerhard Mathangani
accept the “Best Local Sports Program” Abby award
from the Alabama Broadcasters Association on March
25, 2017 in Birmingham.
Alabama Broadcasting Association and the
criteria for the Best Local Sports Program
Abby award includes entertainment value,
creativity, production value, presentation,
Pigskin Roundup matters because
high school football matters. A Friday
night football game is a big event in
most of the local communities we
serve in East Alabama. And many of
those fans who attend the games race
home afterwards to turn on Pigskin
Roundup to catch all the scores and
highlights of all the games.
There is no doubt the bigger TV stations
have the luxury of more resources than a
station the size of TV24. But, we obviously
have something going for us to have won
the Abby Award.
Our most important resource is our
people. The staff we have on Friday night is
second to none.
It all starts with our show producer and
host Jon Holder. Jon lives and breathes
high school football. It is truly a passion
with him. And, there is no one in this state
who has the depth of knowledge that Jon
possesses. Jon, the son of a long-time high
school football coach, does a fantastic job
each week laying out our game plan and
leading a group of over 20 people who
work hard and tirelessly in making the
Pigskin Roundup a success each and every
week. It is truly a labor of love for our
folks, and I think that is what makes the
show so special. That is something people
all across East Alabama have known for
quite a while. And now the entire state
knows it.
After all, Pigskin Roundup just won a state
championship.
2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine | 19