LEXINGTON, Ky., March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The NCAA Final Four tournament brought an economic surge to Lexington in 1985 when it came to town. "Community leaders tout the economic advantages of such events, that have a window before, during and usually for a short time afterwards," said Ron Mossotti, president of Hammond Communications Group, a Lexington-based company. "For us, that Final Four effect has continued and grown for 30 years."
In 1985 the NCAA looked for local help in Lexington and hired Hammond Communications Group to set up and manage all press conferences before and after the Final Four games played at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington. Hammond provided live feeds for local affiliates and the national press. They also provided back-up transmission to assure interruption-free TV broadcast. If for some reason the CBS transmission would fail, and that did (and does) happen, the broadcast would seamlessly switch to the Hammond team's back-up. Today, Hammond has a contract to provide those services tournament-wide, providing back up for CBS, TBS and ESPN game broadcasts. Hammond production teams travel across the country to set up operations for all NCAA men's basketball tournament games, as well as for the NCAA women's Regional and Final Four games.
"I remember the days in television when the transmission would fail, and you'd be left looking at a black screen with the message 'standby' on it," said Mossotti. "These days all major networks have back-up transmission for their broadcast. It's Hammond's back-up transmission that keeps fans from being confronted with a black screen at what could be a crucial moment in sports history.
Hammond has also diversified, offering high definition video production, web and interactive media services, digital signage, and live event broadcasts. The company currently has 12 full-time employees and several part-time employees. In 2013 the company hired 116 technicians and support staff to work on its projects throughout the U.S. Annual revenues are about $3 million.
Contact: Ron Mossotti, President
Company name: Hammond Communications Group, Inc.
Telephone number: (Office) 859-254-1878; (Cel.) 859-361-2363
Email
Website address: www.hammondcg.com