Winnercomm began operations in Tulsa in 1982 as a television production and media sales company telecasting Quarter Horse races across a regional television network it syndicated for its broadcasts. Three years later it added Thoroughbred horse racing coverage and developed a strategic relationship with a fledgling cable sports television network called ESPN.
In 1990, as the ESPN relationship began to flourish, Winnercomm built one of the most impressive television production facilities in the country, bringing world-class production and post-production equipment and services to Tulsa. The facility supported original Winnercomm productions and was a magnet to leading marketers and advertising agencies throughout the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. These internal facilities gave Winnercomm a big edge over other program packagers and the company began to produce more and more national programming for ESPN and other networks.
In 1991, Winnercomm acquired a leading broadcast graphics design company in Chicago and relocated it to Oklahoma, further strengthening its advantage in the national marketplace.
In 1992, the company began producing coverage of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). In 1994, it got rights to Major League Soccer and began originating special programming for ESPN Outdoors. By 1998, Winnercomm was supplying over 50% of the ESPN Outdoors’ program block and had moved into sports entertainment, producing 25 award-winning one-hour SportsCentury programs for ESPN.
In 2001, Winnercomm moved very strategically into the interactive arena, providing advanced online support for its media properties and other clients. The advertising agency was formed in 2002 after a multi-million dollar advertising and cross-media contract was awarded to Winnercomm by BASF. A strategic marketing planning and business management consulting practice was acquired in 2003 to form the fully integrated structure that exists today.
