'Behind the Blue': Examining UK’s long-standing partnership with JMI Sports – UKNow

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2025) — Strategic partnerships play a critical role in supporting the University of Kentucky’s mission, particularly in athletics, where revenue generation, fan engagement and long-term planning are increasingly complex. These complexities are well understood by Paul Archey, president of JMI Sports, the multimedia rights partner for UK Athletics and the university. 
On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” Archey joins Eric Monday, Ph.D., UK’s executive vice president for finance and administration and co-executive vice president for health affairs, on another installment of “The Business of UK,” a recurring feature designed to give listeners a look inside the principles and processes that guide UK’s financial and operational decisions. 
Originally from Greenup, Kentucky, Archey speaks on how the partnership was formed, why it has continued to evolve and how its structure supports both UK Athletics and the university as a whole. The conversation also highlights the deep Kentucky roots that underpin the relationship, including the legacy of Jim Host, founder of Host Communications, and longtime UK partners who helped shape the modern multimedia rights landscape for college athletics. 
Listeners are encouraged to submit questions and suggestions for future installments of “The Business of UK” by emailing businessofUK@uky.edu. Upcoming episodes will further explore the changing landscape of college athletics, including a conversation with Archey and UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart about the development of BBNIL (UK Athletics’ Name, Image & Likeness strategy), and other topics including budget structure, tuition setting, capital projects and more. 
“Behind the Blue” is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 
“Behind the Blue” is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.  
To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. 
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

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