Tommy Roberts
circa 2011

In the world of movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger is The Terminator. In our world of broadcasting, Tommy Roberts is The Disseminator.

Some folks are shy and retiring. Tommy may be in the process of retiring but he's not shy. He has amassed a wonderfully diverse background in the industry. His son Todd now runs the “empire.”

He was the sole owner of WTMR, Radio Mutual Network in Philadelphia (licensed to Camden, NJ), 800 on the AM Dial. Tommy devoted many years as Chairman, President and a Board Member of TRAC, the Television, Radio Advertising Club of Philadelphia (now known as the Philadelphia Ad Club).

A Partner in Price-Roberts Productions, he has been a TV Producer and television syndicator for sports and entertainment TV specials. He partnered with Madison Square Garden boxing, producing and selling nationally to TV stations eight world championship boxing matches. The Roberts Communications Network, RCN (no relationship to the cables company), is now the largest in the world of simulcast systems.

Tommy Roberts
1965

Identified by many as The Voice of Horse Racing, he has called the Race of the Day from Garden State Park, Monmouth Park, Atlantic City Race Track and Hialeah Park serving at those tracks as Publicity and Radio-TV Director and Advertising Executive. Tommy has also been Vice President and General Manager of Hialeah Park. On Friday evening, November 16, 2012, Tommy Roberts was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.

A milestone, one of many in his career, was achieved in 1969 when he was voted the Best Dressed Man in Sports, succeeding Frank Gifford and beating out Joe Namath although we hear that Joe Namath did look better in panty hose than Tommy ever did.

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Bio written by Broadcast Pioneers member Stephen Gary
Photos originally donated by Tommy Roberts
© 2012, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com