Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Robert Petranoff produced/directed the first-ever television broadcast of a regular season college basketball game. He also taught courses and produced programs for commercial stations at the Radio and Television Department at Indiana University. 

Petranoff was born on October 11, 1925, in Indianapolis. He received an education from Indianapolis Washington High School and Indiana University. 

He started his career in Freeport, Illinois, working at a radio station, before moving to Bloomington to work at radio station WTTS, Bloomington. He served as the first program director and film buyer for WTTV, a sister television station.  

Eventually, he became the Program Manager for WTTS radio and WTTV-TV, both owned by Sarkes Tarzian in Bloomington, IN.  

On December 6, 1951, Petranoff produced the first ever TV broadcast of a regular season college basketball game. The game was IU vs Valparaiso. Alongside alumni Paul Lennon and Bob Cook, Petranoff made history with a hugely successful televised broadcast. 

IU basketball became so popular on TV that by the 1956-1957 season, WTTV was paying Indiana University $1,000 to broadcast each home game.  

In 1957, Petranoff joined the Radio and Television Department at Indiana University, teaching courses in production and studio management and producing programs for distribution to commercial stations.  

In 1971, Petranoff joined the IU News Bureau, retiring in 1990.  

For two years, from 1992 to 1994, Petranoff served as secretary of the IU Annuitants Association. He was also a member of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers and was inducted in the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. 

As well as Petranoff’s broadcast career, he was also an active member of his church, First Baptist Church, and a volunteer for community organizations. He served on the Boards of Monroe County United Ministries and the IU Federal Credit Union.    

Petranoff passed away on January 11, 2017, in Westfield, Indiana at 91 years old.  

February 2025

By Lily Saylor