Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Over the course of his career in broadcasting, Mark Patrick has been described as “the man of a thousand jobs.”  

He began his broadcasting career while still in high school at WNAP-FM radio where he provided on-air character work. Patrick continued his work with WNAP while enrolled at Ball State University. During his college years, he worked with the station’s legendary morning team.  

After graduating from Ball State in 1981, he accepted the position of creative director at WRTV in downtown Indianapolis. During his tenure, he hosted the very first local music video show in the U.S.  

In 1987, Patrick joined the creative team of the iconic sports-comedy show, “The Bob & Tom Show,” where he served as a writer and provided voices for multiple recurring fictional characters.  

That same year, he launched his own sports radio show, “Mark Patrick on Sports,” on WNDE. When the show first aired, it became one of the country’s only afternoon sports talk radio shows.  

1987 proved to be an extremely successful year for Patrick. In the fall, he became the first host of WTTV’s Hoosier Lottery, a game show where contestants competed for a potential $1 million-dollar grand prize. The show became the longest-running, highest-rated lottery show in the United States, garnering over one-million viewers each week during his 14-year tenure as the host.  

By 1990, Hoosiers could tune in to radio or television and hear Mark Patrick’s voice nearly 24/7. On top of his work with “The Bob and Tom Show,” “Mark Patrick on Sports,” and Hoosier Millionaire, he also appeared nightly on WISH-TV Channel 8 as the station’s Sports Director.  

“Mark Patrick on Sports” would eventually earn national syndication and became the regular morning show of FOX Sport Radio.  

His work in sports radio eventually earned him the position as the debut host of MLB Network on XM Satellite radio. Patrick’s voice was the first to be heard when the station went on the air in 2004.  

In 2023, Mark Patrick was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.  

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By Jack Lindner 

Edited by Jack Lindner 

Information from the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers

Last Edit: January 22^nd, 2024