WRAL TechWire turns 20 this year! Filling a niche as the only technology-specific news publication in the Triangle, TechWire continues to hone its role as the first source for the rise, fall, boom and bust cycles of the local tech scene.
WRAL TechWire began as Local Tech Wire, based in Charlotte, in 2002. Capitol Broadcasting Company acquired the online publication in December 2005, through the division then known as CBC New Media Group which was led by now-company President & COO Jimmy Goodmon. The site re-launched branded as WRAL TechWire with Rick Smith as managing editor.
I've been working with TechWire since several months before official launch in January 2002, said Smith, now WRAL Digital Business & Technology Manager. In fact, when Chris [WRAL Digital Vice President Chris Weatherly] asked me recently at a team meeting how long I had worked at CBC I said B.C.' Well maybe not that long. A before Iphone' might make more sense to people today.
TechWire will celebrate its 20th anniversary and record growth at a private event at WRAL today, providing time to pause and recognize the hard work that has gone into the evolution of the site.
TechWire has seen tremendous growth in audience over the last two decades, said Corp Vice President of Special Projects John Conway, who for years ran WRAL.com, eventually stepping up to General Manager of CBC New Media and then when the division rebranded as WRAL Digital, became Vice President. Twice in recent months the site has generated more than 1 million page views. It also been an important catalyst and component of digital revenue growth. TechWire has closely covered the expansion of the Triangle tech scene and how technology also is driving economic development in many of our state's communities.
The Development of a Local Tech News Leader
Smith shared more about the history of WRAL TechWire:
Allan Maurer, who died recently, introduced me to entrepreneurs in Charlotte who were interested in launching an email newsletter focusing on startups in North Carolina. They hired me to build a team of writers and launch it in early 2002 despite the dot com bubble bursting and the terrorist attacks on 9-11-2001.
I miss Allan Maurer dearly. TechWire's success is part of a talented writer's legacy.
We launched behind a paywall something still rare at the time. We dropped that due to lack of success but kept the site and newsletter going despite very tough economic times.
Allan joined me as co-founder as did six free-lance writers, including former CBC editor/reporter Matt Burns.
In the 20 years since we launched, we have that I recall, anyway, and I am getting old not missed a business day with at least some news.
Our newsletter was among the early ones in what now is a strategic part of most news sites. In fact, coverage of our launch in The News & Observer focused on our delivery of news to your desktop.
Over time we expanded into a full-fledged website.
Smith had a history with Capitol Broadcasting previous to TechWire.
I had worked with CBC before, in 1993-1995, to start Interpath, an internet service provider, he said. So I knew Jim Goodmon (and Jimmy) already. I saw Jim at North Hills in the spring of 2005, and he told me they were thinking about expanding content at WRAL.com. That led to a discussion with Jimmy and John Conway later that summer. By the end of the year Jimmy made the decision to acquire Local Tech Wire and to hire me as editor for a new CBC operation.
The site quickly gained traction, breaking news on the tech sector.
Digital audiences flocked to TechWire's coverage of major economic development announcements from Amazon, Apple and Google, said Conway. They also sought out our coverage on start-ups and their funding.
For two decades, WRAL TechWire has been breaking the latest news on tech companies and startups in the Triangle and beyond.
TechWire is an important part of the CBC's portfolio of digital properties given the importance of the tech sector to the Triangle's and North Carolina's growth and vibrance, said Conway.
Adaptation and Open to Change
Part of the site's longevity is due to the willingness to embrace change and try new things.
TechWire implemented a pay wall but that was dropped four years ago as we more closely integrated with WRAL.com and WRAL TV, Smith explained. WRAL Digital Director of Strategic Business Development James Amato believed in the TW mission and met a fund-raising target set by John Conway in order to remove the paywall. His efforts and that of his team have paid off handsomely both in terms of readership and revenues.
Former CBC'er Jake Seaton and others on the team moved TechWire to a new website based on WordPress technology.
All these changes have been key to TW's survival and growth, said Smith.
Smith appreciates the insight of his CBC colleagues in shaping TechWire.
Were it not for the vision of James Amato and John Conway the TW today would be much different if it were still alive, said Smith. To them I will be forever grateful. Of course, Jimmy made the decision to LTW. I doubt LTW would have survived much longer without his decision to hire me and buy it. Why did he? Well perhaps our results over the past 4 years have justified the purchase but not necessarily my hiring. I can be quite a pain!
The past year has seen the adaptations and adjustments reap rewards.
2022 was exceptional more than 8 million page views; twice in a month (Sept and Dec) we achieved more than 1 million page views for the first time, said Smith. I've only had two reporters on payroll (not freelance) in those 20 years. Jason Parker and, preceding him, Chantal Allam (now at the N&O) were crucial to this growth.
Smith also credits working more closely with WRAL Digital Director of Content Jodi G
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
08/10/2026
Modern venues have come a long way since the tinny, echoing audio of the mid 20t...
08/10/2026
ESPN's first Super Bowl production will stream in English and Spanish on Disney+, while the ESPN App carries the full slate of game, ManningCast, studio, an...
08/10/2026
From high-school videoboards to War Eagle Productions, the Opelika native is learning how to lead shows and capture big moments
The future of live sports produ...
08/10/2026
The Television Academy and Prime Video have announced a six-year agreement making Prime Video the exclusive global home of the Emmy Awards beginning with the 20...
08/10/2026
Techex will exhibit at NAB Show New York 2026 (Booth 623, Javits Center, October...
08/10/2026
X Games has announced the appointment of Steve Rogers as Chief Operating Officer. Rogers previously served as COO of World Supercross and spent nearly a decade ...
08/10/2026
Fonn Group has appointed Trevor Spielmann as Sales Director for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Spielmann joins from EVS, where he held sales and business de...
08/10/2026
The flagship program will originate from major PG events with a four-camera production, live distribution across PGTV, social platforms
Perfect Game is bringin...
08/10/2026
Innovation rarely happens in a vacuum. More often, it happens at the point of collision: when worlds that have run on separate tracks begin to converge. That is...
08/10/2026
For decades, the production and broadcast services business has run on a familia...
08/10/2026
Uplynk, Zixi, BroadView Software, and Grass Valley have published The IP Converg...
08/10/2026
The NFL has announced the return of the Big Data Bowl, the league's analytics competition, now in its ninth year and again powered by AWS. Registration is o...
08/10/2026
Eutelsat has renewed its partnership with T l diffusion d'Alg rie (TDA), Algeria's national broadcasting network operator, for continued distribution of...
08/10/2026
Disney will livestream Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, alongside the game's broadcast on ESPN and ABC. All Disney subscribers in the United States wi...
08/10/2026
RHStv and Red House Streaming have announced an expansion of their partnership w...
08/10/2026
Gray Media has announced a distribution agreement with TEGNA and DAZN to simulca...
08/10/2026
SVG readers can save 10% on registration and receive a complimentary Solutions H...
08/10/2026
PROTON Camera Innovations GmbH has been named a recipient of a 2026 Technology a...
08/10/2026
Industry leaders discuss real-world cloud workflows for live game production, pl...
08/10/2026
The next-gen audio technology joins Dolby Vision as part of Apple TV's immersive F1 experience...
08/10/2026
David France, Jesse Short Bull, Mato Wayuhi, N. Bird Runningwater, Jodi Archambau, Jhane Myers, Paul McGuire, Amber Morning Star Byars, Holly Macarro, Nick Tils...
08/10/2026
Dynamic panning plug-ins get an upgrade
Sound Particles have just announced major updates for two of their popular dynamic panning plug-ins. Energy Panner 2...
08/10/2026
New expandable instrument boasts full DMNO engine
UDO Audio have just announced the upcoming release of a new, expandable synth that packs the power of the ...
08/10/2026
Two new subwoofers added to monitoring line-up
ADAM Audio's monitoring range has just been expanded with two new DSP-equipped subwoofers, the Sub8 PRO a...
08/10/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
08/10/2026
Calrec gives broadcasters freedom of choice at NAB Show New York We're looking forward to meeting up with you all at NAB New York on 21st-22nd October.
Cal...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Globecast, a leading provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, will showcase its next generation of media orchestration services at NAB S...
08/10/2026
Clear-Com played a critical role in the production communications infrastructure for Rock in Rio 2026, one of the world's largest and most recognized music...
08/10/2026
Sohonet Launches ClearView Rush: A Leap Forward in Studio Review, Built for Crea...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Ikegami announces a major expansion to its range of broadcast-quality live production cameras. Scheduled for introduction on Ikegami booth 708 at NAB New York, ...
08/10/2026
Calrec will be located at Booth 444.
Freedom to choose
The media landscape is evolving quickly, and the broadcasters best placed for what comes next will be...
08/10/2026
LiveU has announced that CRD Audiovisuel relied on LiveUs LU900Q intelligent production unit, with built-in native LiveU IQ (LIQ ) connectivity, to deliver live...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Marshall Electronics, a globally recognized provider of high-performance video solutions for broadcast, streaming, AV and professional production, will exhibit ...
08/10/2026
14-hour package also includes A Remarkable Place to Die season 2 as well as libr...
WRAL TechWire turns 20 this year! Filling a niche as the only technology-specific news publication in the Triangle, TechWire continues to hone its role as the first source for the rise, fall, boom and bust cycles of the local tech scene.
