FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2000
FHSAA launches radio network
GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Activities Association is teaming with its marketing partner, Host Communications Inc., to launch the FHSAA Radio Network, which will provide impartial play-by-play broadcasts of FHSAA Florida Finals state championship contests to subscribing radio stations.
The FHSAA Radio Network will officially make its debut on the airwaves with its broadcasts of the 2000 FHSAA Florida Football Finals on December 14-16 from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville.
The new radio arrangements also will allow radio stations from participating schools' home markets to originate their own broadcasts of their teams' championship games.
The FHSAA will hold the controlling interests in the radio network, which will be managed on its behalf by Host Communications Inc. Florida High School Division.
"We are excited by the possibilities the FHSAA Radio Network will afford us," said FHSAA Commissioner Robert W. Hughes. "The FHSAA has traditionally awarded broadcast rights to its state championship contests to third parties. However, times are changing and we believe it is time the Association retain these rights and manage its own programs."
Under the new plan, the FHSAA Radio Network will produce a professional broadcast using a play-by-play announcer and color commentator. The feed will be available to any radio station for a $125 fee. The FHSAA Radio Network feed also will be simulcast in streaming audio on the world wide web by iHigh.com on its Florida site at "www.florida.ihigh.com."
A radio station that has regularly broadcast the games of a school that reaches the FHSAA Florida Finals will be permitted to produce its own broadcast of that team's competition by paying a nominal rights fee and agreeing to recognize the FHSAA's corporate sponsors on-air throughout the broadcast.
"We certainly believe this provides the best of both worlds to our radio clients and their listening audiences," said FHSAA Director of Communications Jack Watford. "Stations that do not have the capabilities of producing their own broadcasts will be able to pick up an unbiased account of the action from the FHSAA Radio Network. Those stations that have been and want to produce their own broadcast of their local school's game or games in the Florida Finals will also have the opportunity to do so."
The Florida High School Activities Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 650 middle, junior and senior high schools.
Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
