I got wind of this just last week from a friend of a friend of a former colleague who was listening to some of chatty organizers talk during one of the league title games last week.
Not that it was a massive story or anything, but in some PR genius’ sense of bravado they decided to wait until Thanksgiving to make the announcement. I’ll have to admit, it was brilliant idea.
Anyway, Connecticut Public Television, the group that brings you all of those thrilling UConn Women’s basketball vs. Little Sisters of the Blind on Tuesday nights, will indeed broadcast all of the CIAC state championships–two live, four tape delayed to Sunday, and then rebroadcast twice during the week.
Hip hip, hooray.
For high school football fans like Big Bobby Cuozzo, Brian Maloney, this is pretty big news. It used to be you had to choose one of three games you wanted to see, now you can see every thrilling moment from one game, and then catch what went down in the one that sounded so awesome by all the scoring updates you would get.
Last year, I saw an incredible game between Bunnell and Staples, while most casual fans decided to watch Greenwich take on Southington at the same time. The Greenwich game turned out to be a dud (Southington didn’t show up), but the Bunnell game was one for the ages. Now, there will be no disappointed fans. They’ll get to see both.
Which, by the way, can only help us state poll voters. Instead of guessing, we can actually see for ourselves.
You could see them doing one game, but doing all six games is a vast undertaking. Know that you have to have three crews, all of the technicians, the camera men, the statisticians and, of course the “talent.” And, remember, this isn’t ESPN. This is a network that literally begs for money.
Does this mean High School Football Telethons?
“Remember how disappointed little Johnny was when Gramma and Grampa coudln’t get to the game? But now they can with your pledge. The bigger the contribution, the better, but even if it’s just $1 in change floating around your pocket… make the call. Your chump change can greatly impact the quality program the we’ve all come to love here on CPTV… not to mention have little Johhny’s football games broadcast to his family, ’cause Little Johhny works hard.
“In addition, anyone making a $10 contribution or more will get this CIAC state championship tote bag…”
[chuckle]
Wait. I just had a terrible thought.
To paraphrase Norm Peterson, “Is this going to change the price of the game?”
Good question. Stay tuned on that.
In the meantime, here’s the press release from CPTV headquarters, stripped of all its self-congratulatory hand-shaking and back-slapping and blubbering.
CPTV Airs First Ever Broadcasts of
CIAC State High School Football Championships
Saturday, December 1 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and
Sunday, December 2 from 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
HARTFORD, Conn. – (November 21, 2007) In a groundbreaking venture with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), presents the 32nd Annual CIAC State High School Football Championships. CPTV will broadcast all six CIAC High School Football Championship games. Two games will be broadcast live on Saturday, December 1 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Four games will be tape delayed to air on Sunday, December 2 from 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
All six games will be rebroadcast a minimum of two times the following week on CPTV’s digital channel, CPTV2. The pairing of teams and locations will be announced at a press conference at the CIAC headquarters in Cheshire, Connecticut on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 11:30 am. CPTV will post the information on their website at: cptvfootball.org right after the press conference.
“We are proud to partner with the CIAC to bring high school sports coverage to viewers across Connecticut. If the games are well received by our viewers, CPTV will consider airing more sports, perhaps even an all-sports channel in the future,” says Jerry Franklin, President and CEO of Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc.
Good stuff. You have to wonder which ones they’ll do live though, and which ones will be on tape delay. And for that matter, who will call the games and/or handle color.
Great Idea !!!! I hope this will generate enough donations so this event will continue for a long time .
cant wait to see fairfield prep—–notred dame–law,stratford, ridgefield and all the other pretenders on cptv————oh wait their seasons are over
The games will be called by, the voice of NVL football, Bob Sagendorf and Steve Gesek of WATR 1320-AM in Waterbury. They are two of the best in the business, when it comes to high school football broadcasts.