CHSAA and CETJoin Forces for State Championship Broadcasts

Comcast and ISPN to Produce and Broadcast 4A, 5A Football and Basketball Championship Games

Aurora, CO – The Colorado High School Activities Association and Comcast Entertainment Television have agreed in principle to broadcast the Associations’ Class 4A and 5A football and girls’ and boys’ basketball state championship games over the next two years. ISPN, the production company that partners with Comcast on other high school sports broadcasts, will provide production expertise for the games.

                The agreement, which commences this fall with the Class 4A and 5A football championships on December 5 at Invesco Field at Mile High, includes the 2010 4A, 5A girls’ and boys’ basketball and football title games and the 2011 basketball championships. All broadcasts will be on a taped delayed basis, with second day airing on CET’s Channel 5 and then available on Comcast’s Video on Demand.

                “We are pleased to partner with Comcast on our football and basketball championship broadcasts. The nature of high school sports does not change whether a championship is aired live or taped delayed. We now have an opportunity that encourages high school football and basketball fans to come to the arena to view the games live. Comcast and ISPN have broadcast hundreds of prep athletic events and provide a great service to our students as they showcase their abilities on the field and on the court,” CHSAA Commissioner Bill Reader said.

                “Comcast is proud to further our local commitment to our customers.  Colorado High School athletics play a big part within our communities, and is a big part of Comcast Entertainment Television’s programming lineup.  The Championship games will be seen in primetime, and on the weekends, and also be available on our video-on-demand platform.  Each one making it easy for consumers to watch when it’s convenient for them,” said CET Director and General Manager Robert James.  

                In exchange for the rights to these championship contests, the CHSAA receives advertising and promotional airtime, along with production time for public service announcements and advertisements. A cash stipend to the CHSAA also accompanies the agreement.

Comcast is the biggest provider of high school athletics in the state of Colorado, producing and delivering more than 120 events annually, more than all other local broadcasters and cable nets combined, including regular season, playoff and championship events for Comcast Entertainment Television and Video-On-Demand. All are tape delayed.

CET is available on channel 5 throughout Denver metro, Boulder, Fort Collins, Castle Rock and points north and west.  CET is available on channel 4 in Colorado Springs and Pueblo.  CET is a 24/7 channel available to Comcast Colorado cable subscribers only – approximately 800,000 households throughout the state of Colorado.  CET’s programming includes high school sports, collegiate sports, entertainment, documentaries, movies, finance, and other genres.

VOD is available to all Comcast Colorado digital cable subscribers. VOD subscribers can access programs on VOD at their leisure, and can pause, fast forward, rewind, and replay the program as many times as they want.  High school sports on VOD are offered free of charge to Comcast Colorado customers.

ISPN is CET’s exclusive production vendor for Colorado High School sporting events.  ISPN produces each game to from ninety minute to 2½ hour format.  Games are delivered on a tape format and aired on a tape delayed basis.  ISPN interacts with CHSAA, along with school district athletic directors and coaches.

Along with ISPN, CET provides the CET weekly ‘top ten’ rankings, announcer online blogs, and an upcoming monthly newsletter email to athletic directors and coaches. ISPN has produced CHSAA championship events in softball, cross country, soccer, volleyball and baseball over the past several years for CET.