Title games to be televised

For the first time in more than a decade, Nevada's state football and basketball championships will be aired live on television next season.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) has agreed to exclusive postseason television and radio contracts with Elmore Sports Group, which plans to broadcast the 4A state football, boys basketball and girls basketball title contests live.

"This is a step in the right direction for high school sports," said Alex Shelton, Elmore's national director of sales and marketing. "With the type of growth Nevada has had, it's a natural next step."

Shelton said that the games will likely be aired on the city of Las Vegas' Channel 2 in Southern Nevada, along with a station to be determined in Northern Nevada.

In addition, Shelton said Elmore will broadcast regular season and playoff football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball games on KRLV 1340-AM locally, along with stations in Reno, South Tahoe, Carson, Elko and Fallon as well as on the Internet.

Last year, Elmore broadcasted more than 110 games on radio and the Internet, including every game at the Lawlor Events Center during the 1A-4A State Basketball Tournament.

"The key thing is that Alex has expanded into statewide coverage, into Reno, Elko and Las Vegas," NIAA executive director Jerry Hughes said. "Our goal has always been to do this as a statewide broadcast.

"The live TV thing is pretty intriguing. It sounds exciting."

The NIAA received bids from Elmore Sports and from Caples Productions, which aired taped television football, basketball and baseball games last season on Cox Cable Channel 48.

"It was basically a business decision, and one bid was just better than the other," Hughes said. "Caples did a good job and there are some things they do that we'll miss."

archive