A rose to the Iowa High School Athletic Association for free-TV deal | Opinion

Iowa high school sports championships belong on Iowa PBS. And that’s who will broadcast and stream final contests in three boys sports beginning next school year after a protracted dispute. Because all’s well that ends well, this rose goes to leaders at the Iowa High School Athletic Association, who sued a partner to try to main free access to state championships and now have landed on the correct long-term solution.

Iowa PBS has been the familiar and reliable home for years for girls basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball finals, which are administered separately by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. It’s appropriate to add boys football, basketball and wrestling to that public broadcasting mix.

Things went off the rails for the boys when the private Iowa High School Sports Network said in 2023 it would being charging to view the events it was distributing for the athletic association. A lawsuit and settlement made those events free to watch this year in advance of the partners ending their deal this summer.

Scholastic sports have evolved drastically over time, especially recent years at the college level. But Iowa high school sports retain some romance and community pride that means no-cost championship broadcasts are a must. When a wrestler is going for a fourth state championship, fans in their hometown will be able to watch without paying. Same for a postseason football run after a community provided in-person support throughout the fall’s Friday nights. The Iowa PBS deal is worth celebrating in its own right.

— Des Moines Register Opinion staff

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: A rose to the Iowa High School Athletic Association | Opinion