Page 52 - 2024 Annual Report

t he Cham P ions n etw ork t he Cham P ions n etw ork

Champions The pairings shows on the IHSAA Champions Network do more than just reveal sectional matchups.

Teams and school communities gather to watch and prepare together for the competition they’ll face
during the State Tournaments.
Network

Transition from Television allowing student programs the opportunity
Partnership to broadcast tournament games for free
(saving member schools over $170,000 in
Following Bally Sports filing for bankruptcy, the process), the Association also returned
the IHSAA was faced with the challenge of a significant amount of broadcast revenue
finding alternative means to broadcast its back to its membership. In 2023-24, the
prestigious events. This was the catalyst Association returned all sectional rights
for the transition to IHSAAtv.org as the fees from internet-video broadcasts of the
Jake Tippmann, who served as Vice President of the IHSAA’s Student Advisory Committee, is interviewed on the exclusive broadcasting platform. Football and Basketball State Tournaments
Champions Network after being named the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Recipient in Class 5A Football. to member schools, totaling $90,257.
While the Association is not opposed to And we have maintained our tradition of
having a television partner as part of its providing the sectional and regional rounds
network, the resilience and adaptability of these tournaments for free to the public.
The IHSAA made significant strides of the organization ensured that all
in enhancing the accessibility of championship events were still made That return, in addition to the return
championship events through the available to viewers. of sectional ticket revenue from the
Champions Network. As part of this tournament events, exemplifies the
initiative, all IHSAA championships were Despite the challenges posed by the loss IHSAA’s dedication to supporting member
exclusively aired on IHSAAtv.org for the of a traditional television partnership, schools, fostering the growth, and
first time, marking a milestone in the the IHSAA took proactive steps to ensure expanding the accessibility of high school
organization’s commitment to expanding that member schools continued to benefit athletics in all Indiana school communities.
reach and engagement. from broadcast events. In addition to

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