November 13, 2000
The IHSA and its internet partner, iHigh.com, continue to look for new ways to use the Internet to provide enhanced coverage of state final sporting events.
On Saturday, November 18, girls swimming fans across the state will be able to hear a first -- complete audio coverage of the state finals, live from the Evanston Twp. High School pool. Listeners will hear the audio portion of the TV broadcast, which will be taped and later shown throughout the state on the IHSA TV Network. The girls swimming finals are always a sold-out event, so now fans who can't get a ticket but want to join the excitement can do so from the comfort of their own homes.
Then on Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25, the IHSA TV Network and iHigh.com will team up for yet another first -- live video coverage of all 6 football championship games over the Internet. iHigh.com will cybercast the same picture as the IHSA TV Network, which will carry the broadcast live on several over-the-air and cable outlets throughout the state. Now anyone in the world can watch the IHSA championship games in real time.
In addition, IHSA.org will carry live stats from all six football games. Whether you're watching the video on TV or on the Internet, you'll want to bring up the live stats page on your browser to keep track of every detail as the games are played. John Fredrick of stcsports.com will head the crew that updates the live stats, which will also serve as the official game statistics.
IHSA has provided similar services for previous state finals, but most with only an experimental "soft launch" (no official announcement). John Frederick's crew provided live stats from boys soccer this fall, and both iHigh.com and IHSA.org provided live stats from the girls and boys basketball tournaments earlier this year. In addition, iHigh.com provided live audio of the taped TV feed from both cross country and girls volleyball this fall.
Official announcement was made of iHigh.com's audio cybercast of the P.A. announcer at boys and girls track this spring. Those cybercasts were heard by thousands of fans across Illinois.