IHSA Announcements
March 2, 2011
IHSA Basketball TV & Internet Viewing Information
Each winter, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) carries its Girls and Boys Basketball State Finals across the state on television via the IHSA TV Network. The IHSA TV Network is composed mostly of over-the-air networks, which not only cover larger portions of the state, but are also generally available on free television, cable and satellite. The IHSA TV Network currently has over-the-air networks based out of Rockford (WTVO), the Quad Cities (KGCW), Peoria (WAOE), Springfield (WCFN) and Evansville, Indiana (WFIE).
The remainder of the state receives over-the-air coverage from cities located outside of Illinois (St. Louis-MO, Paducah-KY, Terre Haute-IN, etc.). Those stations are generally more interested in broadcasting the high school events from their home states, thus, we then use local cable companies and local channels in an attempt to provide programming to the areas that are not covered by the over-the-air stations.
One-hundred percent coverage of the state of Illinois and coverage in the surrounding border areas in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin is and will continue to be the IHSA’s goal within the IHSA TV Network. It is important to dispel any notion that not providing areas with coverage would ever be beneficial to the IHSA or the IHSA TV Network. We have made a good faith effort to contact every cable outlet in the state in the areas that do not currently have coverage, but have not always been able to establish broadcasts for a variety of reasons.
We are always looking to add new carriers, so if you are not currently able to watch the IHSA’s state final television contacts, have your local cable provider contact Matt Troha (mtroha@ihsa.org) at the IHSA office for more information on carrying the games.
Chicago and the surrounding suburbs were previously covered by an over-the-air network that was available via free television, cable and satellite, but that station’s recent decision to only carry eight of the 32 IHSA March Madness tournament games necessitated the IHSA to switch its Chicagoland coverage. The IHSA has since teamed up with WMAQ’s new station, Chicago Nonstop, which is available on the Digital Channel 5.2, on Comcast at channel 341, on WOW at channel 130 and on RCN at channel 50. Chicago Nonstop will not be available on satellite this year, although satellite customers, and any other individuals, can connect an antenna on their television to receive the station.
When individuals contact the IHSA disappointed that they are unable to see our events on television, we share in their disappointment, but are also thankful for their support and interest in their community high schools and the IHSA. One way we have tried to help remedy coverage for those who cannot get the games on television is by launching IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv) and teaming with ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com). These free streaming websites allow for games to be viewed on the internet live or on-demand after they conclude.
There was a time when the IHSA was able to broadcast on a station like WGN to provide coverage across the country in one fell swoop, and while that option doesn’t currently exist, we believe that upgrades in technology, the development of more digital channels and the continued merger between television and internet viewing will soon allow for us to reach our goal of 100 percent coverage.
Thank you for your support and interest in IHSA events. If your question has still not been answered by this release, please email Matt Troha (mtroha@ihsa.org).
Below is a schedule of the internet broadcast location of the remaining IHSA basketball state final contests this year. All games are available on the IHSA TV Network. See the map at the bottom of the page for IHSA TV Network coverage.
GIRLS CLASS 3A/4A
Friday, March 5 Internet
Class 3A Semifinals ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
Class 4A Semifinals ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
Saturday, March 6 Internet
Class 3A Third-Place IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Class 3A State Championship ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
Class 4A Third-Place IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Class 4A State Championship ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
BOYS CLASS 1A/2A
Friday, March 11 Internet
Class 1A Semifinals IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Class 2A Semifinals IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Saturday, March 12 Internet
Class 1A Third-Place IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Class 1A State Championship ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
Class 2A Third-Place IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Class 2A State Championship ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
BOYS CLASS 3A/4A
Friday, March 18 Internet
Class 3A Semifinals ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
Class 4A Semifinals ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
Saturday, March 19 Internet
Class 3A Third-Place IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Class 3A State Championship ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
Class 4A Third-Place IHSA.tv (www.IHSA.tv)
Class 4A State Championship ESPN3 (www.ESPN3.com)
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This map above is a representation of the areas that have television coverage.
Many counties are covered by more than one over-the-air station or the county may be split between two bordering stations.
Only select cities may have coverage in some highlighted counties, especially those covered by cable stations.
Viewers should check local listings or the city-by-city listing below. The television broadcast will also be available free of charge on the Internet live on either www.IHSA.tv or www.ESPN3.com, depending on the game. ESPN3 is available through select internet service providers. Interested viewers are encouraged to test the site prior to the contests, as their Internet provider may require a password or account number for verification purposes.
KEY TO COLORS
Over-The-Air Stations
WMAQ (Digital 5.2) — Chicago
WTVO — Rockford
KGCW — Quad Cities & Burlington, IA
WAOE — Peoria
WCFN — Springfield
WFIE — Evansville, IN
Cable Stations
Adams Cable
Avenue Cable
Madison Cable
New Wave Cable
Wabash Valley Cable
NOTES ON COVERAGE
WTVO (Fox) and WTVO-DT2 (MyTV)
WMAQ (Digital Channel 5.2, Comcast 341, WOW 130, RCN 50) - Carrying all games
WAOE (Peoria's My 59) - Carrying all games
WCFN (TV49 Springfield) - Carrying all games
KGCW (Quad Cities CW) - Carrying all games
WFIE (newschannel 14.2) - Carrying all games
Moultrie Communications - Carrying all games
Madison Communications - Carrying all games
Newwave Cable - Carrying all games
Adams Communications - Carrying all games
US Sonet - Carrying all games
Cass Communications - Carrying all games
Avenue Broadband - Carrying all games
Oneida Cablevision - Carrying all games
Mediacom (MC22) available for all participating Mediacom subscribers in Illinois - Carrying all games
Newschannel 15 - Carrying all games
Comcast Duquoin - Carrying all games
Charter Cable Channel 8 (Madison, St. Clair, Macoupin, Bond counties) - Carrying select games
Movable Dishes
Owners of movable satellite dishes can receive the broadcasts directly.
The IHSA girls & boys basketball state finals can be accessed at the following satellite location:
Galaxy-03C 16K
Ku Digital-Only, Slot C
14329V/12029H
9 mghz
MPEG2 Audio encoding
6.1113(symbol rate),
3/4(FEC),
8.4(Data Rate)
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