The Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) have reached a groundbreaking partnership aimed at expanding access for local radio and digital broadcasters to school playoff and championship events, including via the NFHS Network platform that allows fans to watch videos of games online.
Through the agreement, PAB member stations will be eligible for a 25% discount on the audio broadcast rights fees for all rounds of the PIAA playoffs and championship games. And stations that air at least three-quarters of a school’s regular-season home contests may now video-stream playoff games up to the state finals via NFHS Network — rights that were previously exclusive to NFHS. The arrangement is in effect through December 2026.
The NFHS Network, a joint venture of the National Federation of State High School Associations and PlayOn! Sports, is the leading platform for live and on-demand streaming of high school sports nationwide. It covers 27 sports and related activities, and partners with over 44 state high school associations to deliver content to fans across devices.
Under the PAB–PIAA agreement, the NFHS Network will serve as the conduit through which local broadcasters may deliver video broadcasts of postseason PIAA events, integrating local media into a national high school sports ecosystem.
PAB President Joe Conti described the new arrangement as one of the most significant things the trade group has achieved, overcoming years of friction over broadcast access have thawed through cooperative negotiation. He described the collaboration as a model for how local media can thrive in partnership with schools and state athletic associations.
“The FCC demands us to be involved in the community, and the PIAA is deeply involved with scholar-athletes,” Conti said. “We’re sort of on the same page — both of us trying to make sure that three generations — grandparents, parents, and students — can watch or listen to these games.”
In 2019, PIAA cut the cost of broadcasting fees to help promote local broadcasters and bring more exposure to high schools across the state. They will continue to keep the same media rights fees through 2025-2026 school year.
Beyond game access, the two organizations are launching a joint marketing effort to co-produce public service announcements for radio, television, and digital platforms highlighting student-athletes, sportsmanship, and the need for more high-school referees.
“We may help them find more officials by producing a spot that can air statewide,” Conti said. “And we’ll also trumpet what broadcasters do in their communities. We’re not cable. We’re your local, free, over-the-air connection to the community.”
Conti expects the collaboration could triple or even quadruple the number of Pennsylvania schools with broadcast coverage. “Right now, maybe 75 school programs are on the air — we could get 250 or 300,” he predicted. “The more games stations can broadcast, the more opportunities there are for ad revenue. Between copyright fees going up and other financial challenges, this is a badly needed win for local radio.”
To preserve momentum, the agreement mandates annual meetings between PAB and PIAA leadership to review performance and explore further collaboration, including potential statewide radio coverage of PIAA championship finals.
“We’re meeting every year now, and it’s a real partnership,” Conti said. “What started as a tough negotiation has turned into something that helps everyone — schools, stations, and communities. The future for high school sports broadcasting in Pennsylvania looks bright.”
If successful, the partnership may serve as a model for how state athletic associations and broadcasters can align with national streaming networks like NFHS, integrating local voices into a broader high school sports media ecosystem.