Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB Media) announced today a sweeping new initiative to cover statewide high school football.  Beginning August 26, GPB will televise 15 high school football games on Friday nights on its nine-station network.  GPB will air an additional 15 games online at GPB.org/sports.  The televised game will begin at 8:00p.m. and the web-based game will begin at 7:30p.m. Both games will be streamed live at GPB.org/sports and accompanied by an interactive chat.  Additionally, the televised game will be simulcast on 790 The Zone.

“We want all of Georgia to know that GPB is not only your home for Sesame Street and Antiques Roadshow but for great original programming like Georgia Traveler and now high school football,” said Teya Ryan, President and Executive Director of GPB Media. “What better way to connect with schools across our state than through the goal posts – we’ll feature academic all stars, teachers, bands, coaches and cheerleaders – we’ll cover every aspect of the each school’s achievements along with some terrific play by play football.”  

Two Games Every Friday Night

Football Fridays coverage kicks off at 7:00PM with GPB Sports Central online, hosted by Mark Harmon and broadcast live from the televised game venue.  Joined by co-hosts Nikki Noto, Jon Nelson, and Gil Tyree, GPB Sports Central will focus on coach and player interviews, the week’s top high school football stories, stats, scores and projections. 

The web-based game will begin at 7:30 p.m., then GPB Sports Central returns to air at 7:50p.m. with a pre-game show leading up to the 8:00p.m. kick-off with Gil Tyree and Dave Hunter in the booth. 

The Superbowl for High School Football on GPB

GPB continues its 20-year relationship with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) broadcasting the State Championship finals for Football, Cheerleading, Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball through 2016.  “Football has been a huge win for us,” says Ryan. “Last year during the Championship games GPB was the number one watched PBS station in the country and the webcast was viewed by people from all 50 states and 127 countries -- including 100 logins from Afghanistan!” This year’s Championship football games will take place in the Georgia Dome on December 9 and 10.

 Football Fridays in Georgia Schedule:

August 26                                TV - Collins Hill @ Roswell

                                                WEB – St. Pius X @ Westminster

September 2                           TV -     McEachern @ Lowndes

                                                WEB – Blessed Trinity @ Grady

(More…)

September 9                           TV – Newnan @ Peachtree Ridge

                                                WEB – Colquitt County @ Westlake

September 16                         TV – Southwest DeKalb @ Marist

                                                WEB – Wesleyan @ Holy Innocents

September 23                         TV – Mill Creek @ Norcross

                                                WEB – Lovett @ Buford

September 30                         TV – Lassiter @ Walton        

                                                WEB – Ringgold @ Heritage

October 7                                TV – Valdosta @ Lowndes

                                                WEB – LaGrange @ Carrollton

October 14                              TV - Thomas Co. Central @ Northside Warner Robbins

                                                WEB – Mary Persons @ Peach County

October 21                              TV – Woodstock @ Etowah

                                                WEB – North Forsyth @ Centennial

October 28                              TV – Brookwood @ Grayson                         

                                                WEB – Sandy Creek @ Fayette County

November 4                            TV - Stephenson @ MLK                   

                                                WEB – Chattahoochee @ Rome

November 11                          TV – First Round

WEB – First Round

(More…)

November 18                          TV – Second Round

WEB – Second Round

November 25                          TV – Quarter Finals

 WEB - Quarter Finals           

December 2                            TV - Semi Finals

                                                WEB – Semi Finals

December 9, 10                      GHSA State Football Championship Games

As one of the highest rated PBS stations in the nation, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB Media), has been creating content worth sharing for over 50 years. With nine television stations, 17 radio stations and a multi-faceted web presence, GPB strives to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of our viewers and listeners with programming that includes statewide radio news, current affairs, high school sports, educational resources for teachers and students and enlightening programs about our state like Georgia Traveler and Georgia Outdoors.

Watch Georgia Public Broadcasting on these nine stations across Georgia: Atlanta – Channel 8.1; Albany - WABW/14.1, Augusta - WCES/20.1, Chatsworth - WCLP/18.1, Columbus - WJSP/28.1, Dawson - WACS/25.1, Macon - WMUM/29.1, Savannah - WVAN/9.1 ,Waycross - WXGA/8.1

(GPB)