AN OPEN LETTER TO DIRECTOR LOMBARDI
Director Lombardi –
We are Mike Mayer, webmaster of Havenfootball.net and Jim Allsman, owner of Tigers Radio Network and we have been operating our web pages since 2002 and 2008 respectively. We both began audio broadcasting Strath Haven and Marple Newtown football and then began full video streaming of all football games, both home and away.
Havenfootball.net also operate Delcohoops.com which is a web site and broadcasting operation following and promoting Delaware County high school basketball.
We wish to bring to your attention an on-going issue for schools and broadcasters like us when it comes to football and basketball playoffs at both the District and State levels.
In order to video stream the four games of the District 1 playoffs this year the cost for PIAA video streaming rights was over $5,000! Marple Newtown played in two games so their cost was $1350. This cost is in addition to District 1 receiving 100% of the tickets sales. District 1 does not pay the hosting school any facility fees but does pick-up game expenses for officials, personnel, and security.
While the fees appear reasonable for commercial broadcasters the reality is that no Philadelphia market broadcaster or cable operator has any interest in the games. High school sports are simply too fragmented and attract too small an audience.
