Through a groundbreaking venture between the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), high school football fans were able to watch all six CIAC championship games from the comfort of their living rooms.

The Class S New London vs. Ansonia game and the Class L Masuk vs. Bunnell match-up were broadcast live on December 1st while the remaining four championship games aired on Sunday, December 2nd. All six games were rebroadcast on CPTV's digital channel, CPTV2, the following week. Furthermore, CPTV has made all of the games available via streaming on-demand on its website at: cptvfootball.org. The streaming option is free and is available through December 31, 2007. For more information on these broadcasts, visit casciac.org/fbpromo.shtml.

The response to the CIAC-CPTV partnership has been overwhelming (the emails below offer just a small glimpse). The CIAC hopes to have an opportunity to expand this promising partnership. Says CIAC Executive Director Mike Savage, “We would like to thank CPTV for having the vision and courage to "test the waters" to determine the marketability of high school athletics in our state. We know that there is a market for high school sports. We see first-hand the amazing accomplishments that take place on our high school playing fields each and every day - accomplishments that the public should be allowed to witness, share in and celebrate.”

"Fred Capozziello" writes:

> Great job airing the CIAC football finals. I
> think you could go one step further and, next
> year, air a random one or two games during > the regular season of games around the state.
> Charge a few bucks more at the gate to help
> offset the costs.
>
>Fred Capozziello


“The Guzze Family” writes:

> Hi-
>
> We just want to let you know thanks for broadcasting > all of the High School Football "Championship
> Saturday" Games. It was very enjoyable.
>
> We hope you broadcast all of the championship
> basketball games in March.
>
> Thanks so much,
> The Guzze Family
> Home of the runner-up "Berlin High School Redcoats"

"Dixon, Woodrow L" writes:

> Ms. Bauer,
>
> As a Sports Correspondent for the Bloomfield Journal covering
> Bloomfield Sports for 14 years, including the Bloomfield Warhawks
> football championships under Jack Cochran as well as covering
> sports events for Bloomfield Access Television Station (BATV), I
> applaud and congratulate CPTV for its coverage of the 32nd State
> CIAC football playoff games.
>
> I watched most of the live telecasts of the Ansonia-New London game
> on Saturday afternoon and a portion of the Bunnell-Masuk game
> Saturday evening.
>
> Sunday, I watched large portions of the New Canaan-Hand, the
> Seymour-Tolland and the Berlin-Ledyard games, despite it being an
> NFL football Sunday.
>
> I believe CPTV hit on something special by broadcasting the state
> CIAC football games.
>
> I think CPTV can successfully have a second digital channel that
> televises various high school sporting events.
>
> I think the entire state will enjoy the live and/or taped broadcasts of
> the various sporting events involving the state's high school athletics
> programs.
>
> I know Bloomfield student-athletes and parents have enjoyed BATV's
> broadcast of the boys and girls hoop games that I have commentated
> over the last 13 years, and this past season I was the commentator for
> the first ever broadcast of Bloomfield girls’ soccer games on BATV.
>
> My point is that I believe there is a strong and untouched niche for
> the broadcasting of high school sports in the State. I think CPTV
> working in conjunction with WFSB Television (Joe Zone) may have
> started something special and exciting here.
>
> I think if CPTV and WFSB work with the local access stations, this
> can really take off.
>
> Thanks for the broadcast of the CIAC football games.
>
> Woody Dixon