IHSAA, Iowa PBS come to agreement for broadcasts of state basketball, wrestling, football championships

CEDAR RAPIDS - Football, wrestling and basketball state tournaments no longer are pay per view.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Friday afternoon that is has reached a multi-year agreement with Iowa PBS to broadcast its championships in those three sports.

The deal begins with the 2025-26 school year.

“We are thrilled to partner with Iowa PBS to bring our football, wrestling, and basketball state championship broadcasts to fans across the state,” IHSAA Executive Director Tom Keating said in a press release. “Our fans have asked for a free and easily accessible broadcast option, and Iowa PBS is just that.”

The IHSAA announced in December that it was ending its long-time relationship with the Iowa High School Sports Network after the 2024-25 sports season. The sides had been involved in a legal dispute about the IHSSN charging fees for its internet broadcasts of state championships.

Iowa PBS already provides coverage of girls’ state basketball, volleyball and softball. The IHSAA said Iowa PBS additionally will provide special programming “highlighting stories of student-athletes, their sports, and communities.”

“The stories of Iowa student-athletes, teams, coaches, and communities are at the center of our Iowa PBS Sports coverage,” said Andrew Batt, executive director and general manager at Iowa PBS in a release. “We are excited to extend our award-winning, in-depth broadcasts to the IHSAA and mutually ensure statewide access of these games across all 99 counties of Iowa and beyond. Every Iowan deserves an opportunity to witness these athletes pursue a championship on our state’s most extensive broadcast and streaming network.”

Iowa PBS broadcasted the state wrestling tournament until 2002.

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