KPRL will no longer broadcast Bearcat football games
–Local radio station KPRL announced that, after 50 years, it will no longer be broadcasting Paso Robles High School Bearcat football games.
The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District asked for a $100 fee per game and for media to bid for space in the broadcast booths. No stations bid for the games; and no other high schools in the county charge radio stations to broadcast their games, according to KPRL. KPRL, which has carried the Bearcat games for about 50 years, has moved its focus to cover the Templeton Eagles.
The school district responded, saying that it recently implemented Athletic Event Broadcasting Guidelines, “In order to ensure equity and equal rights for media through a formal bid process,” according to a press release sent from the district.
There has been no previous policy or practice that meets the guidelines of government code or district policy. The district consulted with the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIFSS) Office to create these broadcasting guidelines. The contract serves two purposes: It ensures that PRJUSD meets the requirements of a formal bid process for the state of California and it protects the media agency who would benefit by receiving a guarantee of games and official rights allowing it to secure advertising from sponsors, according to the district.
100-percent of the revenue generated would go directly to student athletes to pay for items such as uniforms and reconditioning of helmets and equipment to follow safety protocols.
Since the open bid process has concluded and all vendors were provided an equal opportunity, PRJUSD may now negotiate a contract with an interested media company under terms the same as or similar to that which was originally published. The district is encouraging all local media outlets who are interested in broadcasting Bearcat Athletics to consider submitting a request to PRJUSD to continue the Bearcat tradition.
For more information regarding the open bid process or to submit a new proposal for broadcasting games, contact Chief Business Officer Duane Wolgamott at dkwolgamott@pasoschools.org or Superintendent Chris Williams at cpwilliams@pasoschools.org.
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