Lawmakers Want to Keep High School Playoff Games Local, Free

posted on 3.17.2025

- Bills Would Allow Stations to Follow Schools into Playoffs

Two state lawmakers from East Texas have filed legislation intended to ensure that local Radio and TV stations covering high school sports teams throughout the regular season can continue to cover them if they reach the playoffs, something that the UIL has blocked after signing a contract with an out-of-state vendor.

HB 4375/SB 2511 by Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mount Pleasant, and Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, would ensure that students continue to benefit from having a professional video streaming or broadcast team who knows them and how to pronounce their names covering them in the playoffs.

In addition, their families and neighbors would continue to see the coverage for free, whereas the UIL’s private vendor requires a hefty monthly subscription for what many observers have characterized as a less robust production than what broadcast stations typically provide.

While the UIL has attempted to ensure all playoff games are covered, when their private vendor chooses not to cover a game there’s rarely enough time for the local Radio or TV station that would otherwise have covered it to arrange a production crew or lock in advertising sponsors.

Radio and TV stations that work closely with local high schools typically cover a wide range of sports and other extracurricular activities, sometimes covering marching band intermissions, parades and holiday celebrations.

Such partnerships reflect the unique role that local Radio and TV broadcasters play in the media marketplace. As licensees of the Federal Communications Commission, local Radio and TV stations are the only media subject to regulation or possessing a legal obligation to focus on and serve the needs of a geographically defined community.  

Next Steps

With regular bill filing having just closed March 14, it will take lawmakers several days for all bills to be referred to their respective committees.

Once those steps are completed, bill sponsors will start maneuvering to arrange hearings on their bills where interested parties and members of the public can testify.

TAB will keep stations informed of further developments on this legislation.

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.

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