By Hannah Osborne
Peachtree Sports Network brings around the clock Georgia sports coverage to Georgia viewers. This coverage will make viewership more accessible and affordable.
The Atlanta-based Gray Television announced last week that the Peachtree Sports Network will broadcast live games from the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G-League, high school football through Score Atlanta, hockey from the Atlanta Gladiators and the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL, the Georgia Swarm of the National Lacrosse League, and ultimate disc from the Atlanta Hustle of the American Ultimate Disc League.
Along with the coverage of minor league sporting events, Score Atlanta partners with Peachtree Sports Network to expand the coverage of high school, and middle school, sports coverage in Georgia.
The value of local sports has not been more obvious to broadcasting than in recent years. Not only are broadcasters able to serve their communities through broadcasting local sporting events such as baseball, football, soccer and more, but this touchpoint allows broadcasters to further harness a relationship with their community that can expand to community events, news and emergencies.
Atlanta News First reports the first live sporting event will take place Friday, Oct. 6th from Score Atlanta, five days after the network launches. The Cass Colonels of White, GA will take on the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes of Cartersville, GA.
“What we have seen with our coverage so far is the exposure it gives both the schools in general and the student-athletes that want to go play at the college level,” says Score Atlanta President, I.J. Rosenberg. “And I am not talking about the highest recruited kids. It is happening at every level of college. We want to continue to build that with more than just football.”
Rosenberg notes that girls’ high school sports in particular has experienced an interest growth in recent years.
The coverage of Peachtree Sports Network and Score Atlanta provide a unique opportunity to minor league and high school sporting events that have usually passed under the live broadcasting radar.
These athletes, and their loved ones, will now have the chance to not just hear their name over the airwaves, but actually see themselves in action on television.
“I think we will have the chance to become the place to go for high school sports news,” says Rosenberg.
This will be the first taste of playing on live television for many of these student athletes.
Gray Television markets include Atlanta (WANF-TV and WPCH-TV), Augusta (WRDW-TV), Savannah (WTOC-TV), Columbus (WTVM-TV), Macon (WPGA-TV), and Albany (WALB-TV).
