Costs Not Minimal to Get Maximum Exposure on TV

TV or not TV?

That is the question, usually a costly one, that high schools are forced to ask when presented the opportunity to have a football game broadcast live by Fox Sports Net 2.

In a perfect world, it’s an ideal concept for a school, which gets to show off its football team and its campus. But being the host for a televised game can lead to financial headaches.

Newbury Park High is fumbling for the aspirin after spending a topsy-turvy month negotiating the broadcasting details of a game tonight against Westlake.

Because its stadium does not have adequate lighting for television, Newbury Park was told by Fox Sports Net 2 to pay for temporary lights. Because it cannot provide a direct transmission to Mt. Wilson, site of Fox Sports Net’s receiver, Newbury Park must pick up the tab for a truck to feed a different satellite.

The total estimated cost: Between $4,500 and $5,000.

Newbury Park considered playing the game at Moorpark High, Moorpark College, Royal High in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks High.

Anywhere but Westlake, where administrators eagerly volunteered to host the important Marmonte League game.

Lori Reece, the newly appointed athletic director at Newbury Park who played a critical role in negotiating the financial details of the game, didn’t like coughing up cash.

But she was told that Fox Sports Net 2, which is believed to spend between $15,000 and $30,000 to televise a high school football game--the network does not disclose contractual fees--had already reached its financial limit for the game.

“Personally, it’s difficult for me to pay anyone to have a game televised,” Reece said. “I’m used to thinking that a TV station makes quite a bit televising a game like this one because they’re going to get their advertising.

“I know we gain a great deal by having a game televised. But we know Fox Sports Net gains a great deal, too.”

George Hurley, Newbury Park’s football coach, echoed Reece’s position.

“They’re not doing this as a public service,” Hurley said. “They do it because it’s a business. Their job is to make money for their company.”

Newbury Park was fortunate to have parents of a junior varsity player donate four lighting trucks and an alumnus donate a satellite-transmission truck. The school won’t have to spend a nickel.

Not everyone is as lucky as Newbury Park.

Alemany hosted Hueneme last month in a season opener that was televised by Fox Sports Net 2. Alemany won, 65-30, but lost in the cash department. The school had to spend $2,000 for temporary lighting, money that could have been spent on 10 sets of helmets and shoulder pads. Or 50 footballs.

Instead, the cash came out of the game’s gate receipts, which totaled $4,000.

Alemany weighed its options--having its football team on TV vs. saving $2,000--and came up with an answer. Play ball. And don’t change that channel.

“I thought it was good for our kids to get that exposure,” Alemany Coach Jim Bonds said. “A lot of them won’t go on to play beyond high school and wouldn’t know what it’s like to be on TV.”

Bonds called the extra-lighting fees “silly,” but the show went on.

After all, the host school has the final right of refusal, a fact the TV people point out. A school can always back out if told by Fox Sports Net 2 that its facilities are inadequate for televising a game.

“If we can’t transmit [from a school], we just say we can’t do it,” said Andy Bark, president of Cal-Hi Sports, which acts as a go-between for Fox Sports Net 2 and the high schools.

“We don’t say we’ll do it if [the schools] get lighting and pay for transmission costs. This has not been pay to play. [Covering over-budget expenses] is usually brought up by them.”

Reece doesn’t think Newbury Park should have to cover any costs, but she understands the benefits of playing on TV.

“High energy, high pressure . . . they’re performing,” Reece said. “It’s not just the football program. It’s the athletic program. The band program. Everybody involved in putting on the game. Even those that are sitting on the bench. The whole school becomes highlighted.”

Fox Sports Net 2 realizes that, too.

“It’s been real popular and I don’t see it going away,” said Steve Webster, director of public relations for Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports Net 2.

“Advertising-wise, [it’s a success]. Consumer-wise, too. We have a lot of people writing in and thanking us. We’ve made a commitment to it and we’re glad that we did.”