KSBI Thunder TV aired 16 regular season football games in the 2009 campaign.  As with last season, KSBI will not broadcast any of the playoff games this season.

In the spring of 2008, The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association (OSSAA) awarded the rights to post season sporting events to a cable sports company beginning with the 2008 playoffs.  The deal is a three year deal, currently in its second year.

During the three years prior to 2008 when KSBI had the contractual rights to post season high school sports, the station was setting records in broadcasting in the state of Oklahoma for the amount of playoff games and classes of schools aired LIVE all across the state of Oklahoma either over the air, through cable companies or satellite providers. KSBI also produced and aired playoffs and championships in basketball, soccer, swimming, diving, and wrestling at the high school level.

“We are trying to disseminate the word to our viewers, the coaches, the players, and even the referees who continue to call asking us which games we will be covering this season,” said Brady Brus, FBG Inc. President. “We respect the OSSAA’s decision from a couple of years ago, and we are honoring that. At that time the cable sports outlet apparently offered a little more money than we did, and they chose to go with the money. When the time frame ends on their contract we will resubmit, and see what happens,” Brus said.  “I think the viewers, kids, coaches, and communities had grown accustom to being able to see the large number of LIVE playoff and championship games we had been producing.  Those who are contacting us are telling us they are frustrated because the cable sports channel isn’t available over the air to them or even on their specific cable or satellite provider’s basic lineup and that there are only a few games being shown, and of those, many aren’t LIVE.”

Brus said he understands the frustration, but the station is honoring the decision of the OSSAA’s board members.

KSBI’s coverage of regular season high school basketball begins within the next couple of weeks.  The schedule will be released soon and available on KSBI’s website.

Please feel free to contact us with your comments about the lack of playoff coverage by email to info@ksbitv.com,