Behind The Scenes

Cox Communications: Committed to High School Sports

Each year, Oklahomans anxiously await the bright stadium lights, deep-seeded school rivalries and contagious team spirit that only come from high school sports. Cox Communications shares this same passion and enthusiasm for high school sports and is committed to bringing these games directly to your home on the Cox Channel. To do this, Cox Communications will hit the road every Thursday and Friday night to bring you the best LIVE coverage of high school sports in the state.

“We have a great game schedule for the 2006 football season, but you will see us in many more areas than just football,” said Dave Bialis, President, Cox Oklahoma. “Throughout the 2006-2007 season, we will showcase Oklahoma’s best high school athletes as they compete in softball, basketball, swimming, wrestling and baseball.

“Cox Communications’ commitment to high school sports has never been stronger,” Bialis continued. “We are constantly looking at situations that will allow us to spotlight other high school sports and activities.” During the 2005-2006 school year, Cox televised nearly 100 LIVE high school sporting events.

High school sports coverage is just one more way Cox Communications is connecting with Oklahoma communities. “We’re not just here to provide video, phone and internet services. We’re here to enhance the lives of our customers and employees by making a difference in the communities we serve,” Bialis said. “As a local company, we take pride in giving back to our community and live local sports coverage is an important and unique service we can offer our customers.”

Cox Communications demonstrates its commitment to high school sports in many ways. One such way is the company’s investment in the state-of-the-art production facilities needed to produce these telecasts. Cox’s production facilities, along with the ability to transmit games live through multiple communication methods, is unparalleled in Oklahoma. “The simple fact that we continue to develop these facilities underlines our desire to provide the highest quality of local programming in our state,” Bialis said.

Cox Communications production facilities include studios in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, plus multiple production trucks outfitted with the latest television equipment. The Cox production trucks travel across the state to bring customers a wide variety of Oklahoma high school sports coverage.

As in the past, Cox Communications will open each live football telecast with “High School Primetime,” Cox’s own 30-minute pre-game broadcast. Hosted by sports personality Rod Thompson, “High School Primetime” features the players and coaches from the game’s host city, as well as tailgate recipes and pre-game commentary.

“Each community we visit has a unique personality,” Bialis said. “High School Primetime” gives us a chance to get the fans excited about the game, plus highlight some of the great things going on around the state. We’re thrilled to give Oklahoma high school athletes a place to showcase their talents and skills.”

In the press box and from the sidelines, fans will see the familiar faces of KOTV Sports Director John Holcomb, and Tulsans J.V. Haney and Rod Thompson returning to their commentator positions this season. In Oklahoma City, broadcast veteran, Steve Marshall, will provide the play-by-play while local gridiron greats, Tim Lashar and Paul Blair, provide color commentary on all of your favorite high school teams. Lasher is a former University of Oklahoma place kicker and Blair a former offensive lineman for Oklahoma State University.

Cox Communications is primed and ready for another exciting season of high school sports and we look forward to bringing our customers the best in LIVE sports coverage on the Cox Channel.