Since 2018, Arkansas PBS and the Arkansas Activities Association have delivered live broadcasts of high school state championships, bringing the excitement and stories of student-athletes and their communities into homes across the state.
With our Mid-America Emmy- and Public Media Award-winning production team, these live broadcasts give every student-athlete – regardless of school size – the spotlight they deserve.
“I’m from a rural town in Arkansas, from Stephens, Arkansas. We could have never dreamed of playing our games on television,” Arkansas PBS Director of Local Productions Tanisha Joe-Conway said. “The fact that the whole community comes together to rally around these kids and high schools, I know what that feels like.”
For many student-athletes, the dream is playing on the state’s biggest stages: Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs (volleyball and basketball), War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock (football) and Bear Stadium and Farris Field at the University of Central Arkansas (baseball and softball).
Arkansas PBS ensures that even those who can’t be in the stands can share in the excitement through high-quality broadcasts.
“But now, there’s an added advantage of a professional-level broadcast,” Arkansas PBS Producer Kevin Clark said. “What we’re producing here is a keepsake.”
Not only does Arkansas PBS produce high-level broadcasts but telling stories of student-athletes and their communities is equally important.
“When we started sports, I immediately thought about the opportunity to tell the types of stories that we are exposed to through the lens of sports.” – Kevin Clark, Producer
From student-athletes persevering after familial loss, to schools closing their doors after a final championship season, to showing the world that ability, not obstacles, defines the path, these broadcasts bring to light stories that may otherwise have gone unknown.
And because they’re produced at the highest level, those stories and moments reach communities statewide – transforming each broadcast into something families and fans will return to for years to come.
“When you know your whole hometown is rooting for you, they’re watching and could be there if they can,” Joe-Conway said. “But if they can’t, they can turn on the TV and take a look at those kids. I hope it makes them proud of what their kids have done, proud of the community they’re bringing together, and that they look forward to watching every year.”
Every broadcast is a celebration – of student-athletes, of schools and of the communities that support them. Arkansas PBS doesn’t just televise the games; we capture the moments and tell the stories that make high school sports unforgettable, giving every family and fan a front-row seat to the excitement.
Watch Now:
See all of the outstanding AR PBS Sports features at myarpbs.org/sportsfeatures.
Additional information is available at myarpbs.org/sports.