DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa High School Sports Network and the Iowa High School Athletic Association announced that their nearly 20-year media rights deal will come to an end.

In 2023, the Iowa High School Sports Network (IHSSN) announced changes to its model that charged the public to watch certain live events. The IHSSN is the media rights holder for select championship events for the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). The IHSAA objected to these changes, and filed a petition in Polk County District Court to prevent it.

On Tuesday the IHSSN and IHSAA announced they’ve reached a resolution that would make livestreaming for finals round free to the public through the rest of the 2024-2025 athletic year, and would end their nearly 20-year media rights agreement.

The IHSSN will continue providing viewing for IHSAA state tournaments via cable, broadcast, and on the IHSSN website and app through the 2025 state baseball tournament.

Starting August 1, 2025 media rights for events will return to the IHSAA.

The IHSAA and IHSSN released the following joint statement about the announcement:

IHSAA and IHSSN have reached a resolution in their media rights dispute which will make finals round livestreams free for viewers in 2024-25 and conclude their longstanding agreement following this athletic year.

The settlement ends litigation which has been ongoing since the IHSAA filed its initial petition in June 2023. IHSSN has been the IHSAA’s exclusive rights holder for championship events since 2006.

IHSSN will continue to provide for select IHSAA state tournament events for viewing via cable network, broadcast network, www.ihsnn.com, and the Watch IHSSN app through the 2025 IHSAA State Baseball Tournament.

IHSSN made state tournament finals available for free streaming starting with last month’s football championships. Earlier state tournament rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, etc.) will require a fee if viewing via livestream.

Media rights for IHSAA events will return to the IHSAA effective Aug. 1, 2025.

IHSSN and IHSAA

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