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The Central Coast Section (CCS) and PlayOn! Sports (PlayOn) announced the launch of the Central Coast Network, a partnership providing multi-platform distribution of California high school sports content.

The announcement came Tuesday and represents an unprecedented postseason coverage of Central Coast Section high school sports, beginning this fall. Sports will be made available to fans in a variety of live and on-demand formats across web and mobile devices.

"The Central Coast Section is excited to partner with PlayOn to enhance coverage of high school sports and the athletes in our Section," CCS Commissioner Nancy Lazenby Blaser said. "We believe the CCS has an exciting high school sports environment that will now be available to viewers throughout the state, across the country and around the world, all while providing our student athletes, their families and their fans unique access to their outstanding achievements."

The new Internet video portal for the Central Coast Network, www.cifcentralcoast.tv, will host all events produced through the partnership. Many events will be streamed live and all events will be archived and made available on demand.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Central Coast Section of the CIF to create a network of high school sports content in California that celebrates California's student athletes," said Tim Eichorst, President of PlayOn. "We are building a library of content that will allow students, families, and communities access to their school's sports and activities programs in a way they haven't had before."

The network portals will commence this fall with coverage of football, field hockey and cross country, among others. Additional coverage throughout the year will feature a wide range of both boys and girls sports in California.

An added bonus to the partnership is the opportunity for high schools to produce regular season sports and school activities through the School Broadcast Program.

"Schools can leverage the PlayOn platform to create content, provide educational opportunities for students, generate exposure for student athletes, and provide unique digital advertising opportunities for sponsors," Eichorst said. "We are rolling this program out immediately and hope to have an initial group of schools producing and broadcasting their activities during this fall sports season."

The announcement is part of a nationwide network established by PlayOn that also includes cable deals. Costs associated with the service were not announced.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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