Pocatello radio station in dispute over broadcast rights

For more than 20 years, Pocatello based radio station KOUU has been broadcasting local high school football and basketball games.

This week, the Highland men’s basketball team will be playing in the state championship tournament in Boise and KOUU will not be there. All because of a dispute with the Idaho High School Activities Association.

Although it’s having an impact now, it’s an issue that dates back to 2017.

“In that specific year, our contract gave us exclusive streaming and radio broadcast rights for all of Highland, Century and Pocatello games,” KOUU operations manager David Bowman explained.

According to Bowman, the station had an issue during the state championship Highland football game, when district officials, acting on the requests of the IHSAA, asked them to stop streaming.

Now, Bowman said the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 has backed away from helping them. But with the tournament starting on Thursday, Bowman just wants someone from the district to reach out to the IHSAA.

“They are unwilling to do that at this point,” Bowman said.

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District PIO Courtney Fisher said that it’s “not a dispute” with the district, rather one with the IHSAA.

Last year, through legal action, the station was granted access to broadcast the tournament. It was Bowman’s belief that the issue was then resolved.

“Now we’re finding out that we are having some problems being able to do some of the things we’ve been able to do for so many years,” he said.

With the first games only two days away, the station is looking for some sort of immediate resolution.

“I am reluctant to think that something will happen at this point,” Bowman said. “But I’m hoping for the best.”

The IHSAA was not immediately reachable for comment Tuesday.