Stay tuned for Eagle football this fall

Published Sunday, June 24, 2007

By Brandon Evans

All Decatur Eagle football games go worldwide this fall.

Decatur ISD entered into a year-long agreement with KSQX 89.1 FM at Thursday’s regular school board meeting. The Weatherford-based KSQX will serve as the exclusive broadcaster of every Decatur High School football game this fall.

“We would like to cover all of your football games and give these kids the exposure they deserve,” said John Peterson, the general manager for the radio station.

Peterson said the station also hopes to cover other Eagle sports such as baseball, basketball and softball.

KSQX will team with the hosts of “Friday Night Fever” to deliver live football action. “Friday Night Fever” formerly broadcast on the now defunct KBOC Bridgeport station. But KBOC only covered a handful of games per year, while KSQX promises to air every regular and post-season game. The games will also be broadcast live on the World Wide Web via KSQX’s Web site.

Superintendent Gary Gindt said the exclusive agreement does not prevent other stations with broadcasting agreements with opponents from covering their respective games.

“We don’t make any money on this, but I think it will be good for the district,” Gindt added.

KSQX currently beams 3,000 watts of power, but they recently licensed with the Federal Communications Commission to increase the wattage to 50,000. The additional wattage would allow the broadcast to be heard throughout most of the Metroplex region.

Although based in Parker County, the station is searching for a Wise County location as well.

“We are looking for a location in Decatur right now,” Peterson said. “We want to be a community station. We need a presence here.”

Decatur athletic director and football coach Kyle Story said the deal would also benefit the merchants that advertise during the games by providing them with one, consistent place to advertise.

The school board also honored Tony Grimes, a U.S. history teacher at Decatur Middle School, as the June employee of the month for the district.

And the board recognized Candace Mahaffey as the valedictorian of the class of 2007.

The meeting began with the swearing-in of Ruby Quanz to the school board. Her employment with the district had delayed her swearing-in as a new board member.