Maine Public Broadcasting Network has broadcast games from the state’s high school basketball tournament for the last 36 years – but that streak could be coming to an end.

The Maine Principals’ Association has opened a bidding process for the rights to televise the regional boys’ and girls’ basketball semifinals and finals, as well as the state basketball finals, in February.

The MPA is expanding the basketball field to five enrollment classes this winter. As a result, MPBN was unable to guarantee coverage of all the regional semifinals and finals in 2016.

MPBN submitted a bid to broadcast just the 10 state championship games – boys and girls from three sites on Feb. 26 and 27 – but the MPA rejected that proposal, according to MPBN spokesman Cory Morrissey.

“With the fifth class, and three games being played at once from three locations, we just don’t have the infrastructure to do it,” said Morrissey.

The MPA is looking for bids that could provide live statewide coverage for all classes at all sites for the regional semifinals, finals and/or state games, or live coverage at each specific site for regional semifinals, finals and/or states. Preferred consideration would be given to site proposals that include statewide coverage.

Bids are also being taken for live web streaming.

The games will be played at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, the Augusta Civic Center and Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

Morrissey said the MPBN will submit another bid to the MPA. The bid will also include broadcasting the cheerleading state championships and a rebroadcast of all state basketball championships games on Feb. 28.

“That would create a championship weekend, a way to celebrate basketball across the state,” said Morrissey, the director of marketing and underwriting for the MPBN.

Bids will be taken until Nov. 13, though the MPA notes in a press release that it can change that date “if deemed necessary.”

Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH

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