In another move toward hyperlocalism, Gannett has acquired a controlling interest of the company that owns HighSchoolSports.net, a leading online site for high school sports.
Gannett’s investment in Schedule Star also gives the media conglomerate control of the Schedule Star program for local athletic directors. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
HighSchoolSports.net offers a wide variety of online high school sports, with more unique visitors than any other site, according to Nielsen//NetRatings’ NetView. The site covers every level of high school athletics from middle school to varsity, providing updated school schedules, scores, stats and social-networking elements.
Schedule Star is a scheduling tool for high school athletic directors and is the engine that drives the HighSchoolSports.net network.
Gannett is the latest media company to enter the increasingly competitive high school sports market. The company intends to partner the site with its 85 daily newspapers, 23 TV stations and other Web sites.
Among others that have recently bought into high school sports sites are Hearst-Argyle Television (HighSchoolPlaybook.com), CBS (Maxpreps.com), Belo (HSGametime.com), FOX Television Stations (FoxHilites.com) and Emmis Communications (IHSAAsports.com).
