SportsLink Launches High School Football Reality Show

By Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal

SportsLink has launched a reality TV show called "The Ride" that will feature eight high school quarterbacks vying for a potential roster spot in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The 10-episode, half-hour show will air this fall in 50-60 million homes on Fox Sports RSNs throughout the country. Gannett also is expected to have digital distribution rights for all 10 episodes. It will feature quarterback coaches and experts like Tom Martinez, who trained Tom Brady, and ESPN's Ron Jaworski. SportsLink, which produces the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, partnered with Aurora Imaging Company on the show. The companies will retain and sell a portion of advertising inventory during the show, and Fox Sports affiliates will sell the remaining slots. SportsLink President Richard McGuinness said he hopes the show will become the "American Idol" of football. He added, "It's a reflection of where the high school sports market has gone. There's a lot more maturity in terms of high school football and media."