The year was 1982 and Little League’s District 9 needed an effective and convenient way to release its tournament schedule and results to the rest of the public. The internet didn’t exist, phone calls left much to be desired, and snail mail slowed the spread of information to a crawl.
The solution ended up being more successful than anticipated, the District 9 Scoreboard Show, a television show three decades in the making.
Little League is a massive organization that manages youth baseball and softball throughout the country. In 1982, officials reached out to WKTV with an idea, create a show geared towards the Little League playoffs. The show would air the game schedule and results, interview players and teams, and keep the league updated during the hectic playoff schedule!
While the main purpose of the show was to disseminate information regarding the league, the Scoreboard Show allowed the Little League participants their shining moment, and shine they did.
Teams, complete with full roster and coaching staff, are given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the community on WKTV. The players and coaches are interviewed and give insight into their team and season. Players talk about themselves and take time for shout outs to family and friends!
With the prevalence of the internet, and technology as a whole, the Scoreboard Show’s initial responsibility has lost its muster. League schedules and results can now be found online.
It’s quick and easy, just like everything in the internet age.
The Scoreboard Show has had to adapt with the changes in technology. While the scores and schedules are still reported, it’s the focus on the players, the kids, that keep the show alive.
“As a community media station, we’re here to serve the community,” explains WKTV General Manager Tom Norton, “The Scoreboard Show is a perfect example of what we’re here for. People now go to the internet for the scores, but the internet doesn’t build the community. The internet can’t showcase the players and their coaches. The Scoreboard Show can.”
When a show’s been on the air for over three decades, some evolution is necessary, but it’s important to keep the soul of the broadcast. That soul is what people come back for. The Scoreboard Show has kept its soul – every Little Leaguer in District 9 who has stepped onto the diamond.
