Sponsors sought for CHS football telecasts

By Michael Picarella Acorn Staff Writer

A Calabasas High School Coyote football TV program is being presented on Calabasas TV-3 to increase community support for the high school team as it moves from small school California Interscholastic Federation Division IX to large school Division IV this season. The Coyotes are moving into the tougher Marmonte League this season and more support is needed to make the show a weekly attraction.

Parents of Calabasas High School students and CHS football coach Larry Edwards met during the summer to formulate a game plan that would boost attendance at Calabasas High School football games and they came up with a television campaign.

Supporters approached local video producer Ben Bercovici of In Sync Productions and convinced him to produce a TV program promoting CHS football. In Sync Productions donated the first episode, but Bercovici and others look for sponsors to finance additional programs and similar shows for the entire CHS athletic department. CTV-3, the government access channel for the city of Calabasas, is providing airtime.

"The (city’s) media department, communications and technology commission and the city council all agreed that supporting high school athletics would be great for the community and promised the group some playback time when the show was produced," said city of Calabasas media operations director Deborah Steller.

But sponsors must help get the program off the ground, Bercovici said.

Each show, if made weekly, would feature a player of the week and show footage of that player’s highlights. And each episode would analyze the upcoming opponent.

But right now, Bercovici said, only the initial show is available and it airs between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and in the mornings on weekends.

"From what I understand, the show did really well and everyone was happy with it," Bercovici said.

The first show focuses on the team’s new Marmonte League schedule (playing teams like Agoura, Westlake, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park), profiles of certain players and a look at summer training, according to Bercovici.

"I think Calabasas High needs (this show) for them to start a winning tradition," Bercovici said. "It’s a great way to bring the community together ... I think it’s a great show that no one should miss and it’s really very informative," he said.

For more information, call Deborah Stellar at Calabasas City Hall; (818 )878-4225 or In Sync Productions; (818)761-2323.

The Acorn takes a preseason look at Coyote football on page 45.