Nexstar Media Group and Mission Broadcasting will air all 12 UIL state football championship games live and free this December. For Houston-area viewers, KIAH and the CW39+ streaming platform are listed as carriers.
The games run Dec. 16-19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, according to CW39. Coverage will be available on Nexstar's Texas television stations, streaming platforms or both, depending on the market, so viewers should check local program listings for specifics.
That matters for Woodlands-area fans. The Woodlands Highlanders compete in Class 6A, and the broadcast window includes two 6A title games: the Division II championship on Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. and the Division I championship on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. The announcement does not specify which 6A division The Woodlands falls under.
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division, said the partnership reflects the company's local reach. "This is exactly the kind of local sports programming our stations are uniquely positioned to deliver," Alford said.
Dr. Jamey Harrison, executive director of the University Interscholastic League (UIL), said the league is "excited to work with Nexstar Media and Mission Broadcasting to expand access to these championship games …" and that fans will be able to watch through streaming and local television broadcasts across Texas.
Thirteen Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting station groups across Texas will carry the games, covering markets including Amarillo, Lubbock and the Rio Grande Valley. The full schedule of all 12 games across six UIL classifications is available on the CW39 website.
The Highlanders were ranked No. 20 in the VYPE Houston Class 6A poll in early October. The regular season is still underway.
