Iowa Public Television

Iowa Public Television
Announces New Documentary
About Six-on-Six Basketball in Iowa

More Than a Game: Six-on-Six Basketball in Iowa
premieres Sunday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Iowa Public Television continues its tradition of telling Iowa’s stories with the premiere of a new special, More Than a Game: Six-on-Six Basketball in Iowa. The documentary takes a look back at six-on-six basketball and its impact on generations of Iowa girls and communities. It makes its debut Sunday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. on the statewide television network.

One of the most acclaimed sports in Iowa history, six-on-six basketball was especially popular in small towns. It was there that young women became queens of the court, where communities rallied behind their daughters, and where school leaders, mostly male, fought for girls’ equality. Like no where else in the country, young women in Iowa have played the game of basketball for over a century. In 1993, the era of girls’ six-on-six basketball came to an end.

“Six-on-six basketball in Iowa meant a great deal not just to the girls who played, but also to the communities that supported them,” said Daniel K. Miller, executive director and general manager of Iowa Public Television. “In that way, the story of this game is the story of Iowa – Iowans coming together for a common purpose, to create new opportunities and celebrate each other. As Iowa’s network, we’re proud to tell this story that has connected so many generations of Iowans – and to share it with a new generation.”

This documentary will premiere during Iowa Public Television’s annual Festival programming celebration. In addition to the March 2 debut, it will be rebroadcast Friday,
March 7 at 8:15 p.m. More Than a Game: Six-on-Six Basketball in Iowa will also air Sunday, March 16.

For more information, or for interviews or photographs, contact Iowa Public Television at 515-242-3146 or Jennifer.konfrst@iptv.org.

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Iowa Public Television is Iowa's statewide public broadcasting network. IPTV provides quality, noncommercial programming to make a difference in the lives of Iowans. As one of the last locally controlled media enterprises in the state, IPTV is committed to telling Iowa's stories like no one else can. Our mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire Iowans enables IPTV to present an unequaled array of programs of lasting value to Iowans regardless of where they live or what they can afford. More than one million viewers a week turn to IPTV for programming that reflects a range of interests for Iowans in all demographic categories. Iowa Public Television stations include: Channel 11, Des Moines; Channel 12, Iowa City; Channel 21, Fort Dodge; Channel 24, Mason City; Channel 27, Sioux City; Channel 32, Waterloo; Channel 32, Council Bluffs; Channel 36, Davenport; Channel 36, Red Oak. IPTV-Digital stations include: Channel 11.1, Des Moines; Channel 12.1, Iowa City; Channel 21.1, Fort Dodge; Channel 24.1, Mason City; Channel 27.1, Sioux City; Channel 32.1, Waterloo; Channel 32.1, Council Bluffs; Channel 36.1, Red Oak; Channel 36.1, Davenport.