WEST DES MOINES - High-definition TV programming and free online streaming will now be a thing of the present for fans of Iowa girls high school championships.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union approved a new three-year contract with Iowa Public Television at a monthly board meeting Tuesday at the union headquarters in West Des Moines.

For the first time, all Iowans will have access to HD programming of basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball championship games. The pact goes into effect Nov. 16, following the state volleyball tournament, and replaces a contract with the Iowa High School Sports Network (IHSSN).

The 2014 girls' state basketball championship will be the first event televised by IPTV under the new contract.

The board chose the IPTV proposal over one from Mediacom, which is currently received in 23 percent of Iowa households.

"Philosophically, we were down to 'We want money and then 23 percent of our people could have access to it, or were we willing to work with public television and do it for free and then everyone will have access'," said IGHSAU Executive Director Mike Dick during Tuesday's board meeting.

"We talk a lot about promoting the Iowa girl, getting out front and making it accessible. That leans heavily towards the Iowa Public Television part of the bid. Their product is probably going to be superior to the product of our previous productions."

Instead of IHSSN owning all IGHSAU media rights, as in recent years, the IGHSAU retains this vital revenue stream as part of the new IPTV deal.

The Union has begun the search process for marketing groups to partner with for state tournament advertising. The IGHSAU would rely on the marketing firm to sell advertising on such displays as LED video boards, ribbon boards and scoreboards at Wells Fargo Arena during the girls' state basketball tournament.

In addition to state championship tournament coverage, IPTV will produce two 30-minute highlight shows annually. The winter show will recap the cross country, bowling and swimming seasons, while the spring showcase would cover track, golf and tennis.

Iowa Public Television is Iowa's statewide public broadcasting network.

"We are extremely thrilled to produce and broadcast the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Championships showcasing athletes from around the state," said IPTV Executive Director Molly Phillips in an IGHSAU release. "Iowa Public Television can be received by all viewers in the state of Iowa no matter where they live and is the most watched public television station in the nation."

During the two-hour board meeting, the IGHSAU also listened to a presentation from Duane T. Magee, the Executive Director of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (IBOEE). Magee is pushing for a change in the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners' Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, pertaining to inappropriate relationships between teachers and students.

Chapter 25 of the Iowa Code states that Licensees shall maintain professional relationships with all students, both in and outside the classroom. They are prohibited from soliciting, encouraging or consummating a romantic or otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student.

A bylaw from the IBOEE Code of Ethics also also states there has to be a similar 30-day waiting period after a student finishes all involvement with the school before a teacher and student can be involved in a romantic relationship.

As part of his proposal, Magee is pushing for an extension of the IBOEE waiting period to 90 days. His measure has received support in a letter from the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The IGHSAU also voted to offer its support during Tuesday's meeting.

The new measure would only apply to those licensed by the IBOEE and is separate from Chapter 25 of the Iowa code.