Comcast on Monday announced an exclusive partnership with CBS Interactive to distribute content from CBS's high school sports site MaxPreps.com to Comcast Houston.

Throughout the 2009-10 school year, MaxPreps.com is expected to produce hundreds of short-form features on high school sports teams and athletes from the Houston area and then make them available on Channel 1 On Demand.

"Through video on demand, viewers are able to access exclusive programming they can't get anywhere else," said Tony Speller, senior vice president for Comcast's Houston Region.

Comcast digital cable subscribers will be offered content for free via the "Get Local" section on Comcast Houston's On Demand platform.

"MaxPreps.com is extending its capabilities to reach more fans through additional platforms," said Andy Beal, president, MaxPreps.com.

Likewise, this summer, The Sports Illustrated Group and CBS Interactive's CBSSports.com announced a distribution deal whereby SI.com would carry MaxPreps content. MaxPreps.com also became the engine for Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd franchise -- both in print and digital.

Coverage of high school sports has grown considerably online in recent years, and with it so have its publishers. Generally positioned as recruiting sites, there are News Corp.'s Scout.com, Yahoo's Rivals.com and Sports Illustrated's own Takkle.com.

In September, MaxPreps.com drew 1.8 million visitors -- up 77% year-over-year, according to comScore MediaMetrix.

Sponsored by the United States Air Force, MaxPreps.com recently launched its official mobile site which includes schedules, scores, rosters, standings, rankings, and stats for each and every one of the 16,225 high school football teams across the United States.

This news story is important. I recommend that everyone read it.