The information below is meant for athletic directors.
Due to CHSAA’s partnership with the NFHS Network, all postseason live streams must be broadcast exclusively on the NFHS Network to avoid postseason streaming rights fees. These guidelines differ from regular season guidelines, so please review the information below carefully to avoid any violations. In short:
- If you stream on any non-NFHS Network platform(s) during the regular season (e.g., YouTube, Facebook Live, Hudl, GameChanger) and wish to continue using that platform in the postseason, a per-game rights fee will apply and you will need to submit a Postseason Broadcast Request Form in advance of any events you intend to stream.
- If you want to avoid a per-game rights fee, your live stream must be sent directly and exclusively to the NFHS Network. If you do not currently have a way to do this, Broadcast Me is a free app that can be utilized to send a stream directly to the NFHS Network (more on that below).
CHSAA will be monitoring non-NFHS Network platforms during the postseason, and your school will be responsible to pay the per-game rights fee if any of your parents or spectators are using these platforms to live-stream games. More information and instructions for how to stream to the NFHS Network and avoid any postseason broadcast fees is outlined below.
Media Rights Violation Information
In the event that an individual or entity violates this streaming policy between CHSAA and the NFHS Network, they shall be responsible for the following amounts:
(a) payment of the applicable postseason rights fee;
(b) an additional amount equal to the postseason rights fee as a fine; and
(c) reimbursement of any production costs incurred as a result of the violation, not to exceed $1,000.
All amounts shall be due and payable upon notice of the violation.
NFHS Network Media Rights
The NFHS Network holds exclusive rights and first right of refusal for all CHSAA postseason events. This means:
- You may not stream games on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, GameChanger, Hudl, etc. without CHSAA approval and payment of a postseason rights fee:
- Schools will be assessed a per-game postseason rights fee to utilize these platforms in the postseason:
Football: $500 (live) or $250 (on-demand)
Basketball: $250 (live) or $150 (on-demand)
All Other Sports: $150 (live) or $75 (on-demand) for home sites; $300 (live) or $150 (on-demand) for championship sites
- If the NFHS Network is covering an event (via Pixellot or manual production), no other streaming platform may be used UNLESS it’s a student group that is streaming exclusively to the NFHS Network (not also YouTube, Facebook Live, etc.).
Streaming Without a Rights Fee
To avoid paying a per-game rights fee, you must stream exclusively on the NFHS Network by:
- Using a Pixellot camera to stream to NFHS Network;
- Producing the game yourself and streaming it exclusively to NFHS Network (no sharing to other platforms);
- Hiring a third party to produce the stream, provided it streams only on NFHS Network.
- Download Broadcast Me (a free app) and obtain a stream key from the NFHS Network to send the stream directly and exclusively to the NFHS Network.
Streaming Outside of the NFHS Network
If there is no Pixellot camera or NFHS Network coverage at your event:
- Submit a Postseason Broadcast Request Form to Amanda at amcclure@chsaa.org to request streaming your event through a non-NFHS Network platform (e.g. Hudl, GameChanger, Facebook Live, YouTube, etc.).
- Note: If you’ve hired a third party to produce the event, have their contact reach out to me to discuss a discounted rate if they’re willing to share their stream to the NFHS Network (the NFHS Network cannot take broadcast streams from Hudl).
- After the season, CHSAA will send an invoice with the applicable per-game rights fee.
- To avoid the postseason rights fee, download Broadcast Me (a free app) and obtain a stream key from the NFHS Network to send the stream directly and exclusively to the NFHS Network.
Special Note for Student Groups
If your student group streams to a non-NFHS Network platform (e.g., a school YouTube channel), please contact Amanda at amcclure@chsaa.org directly to discuss your situation.
NFHS Network Information
- If you’re not currently an NFHS Network member school but are interested in becoming one, let Amanda (amcclure@chsaa.org) know and she can connect you with the right contact.
- For general NFHS Network inquiries: success@playonsports.com
- For technical support: https://help.nfhsnetwork.com
Setting Up the Stream in Broadcast Me
First, fill out this form to obtain a stream key from the NFHS Network (only one stream key will be issued per event).
Once you’ve downloaded the app and received your stream key from the NFHS Network:
- Open the app. It will ask you if you want to allow it to access your phone camera and microphone. The answer is yes to both.
- To the right hand side of the screen you will see an arrow. Select that arrow by dragging it to your left.
- Go down to the Settings button and select that. In Settings, under the Stream Settings tab, you will see a line that says Server URL. Select Server URL.
- You will then type in the streaming URL and Stream Key on one line. There should be a URL already there. Delete that one. Add the Streaming URL that was sent to you and stream key in this format – rtmp://video.nfhsnetwork.com/manual/bdc7d11de8e1e (this is not the actual stream key, but a demo…use the stream key that was sent to you).
- Close the arrow. When you are ready to stream, press the red button at the bottom of your screen. You should get a notification that you are streaming.
- When the game is over, press the red button again and that will end the stream.
- For your next game, you would repeat these steps, but use the new stream key to follow the streaming URL line, like you did above.
