NFHS Offers Pixellots, School Support

July 7, 2020

National Federation of State High School Associations

As high schools nationwide continue to deal with the fallout from COVID-19 and make plans for the restarting of activities this fall, the NFHS Network – the leader in streaming live and on-demand high school sports – has announced an unprecedented offer for schools that are facing possible attendance restrictions at events during the 2020-21 school year. 

Through its High School Support Program, the NFHS Network is offering up to two free Pixellot automated-production units for schools that lack production capabilities to stream events on the NFHS Network.  

The offer of two Pixellot units – one for indoor events and the other for outdoor contests – has been extended to all 19,500 high schools in the 51 NFHS member state associations. The NFHS Network is a joint venture of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), its member state associations and PlayOn! Sports. 

In addition to receiving two free Pixellot production units, schools will receive a larger percentage of subscription revenue generated from their events, effective Aug. 1, in an effort to offset revenue losses from reduced attendance. 

“We recognize that the next several years will be challenging for our high schools and state associations,” said Mark Koski, CEO of the NFHS Network. “Many are facing budget cuts and reduced resources, and attendance at athletic and other school events may be restricted. From the NFHS Network’s inception seven years ago, we have been driven by the goal to create a platform that showcases every high school event across every sport and every level of competition. Consistent with this goal, we want the High School Support Program to demonstrate our continued commitment to help our partner schools manage through the inevitable complications created by COVID-19.”  

The Pixellot automated production solution was introduced to high schools three years ago and has quickly become an integral component of the NFHS Network’s offerings. The Pixellot solution allows every event to be streamed live without requiring personnel to produce the games. There are currently more than 5,000 Pixellot units in high schools across the country which will produce in excess of 250,000 live games this upcoming school year with no human involvement. 

In addition to livestreaming 27 sports, the NFHS Network also covers performing arts, graduations, award ceremonies and other school events. To date, the NFHS Network has distributed more than $25 million back to participating high schools and state associations. 

For more information about the High School Support Program, click hereSchools wishing to sign up for free Pixellot units should visit here.

Another Championship Week on MHSAA.tv Begins with Volleyball Quarterfinals

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

November 16, 2021

All 16 Volleyball Quarterfinals scheduled for Tuesday (Nov. 16) will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv to kick off a busy week of Michigan High School Athletic Association tournament events also including Semifinals and Finals in volleyball, Finals in Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving and 8-player football, and Semifinals in 11-player football.

The winners of Volleyball Quarterfinal matches will advance to this weekend’s Semifinals and Finals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. Division 1 and 4 Semifinals will be played Thursday (Nov. 18), Division 2 and 3 Semifinals on Friday (Nov. 19) and all four Finals will be played Saturday (Nov. 20).

Visit the Volleyball page of the MHSAA Website (https://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Girls-Volleyball/2021-Finals) for full details, and see below for the Quarterfinal schedule with links to broadcasts:

Division 1
► Davison vs. Bloomfield Hills Marian – 7 p.m.
► Rockford vs. Hudsonville – 7 p.m.
► Ann Arbor Skyline vs. Northville – 7 p.m.
► Dearborn Divine Child vs. Macomb Dakota – 7 p.m.

Division 2
► Cadillac vs. North Branch – 7 p.m.
► Lake Odessa Lakewood vs. Onsted – 7 p.m.
► Grand Rapids Christian vs. Niles – 7:30 p.m.
► Detroit Country Day vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep – 5 p.m.

Division 3
► Muskegon Western Michigan Christian vs. Watervliet – 7 p.m.
► Royal Oak Shrine Catholic vs. Reese – 6 p.m.
► Calumet vs. McBain – 6 p.m.
► Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central – 7 p.m.

Division 4
► Battle Creek St. Philip vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian – 6 p.m.
► Allen Park Inter-City Baptist vs. Ubly – 6 p.m.
► Ironwood vs. Indian River Inland Lakes – 6 p.m.
► Traverse City Christian vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart – 6 p.m.

Once Semifinals and Finals matches are determined, those links will be found by clicking Volleyball.

The Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving Finals will be competed at three sites, with preliminaries Friday and championships in all events Saturday. Visit the Girls Swimming & Diving page of the MHSAA Website (https://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Girls-Swimming-Diving) for full details. Competition begins at noon both days, and all three meets will be broadcast both days, with announcers detailing the action as well during Saturday’s championship events:

► Lower Peninsula Division 1 at Holland Aquatic Center
► Lower Peninsula Division 2 at Oakland University
► Lower Peninsula Division 3 at Calvin University

The 8-player football season concludes Saturday with championship games in both divisions at Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University. Both games will be broadcast live on MHSAA.tv – the Division 1 Final between Adrian Lenawee Christian and Suttons Bay kicks off at 11 a.m., and Division 2 between Colon and Powers North Central will begin approximately 2 p.m. Both will re-air on MHSAA media partner Bally Sports Detroit’s primary channel Nov. 25, with Division 1 at 7 p.m. and Division 2 at 10 p.m.

Bally Sports Detroit also will continue its weekly live cable TV broadcasts with Saturday’s 11-Player Division 1 Semifinal between Sterling Heights Stevenson and Belleville. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on BSD’s primary channel, and the game also may be watched on the BSD website and app.

For a complete schedule of 11-Player Semifinals to be broadcast live Saturday on MHSAA.tv, click Football. Links to broadcasts will be added throughout this week.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. Subscribers have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.

More than 400 MHSAA member schools are participants in the School Broadcast Program, now in its 13th year, producing games using traditional hands-on student crews or via Pixellot cameras installed at stadiums and gymnasiums across the state. A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.