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 here. Schools wishing to sign up for free Pixellot units should visit here.
Lower Peninsula Cross Country, Boys Soccer Finals Make for Big Broadcast Saturday
By
Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
November 3, 2021
All eight Lower Peninsula Girls & Boys Cross Country Finals and all four Boys Soccer Finals will be broadcast Saturday on MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network, capping a viewing schedule that also will include Soccer Semifinals, Volleyball District Semifinals and Finals and Football District and Regional Finals.
Nearly 2,000 Lower Peninsula runners will take to the course at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday (Nov. 6), with races beginning at 9:30 a.m. Coverage will include views from cameras at starting line, the 1- and 2-mile marks, the finish line and throughout the race from the lead cart.
The Division 4 and 3 races begin at 9:30 a.m. and can viewed at this link: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam0fa8764d8b
Division 2 and 1 races begin at 1:30 p.m. and can viewed here:
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam81321985cc
Saturday’s Division 1 and 4 Boys Soccer Finals will be played at Novi High School, with Divisions 2 and 3 at Comstock Park High School. The larger schools at each site will play at noon, followed by the smaller-school divisions at 3 p.m.
Division 1 – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam2b096b5062
Division 2 – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam8aea573f91
Division 3 – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam8b0ab1143e
Division 4 – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam5ad1cdfa45
Audio of all four Boys Soccer Finals will be available at http://mhsaanetwork.com/.
Five of eight Wednesday (Nov. 3) Semifinals also will be broadcast. See schedule with links below:
Division 1 – 6 p.m. – Grosse Pointe South vs. New Baltimore Anchor Bay
Division 1 – 7 p.m. – Northville vs. Okemos
Division 2 – 6 p.m. – DeWitt vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Division 3 – 7 p.m. – Allen Park Inter-City Baptist vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Division 3 – 7 p.m. – Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Elk Rapids
The MHSAA Volleyball Tournament continues Wednesday (Nov. 3) and Thursday with District Semifinals, with District Finals also to be played at some sites Thursday and most Friday and Saturday – more than 30 District Finals are on the broadcast schedule.
More than 50 of this weekend’s 11-Player Football District Finals and 8-Player Regional Finals will be broadcast this weekend as well on MHSAA.tv. Links to coverage of both are below:
MHSAA media partner Bally Sports Detroit will continue its weekly live cable TV broadcasts with Friday’s Division 3 District Final of River Rouge (7-2) at Detroit Martin Luther King (9-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on BSD’s PLUS channel, and the game also may be watched on the BSD website and app.
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.