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.

Lacrosse Finals Continue MHSAA TV Championship Coverage

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 8, 2021

Four Girls & Boys Lacrosse Finals highlight Michigan High School Athletic Association streaming this weekend on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv, with a variety of pre-Finals games also being broadcast on the Network this week.

The Girls Lacrosse Finals will be played Saturday, June 12, at Novi High School, and the Boys Lacrosse Finals will be played at Parker Middle School in Howell. All of the action can be viewed by purchasing a Month Pass to MHSAA.tv for just $10.99. The Lacrosse Finals also will have live streaming audio on the MHSAA Network.

The schedule is as follows:

Girls Lacrosse
Division 2 – 2 p.m. – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam685797ce48
Division 1 – 4:30 p.m. – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam260b7d51f9

Boys Lacrosse
Division 1 – 2 p.m. – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam8e7f6f7297
Division 2 – 5 p.m. – https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam0f3b692607

All Lacrosse Semifinals will be played Wednesday (June 9). All four girls games and two boys games will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv, and the schedule is linked here: Lacrosse Semifinals.

Additionally, a number of Regional matchups in girls soccer, softball and baseball will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv this week. Among soccer games available Tuesday (June 8) will be a Division 1 Regional Semifinal matching up Troy Athens (14-1-4) vs. Romeo (14-2-2). This week’s Softball/Baseball Regional broadcast schedules are highlighted by the Division 3 Softball Regional hosted by Millington, which includes the top-ranked Cardinals, No. 2 Richmond, Bad Axe and Capac. The broadcast schedules for those three sports are available at these links: Girls Soccer | Baseball | Softball.

The 2020-21 MHSAA Finals schedule will conclude June 17-19 with Softball & Baseball Semifinals and Finals and Girls Soccer Finals; all will be streamed live. All events, including this weekend’s Lacrosse Finals, will be archived for on-demand viewing after their completion. Audio streaming also will be available for next weekend’s Soccer, Softball and Baseball.

Now in its 13th year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. Pixellot – the NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and on-demand video from across the country. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program. (Subscriptions must be cancelled before the 30-day period is over to avoid recurring charges.)

A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.