Otisville-LakeVille First SBP Using Pixellot
January 31, 2017
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
A challenge to schools wanting to stream live video of their athletic events to their communities is being able to adequately staff those productions.
“We had signed up for the School Broadcast Program over a year ago and we were really excited to get our games out to the community, and when it came to it, we just couldn’t get the manpower to run the equipment,” said Drew Johnson, the athletic director at Otisville-LakeVille High School in Genesee County. “That first day, we had everything lined up, we were ready to go, and two of our three kids missed school that day for being sick. It was just a hassle.
“So when we heard about Pixellot, it was a quick and easy decision.”
Just three weeks ago, LakeVille became the first school in Michigan and one of the first in the country to install a Pixellot unit in its gymnasium, automating the process of streaming live video on MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network.
Pixellot is a unit equipped with four High Definition cameras that cover the length of the playing surface and then focus in on the ball and player movement to deliver the action. The unit communicates with the scoreboard to insert a time and score graphic on the screen. Ambient audio is picked up by the device, but the play-by-play of an in-person announce team can also be patched in.
All that has to be done from a school’s perspective is type in the event schedule, and promote the fact that the games are available on MHSAA.tv. Pixellot does the rest. The unit can also be set up to isolate a camera on a fixed location, which allows for activities like wrestling to also be streamed.
“We’re going to do everything that takes place in our gym,” Johnson said. “We’re also excited about being able to record our practices as well.”
Johnson added that the school will look into installing additional Pixellot units at its middle school auditorium for musical events and LakeVille’s outdoor athletic fields in the future.
In its eighth 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.
The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
All sporting events – Live or On-Demand – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.
Here’s the schedule of events School Broadcast Program members plan to stream over the next week for broadcast at MHSAA.tv.
Tuesday, Jan. 31
- JV Girls Basketball - North Branch at Otisville Lakeville, 5:25 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Goodrich at Davison, 6 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - North Branch at Otisville Lakeville, 6:45 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Williamston at East Lansing, 7 p.m. (On Demand)
- Girls Basketball - Hopkins at Plainwell, 7 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Hudsonville Unity Christian at Cedar Springs, 7 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Birmingham Seaholm at Lake Orion, 7 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Negaunee at Calumet, 7:20 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Goodrich at Davison, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 1
- Wrestling – Quad at Cedar Springs, 5:20 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Leroy Pine River at Beal City, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 2
- JV Girls Basketball - Birch Run at Otisville Lakeville, 5:25 p.m.
- JV Girls Basketball – Coopersville at Comstock Park, 5:30 p.m.
- JV Girls Basketball - Oscoda at Rogers City, 6 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Birch Run at Otisville Lakeville, 6:45 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Oscoda at Rogers City, 7 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Gaylord at Alpena, 7, p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3
- Ice Hockey - Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood @ MIHL Showcase, 4 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Lowell at Cedar Springs, 5:30 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Burton Atherton vs. Montrose, 5:30 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Allegan at Plainwell, 6 p.m.
- Ice Hockey - Notre Dame De La Baie Academy vs. Detroit Catholic Central @ MIHL Showcase, 6 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Coopersville at Comstock Park, 6 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Lapeer at Davison, 6 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Allegan at Plainwell, 7 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Burton Atherton vs. Montrose, 7 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - McBain at Beal City, 7:30 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Coopersville at Comstock Park, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4
- Ice Hockey - Notre Dame De La Baie Academy vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood @ MIHL Showcase, 12:40 p.m.
- Ice Hockey - Novi vs. Detroit Catholic Central @ MIHL Showcase, 6:50 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 6
- JV Girls Basketball – Hillman at Rogers City, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 7
- JV Girls Basketball - Grand Rapids West Catholic at Comstock Park, 5:30 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Midland Dow at Mt, Pleasant, 5:30 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Greenville at Cedar Springs, 7 p.m.
- Girls Basketball - Grand Rapids West Catholic at Comstock Park, 7 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Midland Dow at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m.
- Boys Basketball - Chassell at Calumet, 7:20 p.m.
Be sure to check the Upcoming Events page at MHSAA.tv for schedule additions every day.
The NFHS Network has announced new pricing for 2016-17, eliminating the Day Pass and lowering the cost of a Month Pass to $9.95. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. Some schools also will be selling Annual Passes at a discounted rate. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.
A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website.
Fans also can access scores of games in-progress on the NFHS Network website via ScoreStream. Click on the Scores button in the upper right corner.
A weekly staple on the MHSAA.tv website and the MHSAASports Channel on YouTube is back for another year with highlights of selected games last week produced by members of the Association’s School Broadcast Program.
This week’s highlights package consists of clips from last week’s Bark River-Harris at Powers North Central boys basketball game in which the Jets set a state record for consecutive boys hoops victories, an ice hockey game pitting Detroit Catholic Central at Brighton in a battle of two of the top teams in the state and a demonstration of Pixellot in action during a boys basketball game with Millington at Otisville-LakeVille.
Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office.
PHOTOS: (Top) A laptop shows the variety of angles for the Pixellot and the calibration of its four cameras. (Middle) This Pixellot hangs at midcourt at Otisville-LakeVille High School.
Dot-TV Schedule Features Hoops Classic
January 3, 2019
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
The first weekend of action of the new year on MHSAA.tv will feature the five games of the 2019 GottaGetIt Hoops Boys Basketball Classic at Grand Blanc High School on Saturday (Jan. 5) beginning at noon.
Here’s the complete schedule at Grand Blanc:
Jan. 5
- Flint Hamady (4-2) v. Birmingham Brother Rice (2-4) - Noon
- Grand Rapids Union (3-1) v. Warren Lincoln (6-2) - 2 PM
- Detroit Douglass (2-4) v. Flint Powers Catholic (3-4) - 4 PM
- Benton Harbor (8-0) v. Saginaw (6-1) - 6 PM
- Harvey (IL) Thornton Township (4-3) v. Grand Blanc (5-2) - 8 PM
Benton Harbor won the Class B title last year. Flint Powers, Grand Blanc and Saginaw all drew mention in media preseason rankings this winter.
In its 10th 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 events. The SBP also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
Here’s the upcoming MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network:
Thursday - January 3
- JV Boys Basketball - Hudsonville at Grandville - 5:30 PM
- Freshman Girls Basketball - Hudsonville at Grandville - 5:30 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Ishpeming Westwood at Calumet - 5:45 PM
- JV Boys Basketball – Lake Linden-Hubbell at Dollar Bay - 5:45 PM
- Boys Basketball - West Bloomfield at Lake Orion - 7 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Hudsonville at Grandville - 7 PM
- Freshman Boys Basketball - Hudsonville at Grandville - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball - Lake Linden-Hubbell at Dollar Bay - 7:15 PM
- Girls Basketball - Ishpeming Westwood at Calumet - 7:15 PM
- Boys Basketball – Carson City-Crystal at Vestaburg - 7:30 PM
Friday - January 4
- Freshman Girls Basketball - DeWitt at Howell - 3:50 PM
- Freshman Girls Basketball - Grand Blanc at Flint Powers Catholic - 4 PM
- Freshman Boys Basketball - Watervliet at Kalamazoo Christian - 4 PM
- Freshman Girls Basketball - Macomb Dakota at Bloomfield Hills Marian - 4 PM
- Freshman Boys Basketball – Waterford Kettering at White Lake Lakeland - 4 PM
- Freshman Boys Basketball - Flint Powers Catholic at Grand Blanc - 4 PM
- Freshman Boys Basketball - Frankenmuth at Saginaw Heritage - 4 PM
- Freshman Boys Basketball – South Lyon at Highland Milford – 4 PM
- JV Girls Basketball – Holly at Fenton – 4:15 PM
- Freshman Boys Basketball - Saginaw Nouvel at Freeland - 4:30 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - DeWitt at Howell - 5:20 PM
- Girls Basketball - Genesee Christian at Otisville Lakeville - 5:20 PM
- JV Boys Basketball – South Lyon at Highland Milford – 5:30 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - Flint Powers Catholic at Grand Blanc - 5:30 PM
- Girls Basketball – Bay City Western at Bay City John Glenn - 5:30 PM
- JV Boys Basketball – Saginaw Arts & Sciences at Mt Morris - 5:30 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Grand Blanc at Flint Powers Catholic - 5:30 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Macomb Dakota at Bloomfield Hills Marian - 5:30 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - Watervliet at Kalamazoo Christian - 5:30 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Frankenmuth at Saginaw Heritage - 5:30 PM
- JV Boys Basketball – Waterford Kettering at White Lake Lakeland - 5:30 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - Hemlock at Harbor Beach - 6 PM
- JV Girls Basketball – Allen Park Cabrini at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - 6 PM
- JV Girls Basketball – Saginaw Swan Valley at Hemlock - 6 PM
- Girls Basketball - Central Montcalm at Fremont - 6 PM
- JV Boys Basketball – St. Ignace at Pellston - 6 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - Saginaw Nouvel at Freeland - 6 PM
- Girls Basketball – Holly at Fenton – 6 PM
- Boys Basketball - Genesee Christian at Otisville Lakeville - 6:50 PM
- Girls Basketball - DeWitt at Howell - 6:50 PM
- Boys Basketball – Bay City Western at Bay City John Glenn - 7 PM
- Girls Basketball - Macomb Dakota at Bloomfield Hills Marian - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball – Saginaw Arts & Sciences at Mt. Morris - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball – Waterford Kettering at White Lake Lakeland - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball - Frankenmuth at Saginaw Heritage - 7 PM
- Girls Basketball - Grand Blanc at Flint Powers Catholic - 7 PM
- Boys Ice Hockey - Novi at Calumet - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball - Flint Powers Catholic at Grand Blanc - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball - Watervliet at Kalamazoo Christian - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball – Royal Oak Shrine at Waterford Our Lady - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball – South Lyon at Highland Milford – 7 PM
- Boys Basketball - Hemlock at Harbor Beach - 7:20 PM
- Boys Basketball - Saginaw Nouvel at Freeland - 7:30 PM
- Boys Basketball - Central Montcalm at Fremont - 7:30 PM
- Girls Basketball – Allen Park Cabrini at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - 7:30 PM
- Girls Basketball – Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Comstock Park - 7:30 PM
- Girls Basketball – Saginaw Swan Valley at Hemlock - 7:30 PM
- Girls Basketball – Allen Park Cabrini at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - 7:30 PM
- Boys Basketball – St. Ignace at Pellston - 7:30 PM
- Boys Basketball – Holly at Fenton – 7:30 PM
Saturday - January 5
- Wrestling - Saginaw Heritage Invitational - 9 AM
- Competitive Cheer – Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian Invitational - 9 AM
- Competitive Cheer – Grandville Invitational - 9:30 AM
- JV Competitive Cheer – Grandville Invitational - 9:30 AM
- Competitive Cheer – Frankenmuth Invitational - 10 AM
- Competitive Cheer – Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian Invitational - 11 AM
- Boys Basketball – Flint Hamady v. Birmingham Brother Rice @ Grand Blanc Classic - Noon
- JV Girls Basketball – Fruitport Calvary Christian at Hart - 2 PM
- Boys Basketball – Grand Rapids Union v. Warren Lincoln @ Grand Blanc Classic - 2 PM
- JV Boys Basketball – Fruitport Calvary Christian at Hart - 3:30 PM
- Boys Basketball – Detroit Douglass v. Flint Powers Catholic @ Grand Blanc Classic - 4 PM
- Girls Basketball – Fruitport Calvary Christian at Hart - 5 PM
- Boys Ice Hockey - Brighton at Calumet - 6 PM
- Boys Basketball - Benton Harbor v. Saginaw @ Grand Blanc Classic - 6 PM
- Boys Basketball – Fruitport Calvary Christian at Hart - 6:30 PM
- Boys Basketball – Harvey (IL) Thornton Township v. Grand Blanc @ Grand Blanc Classic - 8 PM
Monday - January 7
- Freshman Boys Basketball - Pinconning at Hemlock - 4:30 PM
- Freshman Girls Basketball - Marysville at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - 4:30 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Watersmeet at Dollar Bay - 5:45 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - St. Louis at St. Charles - 6 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Pinconning at Hemlock - 6 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - Pentwater at Hart - 6 PM
- JV Girls Basketball - Marysville at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - 6 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - West Iron County at Norway - 6:30 PM
- Girls Basketball – Marine City Cardinal Mooney at Waterford Our Lady - 7 PM
- Boys Basketball – Unionville-Sebewaing at Bay City John Glenn - 7 PM
- Girls Basketball - Watersmeet at Dollar Bay - 7:15 PM
- Girls Basketball - Marysville at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - 7:30 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - Pinconning at Hemlock - 7:30 PM
- JV Boys Basketball - St. Louis at St. Charles - 7:30 PM
- Boys Basketball - Pentwater at Hart - 7:30 PM
- Boys Basketball - West Iron County at Norway - 8 PM
Tuesday - January 8