Pixellot Productions On Rise

September 19, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

A year ago, Pixellot – the automated production solution for schools wishing to stream live video of their athletic events on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv – was in use at six schools across Michigan.

With the new school year underway, nearly two dozen schools are actively streaming events using Pixellot, with half of those schools streaming indoor and outdoor events. Several schools have more than two Pixellot units in place.

“Schools are finding that Pixellot provides a great opportunity to get a lot of their games out to their fans in a way they could never achieve,” said Mark Uyl, executive director of the MHSAA.  “We have some schools which are using a mix of their traditional, student-staffed, School Broadcast Program efforts along with Pixellot to be able to add subvarsity coverage; and schools going exclusively with Pixellot with installations at multiple venues.”

Pixellot units use from two to four High Definition cameras that cover the length of the playing surface and then focus 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 commentary of the public address announcer or the radio style play-by-play of an in-person announcing team also can 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 also can be set up to isolate a camera on a fixed location, which allows for activities like cheer and wrestling to be streamed.

Schools actively engaged in Pixellot productions now include: Ann Arbor Greenhills, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, Brighton, Calumet, Dollar Bay, Frankenmuth, Freeland, Fremont, Grand Blanc, Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, Harrison, Howell, Kalamazoo Christian, Macomb Lutheran North, Manchester, Norway, Novi, Otisville-LakeVille, Ovid-Elsie, Plainwell, Saginaw Heritage, Saline, Stevensville Lakeshore, Warren DeLaSalle and Williamston. Schools using indoor and outdoor units include Cranbrook Kingswood, Frankenmuth, Freeland, Grand Blanc, Howell, Manchester, Norway, Novi, Ovid-Elsie, Plainwell, Saginaw Heritage, Saline and Stevensville Lakeshore. Additional schools will have their Pixellot units coming online soon.

More than 70 percent of the programming taking place this week on MHSAA.tv will be Pixellot productions, featuring a football game Friday evening with two of the top-ranked Division 1 teams facing off for the top spot in the Saginaw Valley League’s Red division. Grand Blanc hosts Davison at 7 p.m. Both teams are 4-0 overall and 2-0 in league play, tied with Lapeer for first place.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network:

Tuesday - Sept. 18

Wednesday - Sept. 19 

Thursday - Sept. 20

Friday - Sept. 21

Saturday - Sept. 22

Monday - Sept. 24

Tuesday - Sept. 25

All sporting events – live or delayed - 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.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $9.95 a month. 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. School Broadcast Program participants also will be selling Season and Annual Passes at a discounted rate. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program. 

Highlights of games broadcast during the past week by MHSAA School Broadcast Program contributors feature a pair of close football contests – Marquette’s 36-35 overtime win over Escanaba and Howell topping Novi, 21-17 – and a volleyball match with Lake Orion defeating Oxford, 3-0.

Highlights can be found each week on the MHSAA.tv website, the home page of the MHSAA Website, and the MHSAASports Channel on YouTube.

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

Selection Sunday Show Returns to FSD

October 22, 2019

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

The transition from high school football’s regular season to postseason play takes place at 7 p.m. this Sunday (Oct. 27) on FOX Sports Detroit-PLUS on the Selection Sunday Show with the announcing of qualifiers and pairings for the MHSAA Football Playoffs.

In addition to the statewide cable television broadcast, the Selection Sunday Show can be viewed on the internet through the FOXSportsDetroit.com Website and on handheld devices and television streaming devices like Roku through FOX Sports GO!

This year’s show will again originate from the FOX Sports Detroit studios in Southfield. Matt Shepard, Johnny Kane and Rob Rubick will handle the on-camera duties. 

The following headline this week’s football action among games on Friday (Oct. 25) with live streaming video on MHSAA.tv being produced by members of the School Broadcast Program

• A non-conference game between two 8-0 teams – Frankenmuth from the Tri-Valley Conference East and 2018 Division 7 champion New Lothrop from the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference.

• The Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West crown will be decided when Portage Northern (7-1) hosts St. Joseph (6-2). Both teams are 4-0 in league play.

• And 5-3 teams which could clinch playoff spots during games being streamed this weekend are Cadillac, East Grand Rapids, Grand Blanc, Manchester and Warren De La Salle Collegiate.

Here’s the complete list of varsity-level events to be streamed live during the coming week:

Tuesday - Oct. 22
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal - Troy Athens v. Warren De La Salle Collegiate  - 5 PM
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal - Grand Blanc v. Novi  - 5 PM
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal – Clarkston Everest Collegiate v. Roscommon  - 5 PM
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal Boys Soccer - Grand Blanc  v. Novi   - 5 PM
Girls Volleyball - Capac v. Harbor Beach  - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball - Coopersville v. Comstock Park  - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball – St. Clair Shores Lake Shore  v. Roseville   - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball - Fenton  v. Linden   - 6:15 PM
Girls Volleyball - Holly  v. Flint Kearsley   - 6:15 PM
Girls Volleyball – Central Lake v. Pellston – 6:30 PM
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal – Clinton Twp. Chippewa Valley vs Rochester Adams  - 7 PM
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal - Detroit Catholic Central vs Clarkston  - 7 PM
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal - Bad Axe v. Memphis  - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Big Rapids  v. Grant   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Gladstone v. Marquette - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Novi  v. Canton   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Saline  v. Ann Arbor Skyline   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Wyoming v. Grand Rapids Christian  - 7 PM
 
Wednesday - Oct. 23
Girls Volleyball - Ovid-Elsie v. Montrose  - 4 PM
Girls Volleyball – Ann Arbor Greenhills v. Riverview Gabriel Richard  - 5 PM (CHSL Quarterfinal)
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal - Elk Rapids v. Gladwin  - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball – Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard v. Bloomfield Hills Marian  - 6 PM (CHSL Semifinal)
Girls Volleyball – CHSL Semifinal at Ann Arbor Greenhills  - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball - Mason v. Fowlerville  - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball – Williamston v. Haslett – 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball - Freeland  v. Frankenmuth   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Hemlock  v. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary  - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - St. Charles  v. Midland Bullock Creek   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Bad Axe  v. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker   - 7:30 PM
2019 MHSAA Boys Soccer Regional Semifinal – Muskegon Orchard View vs Ludington  - 8 PM
 
Thursday - Oct. 24
Girls Volleyball - Hartford v. Watervliet  - 11:55 AM
Girls Volleyball - Cedar Springs  v. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills   - 4:45 PM
2019 MHSAA Div 1 Region 3 Boys Soccer Regional Finals - TBA vs TBA  - 6 PM
2019 MHSAA Div 4 Region 15 Boys Soccer Regional Finals - TBA vs TBA  - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball - Grand Rapids Catholic Central v. Grand Rapids West Catholic   - 6 PM
Swimming and Diving – Temperance Bedford v. Saline  - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball - Corunna  v. Owosso   - 6:15 PM
Girls Volleyball – Flint Kearsley v. Linden  - 6:15 PM
Girls Volleyball – Flint Bendle v. Flint Beecher   - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball – Pontiac Notre Dame Prep v. Flint Powers Catholic   - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball – Auburn Hills Oakland Christian v. Southfield Christian  - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball - Whitmore Lake v. Bloomfield Hills Roeper  - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball - Linden v. Flint Kearsley   - 6:45 PM
Girls Volleyball - Watersmeet v. Dollar Bay  - 6:50 PM
Football - Ishpeming  v. Bark River-Harris   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian v. Wyoming Kelloggsville   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - West Bloomfield  v. Ferndale   - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball - Holly  v. Swartz Creek   - 7:30 PM
 
Friday - Oct. 25
Football - Wyoming v. East Grand Rapids  - 6:30 PM 
Football - Howell v. Livonia Churchill  - 6:45 PM
Football - Whitehall v. Montrose  - 6:45 PM
Football – Troy Athens v. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep  - 7 PM
Football - Coloma v. Watervliet  - 7 PM
Football - Brighton  v. Dearborn Fordson   - 7 PM
Football - Calumet  v. L'Anse   - 7 PM
Football - Chesaning  v. Carrollton   - 7 PM
Football - Frankenmuth  v. New Lothrop   - 7 PM
Football – Maple City Glen Lake  v. Grayling   - 7 PM
Football – White Lake Lakeland  v. Milford   - 7 PM
Football - Norway  v. West Iron County   - 7 PM
Football - Novi  v. Westland John Glenn  - 7 PM
Football - Ovid-Elsie  v. Corunna   - 7 PM
Football - Portage Northern  v. St. Joseph   - 7 PM 
Football - Rockford  v. East Kentwood   - 7 PM
Football - Saline  v. Grand Blanc   - 7 PM – Traditional SBP Production
Football - Saline  v. Grand Blanc   - 7 PM - Pixellot
Football - South Lyon  v. South Lyon East   - 7 PM
Football - South Lyon  v. South Lyon East   - 7 PM
Football - Troy  v. Berkley   - 7 PM
Football – Brownstown Woodhaven v. Birmingham Groves   - 7 PM
Football - Comstock Park v. Grand Rapids Catholic Central  - 7 PM
Football - Kingsford v. Marquette - 7 PM
Football - Monroe v. Lake Orion  - 7 PM
Football - Pinckney v. Fowlerville  - 7 PM
Football - Sturgis v. Plainwell  - 7 PM
Football – Boyne City v. Kingsley – 7 PM
Football – Ludington v. Mason County Central – 7 PM
Football – Manchester v. Homer – 7 PM
Football – McBain v. Clare – 7 PM
Football – Traverse City West v. Petoskey – 7 PM
Football – Walled Lake Central v. Walled Lake Western – 7 PM
Football – Warren De La Salle Collegiate v. West Bloomfield – 7 PM
Football – Port Huron Northern v. Warren Fitzgerald – 7 PM
 
Saturday - Oct. 26
2019 MHSAA Div 3 Region 12 Boys Soccer Regional Finals - TBA vs TBA  - 1 PM
2019 MHSAA Div 1 Region 4 Boys Soccer Regional Finals - TBA vs TBA  - 12 PM
Girls Volleyball – Burton Bendle v. TBA  - 8:30 AM
Girls Volleyball - South Lyon East v. TBA  - 9 AM
Football – Traverse City Central v. Cadillac – 1 PM
 
Monday - Oct. 28
Girls Volleyball - Hancock v. Calumet  - 6:30 PM
 
Tuesday - Oct. 29
Girls Volleyball - Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian v. TBA  - 5 PM
Girls Volleyball - Ishpeming  v. Gwinn   - 5:30 PM
Girls Volleyball – Highland Milford  v. Troy   - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball - Norway  v. Munising   - 6 PM
Girls Volleyball – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern v. East Grand Rapids  - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball – Allen Park Inter-City Baptist v. Bloomfield Hills Roeper  - 6:30 PM
Girls Volleyball - Bessemer v. Dollar Bay  - 6:50 PM
Girls Volleyball - Saline  v. Dexter   - 7 PM – Traditional SBP
Girls Volleyball - Saline  v. Dexter   - 7 PM - Pixellot
Girls Volleyball - Bad Axe  v. Unionville Sebewaing   - 7:30 PM
 
Now in its 11th 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 SBP also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 a month. 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. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to its program. 

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