Playoff Coverage

[IndianFan]

Comments on the experience comparison are encouraged.

 

[Rez]

YouTube: delivers the product it promises, doesn’t require making an account on a new platform, and is free.

NFHS: doesn’t deliver the product it promises, you have to deal with a whole new platform, is one of the most expensive streaming subscriptions out there (and it STILL has ads).

NFHS is the worst product on the internet. Even when it works it’s not good. An unpleasant experience in every context. It’s like paying ants to bite your foot.

 

[PNG NDN Fan]

Last week, I subscribed to NFHS for a month for playoff coverage. I went to their AI chatbot and got refund due to technical issues which apparently were a nationwide problem.

I canceled the account but will still have access to it until Dec 10th. I suggest others in a similar situation do the same.

 

[The Rabid Fan]

The BIGGEST SCAM in Texas High School sports and to me I don’t understand how it’s even legal or the excuse the UIL is using behind it,teams with fully student led broadcast should be able to stream every single one of there games on whatever platform they see fit the UIL should not be able to interject in order to make a profit that’s EXACTLY how college football became what it is today!Maybe I’m just not informed enough on what actually going on but this seems like a attempt for the UIL to profit off high school athletics!

 

[1989NDN]

Thank you PNG NDN Fan. I got my refund. Put me down as NOT a fan of NFHS. I vote for NDN Press on YouTube! GO INDIANS!!!

 

[IndianFan]

Reason for dictated broadcasting options.

Revenue generation: Broadcast licensing is an identified source of UIL income. Section 867 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules specifically identifies proceeds from radio and television broadcasting contracts as a revenue source.

Under Section 868 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules:

• UIL retains broadcast rights to all postseason events.
• UIL can enter into contracts with third parties to distribute those rights.
• Those contracts can cover television, Internet streaming, live broadcasts, delayed broadcasts, and other media.
• Even when a particular game isn’t covered by a third-party contract, UIL retains the rights.

The UIL’s Postseason Broadcast Information states the following:

ALL BROADCASTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:​

1. The video broadcast must be provided to the public through a linear or reliable web broadcast with minimal buffering.

Postseason Video Broadcast Information Media Information — University Interscholastic League (UIL)

Postseason Video Broadcast Information Media Information

www.uiltexas.org

Has NFHS met those requirements?

 

[The Rabid Fan]

Reason for dictated broadcasting options.

Revenue generation: Broadcast licensing is an identified source of UIL income. Section 867 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules specifically identifies proceeds from radio and television broadcasting contracts as a revenue source.

Under Section 868 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules:

• UIL retains broadcast rights to all postseason events.
• UIL can enter into contracts with third parties to distribute those rights.
• Those contracts can cover television, Internet streaming, live broadcasts, delayed broadcasts, and other media.
• Even when a particular game isn’t covered by a third-party contract, UIL retains the rights.

The UIL’s Postseason Broadcast Information states the following:

ALL BROADCASTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:​

1. The video broadcast must be provided to the public through a linear or reliable web broadcast with minimal buffering.

Postseason Video Broadcast Information Media Information — University Interscholastic League (UIL)

Postseason Video Broadcast Information Media Information

www.uiltexas.org

Has NFHS met those requirements?

Not even CLOSE!

 

[IndianFan]

Then this might be considered a broadcast service compliance issue.

Some questions for the UIL might be:

When an NFHS postseason broadcast experiences persistent buffering, interruptions, freezing, or other technical deficiencies that materially impair the viewing experience, how does UIL determine whether this requirement has been satisfied?

If NFHS exercises its exclusive broadcast rights but fails to provide the reliable broadcast required by UIL’s own published standards, what obligation does UIL have to ensure that the viewing public receives the service it requires?

What corrective action is available when an NFHS broadcast fails to provide reliable coverage?

If the school has an already-approved, qualified broadcast production team, can that team be authorized to provide the broadcast when NFHS cannot deliver a reliable viewing experience?

The UIL has legitimate responsibilities concerning broadcast rights, commercial arrangements, and consistent administration. But those responsibilities should not become disconnected from the educational and community purposes for which the organization exists.

There are too many fans that depend on these broadcasts. The UIL must allow alternatives that meet their obligations to the fans and communities.

 

[NDNzeke]

Reason for dictated broadcasting options.

Revenue generation: Broadcast licensing is an identified source of UIL income. Section 867 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules specifically identifies proceeds from radio and television broadcasting contracts as a revenue source.

Under Section 868 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules:

• UIL retains broadcast rights to all postseason events.
• UIL can enter into contracts with third parties to distribute those rights.
• Those contracts can cover television, Internet streaming, live broadcasts, delayed broadcasts, and other media.
• Even when a particular game isn’t covered by a third-party contract, UIL retains the rights.

The UIL’s Postseason Broadcast Information states the following:

ALL BROADCASTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:​

1. The video broadcast must be provided to the public through a linear or reliable web broadcast with minimal buffering.

Postseason Video Broadcast Information Media Information — University Interscholastic League (UIL)

Postseason Video Broadcast Information Media Information

www.uiltexas.org

Has NFHS met those requirements?

Clearly not.

 

[NDNmom91]

Just wanted to share this post I saw from someone who definitely has a lot of knowledge on the subject.

NFHS. I could talk to you about this for days.
I tried to explain this earlier, and I was really mad & half asleep. I'm awake, calm, and have received permission to write. This isn't AI. This is me explaining something I've worked on extensively for three years, the best way that I know how.

Bottom line (TL;DR): You want NFHS to change? Call your legislators.

Billionaire Drayton McLane’s company has majority ownership of Sports In Action(SIA) and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football(DCTF). The relationships between these organizations, NFHS and the UIL, are confusing, to say the least. You’ll hear that DCTF and SIA are the marketing arm of the UIL. Don’t ask me what that means; I can't explain it. One day I’ll ask for a flow chart, but, for all intents and purposes, when you talk about the postseason for Texas High School sports, those entities are essentially the same. Right hand and left hand. I think of it that way.

Now, let’s talk about what happened last night and what will absolutely happen again tonight.

What happens when you overload a system?

It performs poorly.

Now, imagine funneling every Texas high school playoff football game across the state through one online platform on a Thursday or Friday night. Then, let's add every fan trying to watch those games to the same load. The platform can’t handle it. It doesn’t have the capacity. Never had a shot. It slows down. It buffers. It crashes. And families who paid a multi-billion dollar company $14 (*per month) to watch their kids play get left out.

The operation handling this has a staff close to the size of mine. I actually enjoy working with those folks, and I want to be clear about that. But I’m not going to sugarcoat the problems with the current system, or lie and say it doesn't need to change. It does.

During the regular season, all those games are distributed across hundreds of different broadcasters, streaming services, and platforms. The demand is spread out, so are the fans. The streams work. It works, and local broadcasters can serve their own communities. For free. Seems simple, right? That’s because it really is.

Texas broadcasters have worked tirelessly for five years to improve this system. I've been in the room working for the last three years. But we’ve faced significant opposition from very powerful people.

McLane has substantial influence in Austin. During the last legislative session, broadcasters watched as legislation we had worked incredibly hard on came to a halt following one phone call.

And one more thing. The seven digit contract between UIL & NFHS (which was never put out to bid) ends in 2030, and I fully believe NFHS has a strong interest in expanding into regular season football.

Now, remember me saying, "Call your legislators"? Please do. Broadcasters are. We’re meeting with them. All the time. Help us. If they aren't hearing from you, they think you don’t care.

Call your legislators. Tell them you want fair access to Texas high school playoff sports broadcasts. Tell them you want local broadcasters to have the opportunity to serve their communities. Because it makes sense and it works. Let's do what works instead of helping a billion dollar company make more billions off the backs of Texas families just trying to watch kids play a kids' game. I'm not a socialist or a communist, don’t call me that. I'm annoyed.

Call your legislators. That's the only way this changes. And no, it really shouldn't be this hard.