How to Start a Student Broadcast Program with the NFHS Network

With the NFHS Network, schools have two powerful options to broadcast their events: Automated Production and Manual Production. With Automated Production, AI-powered cameras will automatically turn on at game time, track all the action, and stream to the Network. This is an appealing option for many schools because of how easy and convenient it is to stream their events with minimal effort.

With Manual Production, schools can produce their own broadcasts and create opportunities for students in the process. Many of our schools have created broadcast programs for students to gain invaluable skills in journalism and media.

Learn how you can start a Student Broadcast Program at your school by following the steps below. You can always reach out to our team for more guidance as well.

Step 1: Acquire the Necessary Equipment

In order to create and manage a high-quality student broadcast program, your school must first have the equipment necessary to bring the program to life. If you would like to stream the games without commentary, then the necessary equipment will be a camera, HDMI cable, audio/video capturing device, and a streaming laptop.

If you want to include play-by-play and color commentators in the broadcast, then there are a few more pieces of equipment that will be needed. A camera, HDMI cable, video cable, audio cable, audio mixer, announcer headsets, microphones, streaming laptop, video capturing device, and audio mixer to audio cable will be needed if announcers are to be included.

For more technical details, check out this quick guide to Manual Productions with the NFHS Network. 

Step 2: Appoint a Program Director

Any successful school program needs a director to take charge, and a Student Broadcast Program is no different. Many schools have an IT or technical director who could adequately lead the program while managing the technology. Schools can also look to teachers who have had experience with broadcasting or journalism. Ultimately you can go in a number of different directions when it comes to appointing a program director, but finding one is necessary for a successful school broadcast. 

Step 3: Promote the Program

Now it's time to promote the program to your students and encourage them to participate. You can use the morning announcements, flyers, and social media as the main sources of promotion.

Most schools have a morning announcement message before every school day, so a simple 30-second announcement about the broadcast program will suffice for spreading awareness to students. Hanging flyers around the school can be another way to build awareness about your program. Post the flyers in high-traffic areas of the school to ensure the most visibility.

Last but certainly not least, social media should be the main avenue of promotion for schools when promoting a potential student broadcast program. Social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram are great for reaching students. Posting a simple graphic that promotes the program on both Twitter and Instagram can help get the word out.

Step 4: Create a Broadcast Plan

Once your school has an adequate number of students to start the program, it’s time to create a broadcast plan. Your school can go in a number of different directions with the program you create, and setting a plan will be critical for long-term success.

Start by identifying which sports you want to broadcast and reviewing the schedules for each sport. Assign students to each event to ensure that all events will be covered. Many schools start broadcasting with football and basketball, but you certainly aren't limited to those sports. The NFHS Network covers 27 different sports at all levels, so consider broadcasting your volleyball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and other athletics as well. 

Step 5: Define Student Roles for Each Broadcast

Once your broadcast schedule is in place, it’s now time to assign roles for students in the program. A high-quality sports broadcast will include a producer, play-by-play commentator, color commentator, sideline reporter, and potentially more. You can pick and choose what roles to include for each broadcast. 

Creating a rotation for the students will be the most effective way to ensure each student has a chance to work in different roles. This will give students opportunities to gain well-rounded experience and creative samples for a digital portfolio. 

Before your first broadcast, try to test your process with a "mock" production of a scrimmage or practice. This will give your students a better idea of what to expect on game day and help identify any areas that may need more attention.

Step 6: Lights, Camera, Action

Now the preparation has been done and your broadcasting is ready to go live. The most important step is to have fun with it. There could be nerves, mistakes, and technical difficulties at times, but these are learning opportunities for you and your students. These experiences can give your students chances to collaborate and problem-solve.

In addition to smoothing out anything that may not go according to plan, be sure to highlight what goes well! As you broadcast more and more events, you and your students will gain confidence, experience, and inspiration to keep evolving your program and process.

Step 7: Even More Promotion

Once your school has had successful broadcasts, you can now use the content produced to further promote the program. Social media can be effective once again, as you can post highlights from your broadcast and encourage students to join the program and subscribe to watch. Students can also build their portfolios by clipping their favorite moments, calls, and more.

For more technical resources, visit our Support Hub for Manual Streaming.

Next Steps:

Regardless if students decide to enter the field of broadcast journalism, a student broadcast program can teach many transferable skills that will serve them in high school and beyond. If you're interested in potentially creating a program at your school, contact us today.

More Information:

Want more information on a student broadcast program? Check out one of our recent blogs on the benefits of a student broadcast program for students.