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MHSAA Issues New TV Broadcast Rules; No Changes for Radio

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has notified Athletic Directors around the state that they’ve updated their rules on live video broadcast/streaming of events with limited spectatorship.  While radio rules remain the same, these changes loosen the rules for television and local over-the-air TV stations and cable channels may now broadcast games live.

The MAB has been working with the MHSAA over the past year attempting to get the rules regarding live TV coverage changed. This especially rose in importance with the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The notification states that the MHSAA Executive Committee has approved a waiver of the MHSAA Handbook regulation related to live video of regular season and MHSAA Tournament events. Here’s a rundown of the key points of that action:

    • Member schools participating in the School Broadcast Program with the NFHS Network either with traditional hands-on crews or using the Network’s automated production solution – Pixellot – will continue to live stream all possible games with traditional crews and all events taking place where a Pixellot unit is installed.
    • Member schools not participating in the School Broadcast Program may use their own resources and a platform of their own choice to live stream events without restrictions.
    • Member schools not participating in the School Broadcast Program may assign the live streaming rights to a local third party if they choose to do so.
    • Local over-the-air TV stations and cable channels may broadcast games live.

Athletic Directors were advised that “even though we cannot get all the fans to the games in-person, we hope you’ll take action to get the games to your fans.”

Full details of the regular-season and tournament guidelines – plus a set of FAQ’s – can be found at this link: https://www.mhsaa.com/Portals/0/Documents/AD Forms/Stream-Guidance.pdf

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