A thought on....NFHS.com

[Anon1754760634]

Could NFHS.com become a winner because of COVID-19? Stay with me here...just spitballing.

Winner?

First off if you've watch any of the various media TV coverage/shows etc over the past 2-3 months in my eyes the bar for quality etc has been lowered considerably from the highest of networks on down...it's suddenly become commonplace for delays via live streaming, drops and just crappy looking and performing platforms. We've gone from big time networks who would never...ever...use Skype etc to using Zoom/Skype/Goole/Facetime now on a daily basis....so the many, many technical issues NFHS.com live streaming of games they have faced over the past few years (and trust me they have been excessive in my opinion) will be a bit more acceptable from here on out? I'm also hoping live stream technology will be forced to improve in a big way sooner rather than later....and that the various companies and streaming networks will have serious $$$ invested into them for advancements.

Also...if the COVID-19 restrictions don't allow fans in the stands to at least start the season...fans will have no choice but to be forced to seek out live streams and guess who wins big in this scenario...yep NFHS.com

Just a thought here...let me know your thoughts.

 

[sporthog_9er]

Agree the bar has been lowered, but one thing I think with what we see on TV is that the video is still somewhat clear and understandable with audio. NFHS has a lot of issues with not even being able to see what is going on or understand what is happening. Unless those issues are greatly reduced then I see the complaints not going anywhere.

I would have no issue if it was delayed as long as the production is professional. If fans can't go and NFHS still is not very good, I could see the demand for someone to do like what O'Brien does, just go live on Periscope and get the action. Many times that is better.

 

[Still Missing34]

I've been saying it for a few weeks that now is the time to invest in live HS sports coverage.

 

[caravan8]

I've been saying it for a few weeks that now is the time to invest in live HS sports coverage.

If there are no fans or limited fans I would love to see local stations air games every weekend. A Friday night game, a Saturday afternoon game, a Saturday night game. Let the leagues work out the schedules to accommodate some different start times to get 3-4 games in local stations each week.

not sure what the financial viability would be, but it would be great to see.

 

[redmen85]

Not sure of the feasibility of this but--
Many high schools have broadcasting programs as part of the curriculum. What if they would post the link each week on a HS football web site..(I don't know..maybe Edgy Tim!) and include the school's link which could also have the student produced pregame etc?
NFHS sucks.
I would much rather watch the kids.
What do you think?

 

[Still Missing34]

Many do that now if you can find it. I'd be all for it. The more access the better.

 

[CaravanMan]

Not until they invest more $$$ in it on their end. Live-streaming is hit or miss, even with today's technological ability because there are so many factors that play into it. Spinning up content servers in the cloud is cheap but I have no clue what the NFHS technology budget is nor the equipment that they use. Additionally, how do they stream games? I assume they have personnel at these games that set up equipment. Does the school provide a dedicated Internet line just for streaming? Then you get into the end user problem causing the lag/dropped connection/. They could have a crappy router/modem, Internet congestion or line problems, limited bandwidth, distance, etc. What a headache.

 

[crusader_of_90]

Not until they invest more $$$ in it on their end. Live-streaming is hit or miss, even with today's technological ability because there are so many factors that play into it. Spinning up content servers in the cloud is cheap but I have no clue what the NFHS technology budget is nor the equipment that they use. Additionally, how do they stream games? I assume they have personnel at these games that set up equipment. Does the school provide a dedicated Internet line just for streaming? Then you get into the end user problem causing the lag/dropped connection/. They could have a crappy router/modem, Internet congestion or line problems, limited bandwidth, distance, etc. What a headache.

They SHOULD be able to upload just fine with a Mifi or CradlePoint if there is no Internet in the press box.

 

[CaravanMan]

They SHOULD be able to upload just fine with a Mifi or CradlePoint if there is no Internet in the press box.

Depends on link speed and resolution and few other things but it could/should work. Again, I don't know the setup so I can't really comment beyond that. But based on the comments here in the past in regards to NFHS, it seems it's on them more so than anything else.

 

[Blue Ruin]

The Caravan Broadcasting Network is just one of many channels on the NFHS network. Thankfully, last year's season went off without a hitch. But previous years were plagued by the loss of audio or video during such critical moments as the playoff game with SCN. No refund could begin to compensate for that loss.

 

[crusader_of_90]

Depends on link speed and resolution and few other things but it could/should work. Again, I don't know the setup so I can't really comment beyond that. But based on the comments here in the past in regards to NFHS, it seems it's on them more so than anything else.

Upload and processing by the local hardware as well matters, yes. All of that matters, if that’s an allowable word still.

 

[IgorStL]

St Laurence streams their home games on YouTube. Obviously, they go off without a hitch.

 

[mc140]

Not sure of the feasibility of this but--
Many high schools have broadcasting programs as part of the curriculum. What if they would post the link each week on a HS football web site..(I don't know..maybe Edgy Tim!) and include the school's link which could also have the student produced pregame etc?
NFHS sucks.
I would much rather watch the kids.
What do you think?

Aren't most NFHS broadcast the schools themselves and their students?

 

[Still Missing34]

Aren't most NFHS broadcast the schools themselves and their students?

Yes

 

[Chicago312]

a hardwired connection should be mandatory, I 've seen some using an iphone hotspot or public Wifi that spectators use also. NFHS and some of the schools that have poor streaming should be in the lab NOW working on things.

 

[CaravanMan]

Yes

Why is NFHS involved then if schools can do it? How does the money trail work then? I assume it costs schools to put out a free broadcast and this is where NFHS comes in?

 

[Still Missing34]

Why is NFHS involved then if schools can do it? How does the money trail work then? I assume it costs schools to put out a free broadcast and this is where NFHS comes in?

That's the most logical explanation, some schools just might not have the means or the desire to through the work. Some schools certainly do it better than others and some don't need the NFHS at all.

 

[godfthr53]

most I've watched on Youtube are infinity better than NFHS.

 

[CaravanMan]

For a smaller school, Coal City does an amazing job with their YT stream. I've always wondered why most don't go that route. But I guess if finances are the main factor then it can get difficult for some schools who don't budget (or have minimal) for streaming capability.

 

[Kevin JCHS 81]

For a smaller school, Coal City does an amazing job with their YT stream. I've always wondered why most don't go that route. But I guess if finances are the main factor then it can get difficult for some schools who don't budget (or have minimal) for streaming capability.

JCA has no budget for their live streaming it's covered by volunteers and donations.

They do their video streaming on Facebook, not sure why, but it works pretty good. There was only one bad video last year and that was an away conference game where the only place they would allow them to set up was literally 100+ yards away in the 3rd floor of their school. No real press box apparently. Can't remember what school that was.

 

[CaravanMan]

JCA has no budget for their live streaming it's covered by volunteers and donations.

They do their video streaming on Facebook, not sure why, but it works pretty good. There was only one bad video last year and that was an away conference game where the only place they would allow them to set up was literally 100+ yards away in the 3rd floor of their school. No real press box apparently. Can't remember what school that was.

I guess I just don't understand the fail on NFHS's part. I would've purchased it but given all the horrible feedback I wouldn't touch it. Seems they should be way ahead of the curve.

 

[Anon1754760634]

JCA has no budget for their live streaming it's covered by volunteers and donations.

They do their video streaming on Facebook, not sure why, but it works pretty good. There was only one bad video last year and that was an away conference game where the only place they would allow them to set up was literally 100+ yards away in the 3rd floor of their school. No real press box apparently. Can't remember what school that was.

Brian Jones is the man....that's why it works at JCA FYI.

 

[Kevin JCHS 81]

Brian Jones is the man....that's why it works at JCA FYI.

Yep. I've talked to Brian a few times and sent him money to help with expenses. I have helped him out trying to ask for information on here about IHSA playoff video fees when he was considering a stream for one of the playoff games last year.

They do a pretty decent job and usually have a play-by-play guy that's either Brian's son or a JCA student (Alex I think).