The UIL will help its more than 1,300 schools by allowing live telecasts of football regular-season games on Friday nights this year, lifting a ban that had long been in place to motivate fans to attend games.(Michael Hogue)
Is the sanctity of “Friday Night Lights” on the line? What 2020 means for the future of streaming Texas high school football
There are arguments on both sides of the issue, including returning to the old rules in 2021 to see as many fans in the stands as possible.
Football fans spend their Sundays glued to their television, computer, tablet or phone watching Patrick Mahomes or Dak Prescott decimate defenses.
This year, they can do the same thing on Friday nights, except they’ll be watching five-star Southlake Carroll quarterback Quinn Ewers throw spirals into the end zone or they’ll see jaw-dropping moves by Frisco Lone Star running back extraordinaire Jaden Nixon.
Live streaming has already changed the way fans consume professional and college sports, making it all accessible through mediums such as ESPN+, YouTube TV, Peacock, CBS All Access and Hulu + Live TV. Live high school football telecasts will be available via a smorgasbord of streaming options on Friday nights this season, but it took the coronavirus pandemic to make that possible in Texas.
Because of COVID-19, the University Interscholastic League is allowing a maximum of 50% capacity at games, so many fans will follow the action from home. NFHS Network, a partnership between the National Federation of State High School Associations and PlayOn! Sports, will provide live streaming for nearly 200 schools/school districts in Texas, about half of which are in the Dallas area.
Plenty of others have jumped at the chance to provide live streaming locally. That includes YouTube, Sportsgram Network, GameOn Sports Production, Mascot Media, VYPE Media, Stretch Internet, MuscoVision and local radio stations.
“It’s a grassroots-type of space for networks,” Fox Sports Southwest executive producer Jason Walsh said. “The focus has always been on communities, and telling stories about the community’s kids. There has always been a lot of interest there.”
When fans aren’t watching the Mavericks, Stars or Rangers on TV, FSSW has found that most view the games via the Fox Sports Go app. The network places all of its high school football programming in the same place, so it’s a broad audience digesting that content.
The UIL will help its more than 1,300 schools by allowing live telecasts of football regular-season games on Friday nights this year, lifting a ban that had long been in place to motivate fans to attend games. Though both schools in a contest must agree to the broadcast format, the door is open for schools to broadcast their games on a variety of devices and apps.
School districts will lose significant revenue in ticket sales this year, and concession sales and booster club profits will take a hit. Districts can recoup some of that by bringing in money from revenue sharing with streaming companies, along with advertising that they sell for broadcasts.
There are arguments on both sides of the issue, and those in favor of keeping the sanctity of “Friday Night Lights” and returning to the old rules in 2021 want to see as many fans in the stands as possible. But live streaming allows family members and fans who live out of town the chance to see the games, it puts more live games on TV, and it gives students real-life broadcast experience.
As Midlothian ISD videographer and multi-media specialist Ron Bland said, “Does anyone really think people would stay at home watching an iPad if they really wanted to be at the stadium?”
“The benefits of Friday night live broadcasts are fantastic for the current situation,” Rockwall ISD athletic director Russ Reeves said. “School districts having to reduce seating capacity, individuals fearful of attending games in person that may be in a high-risk group, or individuals who are unable to attend in person for other various reasons will be able to watch those contests live.”
Will it last?
Mark Koski, CEO of NFHS Network, hopes to someday provide live streaming for every high school athletic event in America.
“That would be 2 million games a year,” Koski said.
Koski’s Atlanta-based company will give millions of athletes exposure by live streaming more than 300,000 high school sporting events nationwide this school year. The UIL is a partner and part-owner, and Koski’s goal is to eventually partner with every Texas public school.
But will the UIL enter this brave new world on a permanent basis?
For now, the UIL has said that this is a temporary suspension of its rules and is only for the 2020-21 school year. The UIL won’t speculate about its plans beyond that.
In a survey from The Dallas Morning News, 73% of the Dallas-area athletic directors who responded said they are not in favor of allowing live broadcasts on Friday nights after this year.
“My hope is the UIL continues to black out live Friday night football,” said Mansfield ISD athletic director Philip O’Neal, whose district is partnering with NFHS Network. “I want people in the seats supporting the athletes and building community through their attendance.”
Lewisville ISD athletic director Tim Ford worries that getting rid of the old “Friday night rule” completely will curtail attendance. Dallas ISD’s Silvia Salinas, AD for the area’s largest school district (22 high schools), argues that continuing this year’s broadcast model will “broaden our audience and allow parents and fans additional opportunities to support us.”
High School Football | Greg Riddle | Dallas Morning News | Photo Prosper ISD
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