On-Site Manual Broadcasts Overview

What are Manual Broadcasts?

Manual productions at the NFHS Network are broadcasts that do not utilize the Pixellot platform. These productions require on-site personnel during the event to manually control cameras, graphics, audio, and other elements of the broadcast.

Manual Broadcast Prerequisites

To stream manually to the NFHS Network, the on-site producer/school will need the following equipment.

Computer

To help ensure everything runs smoothly, it's vital to select a Windows PC that can function effectively in diverse and challenging conditions, catering to power users such as live-stream broadcast operators.

You will need a Windows computer to stream with the latest version of PlayOn Producer.

Mac computers are compatible with any of our recommended third-party streaming softwares.

Standard Definition (SD) minimum hardware specifications

• • Windows 10 or 11 (Mac not supported for Producer)
  • i5 Processer @ 2.8 GHz (8th gen or newer)
    • Producer prefers faster cores over the total number of cores.
  • Minimum 8 GB of RAM
  • 500GB SSD
  • USB 3.0 port is a bonus, but not required

High-Definition (HD) minimum hardware specifications

See a Dell laptop with our current specification recommendations here.

Video camera

You can utilize any camera that is compatible with your capture card of choice.

Video capture device

See our guide Recommended Capture Cards for NFHS Producer for complete details.

Streaming encoder

You will need a streaming encoder such as our NFHS Producer or a third-party one, such as OBS, vMix, or Tricaster. See our guide PlayOn Producer Installation and Drivers for complete details.

Pre-Production

• Survey your production site ahead of time to ensure you have the following:
• Adequate space for crew and equipment
• Power source
• Internet connection
• Coordinate with a site contact, if applicable, to make sure they know you are coming
• Arrive at your site early to allow ample time to set up equipment
• Run a TEST STREAM before your actual production

Production Plan

A complete broadcast should include video, audio commentary, and graphics. The chart below outlines the “flow” of a sports broadcast and what each crew member(s) should be doing in their respective roles:

• Some general guidelines for the camera operator include:
• White balance before the start of your broadcast
• Keep your subject(s) in focus
• Move steadily – no jerking the camera
• Zoom when applicable (and do not zoom too fast)

• Some general guidelines for the audio commentators (talent) include:
• Do research on both teams ahead of time – rosters, records, interesting facts
• Provide informed and unbiased (as much as possible) commentary

How to Launch NFHS Producer in Console

Please note: if you are planning to stream with a 3rd party software such as OBS, please skip this section.

• Field 1: On-site producer's Full Name
• Field 2: Phone Number for NFHS Support
• Field 3: Launches NFHS Producer in test mode. (This is for test purposes only & will not establish a connection with the NFHS Network)
• Field 4: Launches NFHS Producer in LIVE STREAM MODE (This is the full version of NFHS Producer & will establish a connection with the NFHS Network) 

Producer Settings

1. The resolution NFHS Producer is recognizing from your capture card
2. The Capture card device name currently being used
3. The Audio device currently being used
4. The file destination of your video if you choose to save locally on your computer
5. Here you can select what Resolution your Broadcast will be output into
6. The Overlay Package that will be used once NFHS Producer launches
Network Speed Probing will help determine your bitrate based on your internet
connection type
7. Here you can select your Network Speed Probing, which is directly tied to your broadcasts Bitrate Presets. For the best quality & buffer performance, please choose the "Adaptive (***)" preset that best matches your internet connection.

For more control over your bitrate select "Manually Selected" and it will present a
new "Preset" dropdown menu where you can choose your desired Resolution
Bitrate

RTMP Streaming

• Access to the NFHS Console page
• A third-party application that supports RTMP streaming
• For the list of our most commonly used 3rd party Software Encoder, you can refer to THIS guide
• NFHS Network's RTMP Server Address: rtmp://video.nfhsnetwork.com/manual
• Stream Key/Broadcast ID found inside the "Broadcast Detail" page of your NFHS Console event
• HERE is a quick guide using OBS as an example

Industry Standards

• Broadcast Flow.pdf100 KB