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What are the best online streaming services for high school sports?
The Tech Review is VNN’s weekly run-down of the tech companies having the biggest impact in sports, and our team’s picks for which platforms we see as the best choices for high school athletic departments across the country.
It’s never been easier to watch your favorite sports teams from wherever you are. Across college and the pros, we’ve seen deal after deal come together to make sporting events available live across the internet wherever fans may be. From the NBA announcing their partnership with Twitter to YouTube getting in on some MLB action, the live streaming industry is red hot, with names like Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube Tv all getting themselves a piece of the pie.
For the high school athletic director, it all can be a bit intimidating. Even if there was enough time for it all, purchasing equipment, production values, connectivity, and distribution can be serious perceived obstacles that stand in the way of broadcasting your local gym to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and fans across the country.
The good news is, there are several companies that have made it their mission to make it easy for high school administrators. Some come out of the box ready to go, others require a bit of work, but there are solutions should you find yourself wanting to start live streaming at your high school. We’ve broken out our list into a few categories to help you pick.
A flexible option
Rapid Replay
Rapid Replay Stream is an easy, comprehensive solution for schools looking for flexibility as they stream. Rapid Replay allows you to stream from any device, or multiple devices to capture different angles. It’s not just limited to sports, either – you can go live at graduation, theatre performances, and more.
The Rapid Replay app provides a custom, built-in camera that’s simple to use and accommodates spotty service. Your athletics website administrators can give streaming permission to a coach, trusted parent or fan at the event. All live events are archived on your athletics site for easy access to replay.
For schools looking to earn money
Justagame
Justagame Live is a powerful solution for schools aiming to monetize live streaming, with 75% of ticket sales returning to the school. It gives schools the option to stream from any mobile device or purchase a camera to mount. This is a great solution for schools that want a camera in one gym, but the option to stream from a phone at other events.
The Justagame Live app is simple to use, allowing you to go live in just a few clicks. Again, all game-day streams are saved to your VNN SportsHub site for anyone who missed the live event.
For the AD on a budget
BoxCast
One of the lowest cost options on our list, BoxCast, comes in at only $99/month. This affordable option allows you to stream to numerous platforms, like your school website, Facebook Live, and YouTube. This simple to use solution requires only a small box, a recording device, internet access and power. With unlimited viewers, unlimited events and high quality resolution, BoxCast is our choice for the AD on a budget. Can’t watch live? BoxCast also automatically archives all of your events so you can go back and watch at your convenience.
The Most-Trusted
NFHS Network
NFHS, and its live-streaming partner PlayOn! Sports, has partnered with 44 High School Athletic Associations across the country making it easily the most popular solution on our list.
With a one-time installation fee, and a cheap annual fee ($69), it’s easy to see why NFHS is so popular. When you factor in the set up fee, it’s slightly more expensive than BoxCast, but still very manageable. And, with their new automated production feature, it’s easy to see why they’re at the top of the list.
What’s included:
Camera unit – weatherproof camera in a single mounted unit
Scoring device – plugs into scoreboard for automated score integration into the broadcast
Desktop Computer – for production integration & video processing
Other benefits? You don’t need a camera operator, score graphics sync with venue scoreboard, and each Pixellot unit can integrate with your coaching software. Also, we can’t forget to mention that it’s free for the viewer so your fans across the country don’t have to worry about spending a penny.
The Quickest
Meridix
If fast and easy is what you are looking for, Meridix makes the most sense. Just download the app, pick up a phone and start streaming. Great quality and simple set-up makes this a good option for an AD who wants to get started right away. The company makes its money from advertising though, and a few different reviews mentioned the inconvenience of having ads pop up while fans watch games. They can be removed by the fan at a cost.
Honorable Mentions
A few other live-streaming options are on our radar too:
Mascot Media – Another free option for users
Prepspotlight.tv – Great option for archived events
High School Zoom – Free, live and archived events. Another good option
Interested in getting live streaming set up on your VNN site? Connect with us here.
The Top VNN Network Schools of 2019
From Vermilion’s ‘Shot Heard Round the World’ to Frankfort’s Payton Manning message (two of the network’s top articles), 2019 was a banner year for schools across our network. Here at VNN HQ, we also welcomed a new CEO, fundraising company, and investors at the same time. But before we turn the page fully into 2020, our team wanted to look back at how VNN Network schools performed in the context of our mission “connecting community through sport.”
It’s not easy to assign a letter grade on how well an athletic department brings their community together around their sports programs, but through a calculation that combines several of the data points we have access to, we’ve created a 2019 Report Card for every school across the VNN Network.
Here are the schools that took home A+ grades in 2019’s rankings
Temple, Texas
With over 2,000,000 annual page views and great, consistent content, Temple takes the number one spot. They also use our digital graphics partner, BoxOut Sports, as well as anyone to promote all of their teams and athletes. No one does it better than these guys.
2. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Bethesda, Maryland
With tons of pictures, engagement and unique articles, Bethesda takes the #2 spot. They also are using our digital fundraising partner, RallyAroundUs, very well to engage their fans, families and communities.
3. Winston Churchill High School
Potomac, Maryland
With tons of unique visitors to their site, WCHS cracks the top 5. Also, like our #1 and #2 schools, they are engaging their communities in effective, creative ways.
Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Consistently one of the best schools in PA, Hampton High School gets a nod in the top 5. Great content, consistent page views and the use of our online graphics solution BoxOut Sports and our digital fundraising partner RallyAroundUs are big reasons why.
Gambrills, Maryland
Arundel High School rounds up the top 5 with an incredibly strong engagement with their community through sport with their articles, photos and use of products.
Here is the rest of the list of our A+ Schools:
6. Avon Lake High School – Avon Lake, Ohio
7. Saint Joseph Academy – Cleveland, OH
8. Berea-Midpark High School – Berea, OH
9. De Soto High School – De Soto, KS
10. Broadneck High School – Annapolis, MD
11. Kaneland High School – Maple Park, IL
12. Northwood High School – Nappanee, IN
13. Laporte High School – La Porte, IN
14. New Albany High School – New Albany, OH
15. Wauseon High School – Wauseon, OH
16. Buckeye High School – Medina, OH
17. Canyon/Anaheim – Anaheim, CA
18. Pendleton Heights High School – Pendleton, IN
19. Greenwood High School – Greenwood, SC
20. Massillon Washington High School – Massillon, OH
21. Paint Branch High School – Burtonsville, MD
22. Valley Center High School – Valley Center, KS
23. Emerald High School – Greenwood, SC
24. Blue Springs South High School – Blue Springs, MO
25. Clackamas High School – Clackamas, OR
26. Homewood High School – Birmingham, AL
27. Perry High School – Perry, OH
28. Junction City High School – Junction City, KS
29. Hudson High School – Hudson, OH
30. Saint Joseph High School – South Bend, IN
31. San Mateo High School – San Mateo, CA
Don’t see your school here? We’ve got the rest of the list, from A to E. Just email accounts@vnnsports.net for your personalized report card.
High School Sports Platform VNN Acquires Fundraising App RallyAroundUs
via SportTechie
by Andrew Cohen
High school sports communications platform VNN has announced its acquisition of fundraising app RallyAroundUs. The crowdsourcing app will now be integrated into VNN’s SportsHub communications platform, which is used by 10% of all high school athletic departments in the U.S.
Athletes and teams can film and upload videos to drive fundraising efforts inside the RallyAroundUs mobile app. Campaigns can be created within minutes and donations can be made directly within the app.
Read more at SportTechie
VNN Sports raises $3.7 million in outside capital
Excerpt from StarTribune
By Neal St. Anthony
VNN Sports, a high school sports communications software platform, has raised $3.7 million, led by NextWave capital with participation from Arsenal Ventures.
CEO Rick Ehrman of Grand Rapids, MI-based VNN has opened a Minneapolis office. He previously worked for Sports Engine, a similar company focused on amateur sports that was sold to NBC Universal.
“In my time at Sports Engine, our investors and partners had a front-row seat to see the power of digitization in athletics…
Buy Game Tickets from your Site — our unified solution with HomeTown Ticketing is now live
In August, we announced our partnership with HomeTown Ticketing and we are incredibly excited to share the integration that bring professional-level online ticketing to high schools across the country is officially live today.
“People are no longer satisfied with clunky and outdated experiences,” said Rick Ehrman, CEO of VNN Sports. “High school sports is the next frontier for seamless, digital experiences – and it starts with ticketing. This new integration and functionality enable VNN Sports’ partner schools to deliver professional-grade experiences to their loyal communities with just a few clicks of a mouse.”
How it works
After a much anticipated wait, all VNN Sports partner schools are able to add digital ticketing for football and basketball games to their website through a partnership with Columbus-based HomeTown Ticketing. Instead of finding a way to scrounge some cash together or having to pay someone back, a fan can buy tickets via the box office on a full events calendar or through a “buy tickets” link on the team’s schedule. When she arrives at the event, the purchased tickets are scanned directly from her phone or tickets she printed off at home. Who likes waiting in lines while people dig through their pockets anyways?
Ehrman continued: “At VNN Sports, we strive to be the platform high schools across the country use to deliver best-in-class experiences to their communities. By adding ticketing to our list of integrations, high school athletic departments are one step closer to the professional-level experiences today’s fans expect.”
We are thrilled that our partnership with HomeTown Ticketing has finally come to life. To start the process, click here. On top of that, we will be hosting a workshop with our CEO, Rick Ehrman, and HomeTown Ticketing CEO Nate Nale next Friday at 11 am est.
National Signing Day Recap
As College Football comes to an end and bowl games wrap up, many high school players recently fulfilled lifelong dreams by signing their letter of intent to play at the next level on National Signing Day. With many talented prospects across the nation, it’s great to see our network partners so well represented in the Top 100. In fact, ten of the Top 30 from 24/7 Sports Rankings hail from VNN Schools.
Here’s the rundown:
#1 Bryan Bresee, DT, Damascus High School (MD), Clemson University
Bryan Bresee comes into Clemson as the number one ranked player in the country and some have projected him as a top 5 pick 2022 NFL Draft.
#3 Myles Murphy, DE, Hillgrove High School (GA), Clemson University
Myles Murphy, joining Bresee, joins the talented recruiting class as the nations top DE who should make an immediate impact for the Tigers.
#4 Justin Flowe, DE, Upland (CA), University of Oregon
Flowe is a physical linebacker with great size who projects to be a top 5 NFL pick some day.
#8 Kelee Ringo, CB, Saguaro (AZ), Undecided
Ringo, the top rated CB in the country, should thrive in wherever he decides to play next season.
#9 Arik Gilbert, TE, Marietta (GA), Alabama University
Gilbert, the nations top TE, is headed to Alabama looking to bring the Crimson back to the country’s best team.
#16 Demarkcus Bowman, RB, Lakeland (FL), Clemson University
Bowman, another Clemson Tiger recruit, looks to step in and help fill star running back Travis Etienne shoes.
#22 Demond Demas, WR, Tomball (TX), Texas A&M University
Demas, the nation’s 3rd ranked receiver, should make an immediate impact for the Aggies. He also won the 4A state long jump as a sophomore.
#23 Noah Sewell, ILB, Orem (UT), University of Oregon
Sewell, the second Duck commit in the top 25, spring speed and toughness to what should be a loaded Oregon team.
#25 Chris Tyree, RB, Chester (VA), University of Notre Dame
Tyree bring his 4.38 speed to the Fighting Irish next season.
#30 Jaylon Jones, S, Cibolo (TX), Texas A&M University
Jones, the nation’s top ranked safety, bring his hard hitting ability to the Aggies next year.
If you’re in need for a college team to cheer for in 2020, cheer on the Clemson Tigers as they are represented by multiple of our VNN partners!
Social Showcase with BoxOut Sports
Our November social media contest is underway! As schools post their most creative graphics on Twitter with our partner BoxOut Sports and #highschoolsports for a chance to win a free year of their automated digital design software, we’re collecting and compiling some of the favorites from our team.
At the halfway point of the month, here’s a few hand-picked by Megan Wolf from our support team:
Want to bring your school an automated sports information and design department, and enter the contest? Schedule a demo with us here: http://bit.ly/36EmoX5
Bachelor of Science in Digital Recording Arts Technology
Hands-on experience and proficiency with contemporary digital production equipment and applications are required. Students are often required to compile a portfolio by the end of
VNN Sports Partners with ArbiterSports and HomeTown Ticketing to Streamline and “Professionalize” High School Sports Experience
Grand Rapids, MI (August 20, 2019) – Eighty-one (81) percent of Americans have a smartphone; fifty (50) percent of Americans claim to carry cash less than half the time when they are out; and seventy (70) percent use a digital calendar or scheduling application to coordinate their schedules.
Despite these numbers, high school sports have remained largely paper-based. Recognizing the growing demands and expectations for a digital experience – from athletic directors and schools to athletes and their parents – VNN Sports today announced it has partnered with ArbiterSports and HomeTown Ticketing to further build a “one-stop shop” for all high school sports communications and marketing needs.
Eight (8) million students participate in athletics across America, fueling a growing need to move away from the fragmented and piecemeal solutions available today to communicate and share information with athletes, parents and the community to one that is seamless, consolidated, and, most importantly, digital.
“People are no longer satisfied with clunky and outdated experiences,” said Rick Ehrman, CEO of VNN Sports. “We saw an opportunity to bring together foundational components of the high school sports experience – with both ArbiterSports and HomeTown Ticketing – to enable people to communicate and interact with their favorite high school sports team and community the same way they do across the rest of their lives.”
ArbiterSports
ArbiterSports simplifies event management for schools and districts across the country. From scheduling and registering student athletes to paying officials and event workers, ArbiterSports handles more than 7 million games each year, more than any single event management software company in high school, and saves high school sports communities time and money. With today’s announcement, customers of both companies – VNN Sports and ArbiterSports – will have a streamlined process for communicating and managing the scheduling process.
HomeTown Ticketing
HomeTown Ticketing provides schools and athletic conferences with everything needed to offer professional-level online ticketing to their fans and community. Leading the industry in technology, innovation, and security, HomeTown Ticketing provides custom solutions that streamline operations, increase financial transparency, and improve the fan experience.
In addition to providing real-time event analytics and improving the ticket-buying experience for sports fans, HomeTown Ticketing also enables schools to generate additional revenue from brands seeking a hyper-local advertising solution.
“Our partnership with VNN Sports will further our mission to bring professional-level ticketing solutions to high schools and state athletic associations throughout the country,” said Nate Nale, Founder and CEO of HomeTown Ticketing. “We seek to not only provide industry-leading digital ticketing technology, but to create the first unified ticketing solution in the high school space. Our partnership with VNN Sports will provide athletic directors the ultimate ticketing solution and enable millions of fans to receive custom branded digital tickets directly to their email or mobile device.”
Erhman continued, “Without collaborations and integrations like these, high school sports risks declining numbers and support as more people get frustrated with an outdated experience. Our vision is to deliver an experience that matches and channels the level of passion people have for their high school athletes and teams. These two partnerships – in addition to the six others we have signed over the past eighteen months like RallyAroundUs, Scorebird and BoxOut Sports – get us closer to delivering on that goal.”
To connect Arbiter schedule sync from your ArbiterPay or ArbiterGame software, email our support team at connect@vnnsports.net.
Bonita Bearcat Volleyball (CA) kicks off season
The girls head to Redlands for the Citrus Valley tournament.
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