The CIF Southern Section and the PlayOn! Sports/NFHS Network on Aug. 16 announced a six-year renewal and enhancement of their partnership with television and streaming rights agreement for local high school sports.
With the deal beginning this year, participating CIF Southern Section schools will be able to broadcast their own live events on the network. They will also be able to present events on-demand while providing students with the ability to work in and learn about the broadcasting field.
“The NFHS Network continues to be an important and valued friend,” CIF Southern Section Commissioner Mike West said in a press release announcing the deal. “This new agreement represents not just a continued partnership in the digital space, but a real investment in CIF-SS athletics and athletes on the linear side.”
The deal continues the organizational partnership with the NFHS Network’s automated sports filming and production tool. It enables schools to install unmanned cameras in their stadiums and gymnasiums, and have athletic events streamed live on the network through a fully automated process.
The NFHS Network, which has been delivering CIF-SS coverage since 2013, will produce 20 over-the-air football broadcasts, including 17 weekly games and three championship contests on Bally Sports SoCal. While the entire schedule has not been announced, games include Mater Dei at Centennial (Corona) on Aug. 18, Mission Viejo at Long Beach Poly on Sept. 1, and Sierra Canyon at Orange Lutheran on Sept. 15.
The regional sports network will also distribute the boys’ and girls’ open-division basketball and girls’ open-division volleyball championships, all produced by NFHS.
“PlayOn! Sports is thrilled to renew and deepen our relationship with the CIF Southern Section,” Michael White, executive vice president of content and production, said in the press release. “As the high school sports and technology world continues to evolve, the CIF Southern Section will be supported by a platform that provides a one-stop shop opportunity for everything from broadcasting and streaming to digital ticketing to schedules and administration, as well as VNN for your website.”
