1. Radio broadcast, telecast, cablecast and internet broadcast rights for regular season contests in all sports are held by the home/host school. The FHSAA cannot grant radio broadcast, telecast, cablecast or internet broadcast rights to regular season contests. Outlets wishing to broadcast, telecast, cablecast or webcast a regular season contest should contact the principal of the home/host school to secure rights and make arrangements.
(a) The terms “radio station(s)”, “over-the-air television station(s)”, “cable TV system(s)”, “independent producer(s)” and “internet providers” are applicable and appropriate any place in this policy where the term “outlet(s)” is used unless one or more of the terms is specifically used.
(b) The term “telecast(s)”, “cablecast(s)” and “internet broadcast(s)” or “webcast(s)” is applicable and appropriate any place in this policy where the term “broadcast(s)” is used unless the two are specifically differentiated.
2. An outlet that broadcasts a regular season contest shall agree to hold the FHSAA and its member schools harmless because of any injury to person or property on the premises. The outlet shall further agree to assume all responsibility for any damages which are a direct result of the activities of the broadcast. The outlet shall also agree to defend all claims made against the FHSAA or its member schools for damages occasioned by the outlet of whatever nature.
B. FHSAA State Series
1. An outlet wishing to broadcast a contest in the FHSAA State Series must request and be granted rights by the FHSAA prior to originating or accepting feed of such a broadcast and make payment to the FHSAA Office of the appropriate rights fee. Such rights are not exclusive.
(a) An outlet granted broadcast rights may not feed its broadcast to any other outlet(s) without written permission from the FHSAA. For the purposes of television, a videotape of an FHSAA State Series contest is considered a “feed.” Therefore, an over-the air or cable television station, even if granted broadcast rights by the FHSAA, may not share a videotape of an FHSAA State Series contest without express written permission from the FHSAA and payment of appropriate rights fees. Requests for permission to feed such broadcasts should be indicated on the FHSAA Broadcast Rights Application Form.
(b) The FHSAA reserves the right to grant exclusive rights to broadcasts for FHSAA State Championship events to network providers. In these cases, there may be additional network fees which must be paid.
2. Radio broadcast rights must be secured from the FHSAA for both live and tape-delay broadcasts. Telecast rights, in general, are for tape-delay telecasts only. However, rights fees for live telecasts may be negotiated at the Commissioner’s discretion.
(a) There can be no delay in the start of a contest to accommodate a live or tape-delay radio broadcast or a tape-delay telecast of an FHSAA State Series contest; neither can there be any radio or television timeouts, or any extension of halftime. Provisions for live telecasts, when permitted, are found in item (b) of this provision.
(b) Live telecasts of football and basketball games, when permitted, may operate under the following guidelines upon approval of the Commissioner: (1) The intermission between the first and second quarters, the third and fourth quarters, and overtime periods will be extended from 60 seconds to 90 seconds; (2) The outlet will be granted one 90-second television timeout during each quarter. This timeout will be granted at the dead ball following the change of possession which occurs nearest to the midpoint of the quarter. This television timeout will be granted regardless of whether one of the two participating teams has called a charged timeout close to the midpoint of the quarter. Additionally, this television timeout will not preclude either one of the two participating teams from calling a charged timeout near the midpoint of the quarter; and (3) All charged timeouts called by either team will be a full 60 seconds in duration. It will be the responsibility of the referee to see that these guidelines for television timeouts are strictly adhered to.
3. Tape-delay telecasts may not be aired earlier than 12 hours following the scheduled starting time of the contest and may not conflict with the playing times of scheduled FHSAA State Series contests in the same sport. There is no limit on the number of times these telecasts may be replayed by the outlet approved for such telecasts.
4. The use of audiotape, videotape and/or film by an outlet granted broadcast rights for any purpose other than for complete playback of the contest(s) for which it was approved, or for the use of excerpts for regularly scheduled newscasts is expressly forbidden. Any other use of the verbal description and/or video account of the contest(s) must be approved in writing by the FHSAA.
5. FHSAA approval of broadcasts of FHSAA State Series contests is final. Host schools or contest managers will be required to permit all broadcasts approved by the FHSAA, and admit to the facility without charge personnel originating these broadcasts upon presentation of the proper documentation.
6. The outlet must make all arrangements for seating and equipment set-up with the host school principal or contest manager. The outlet must assume all expenses in connection with the broadcast, and must provide all equipment necessary for the broadcast. This includes arranging for broadcast lines with the appropriate telephone company.
7. Personnel originating approved broadcasts who are to be admitted to the facility without charge must not exceed four (4) persons. The host school principal or contest manager must make every effort to provide these personnel with seating which provides them with an unobstructed view of the playing area.
8. In facilities where seating is limited in the press box or broadcast booth, the host school principal or contest manager should provide seating to the one (1) principal outlet covering each participating school. Thereafter, seating in the press box or broadcast booth should be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. An outlet must understand that it may be necessary for it to set up operations in the spectator seating area at facilities with limited space in the press box or broadcast booth. The principal outlet for a participating school is considered to be the outlet which has broadcast the greatest number of regular season contests and/or FHSAA State Series contests in which the school has participated.
9. The host school principal, contest manager and/or the officials assigned to work the contest will have the authority to require the repositioning of television cameras and videographers if they believe their placement may threaten the safety of the participants or interfere with the conduct of the competition.
10. The outlet must incorporate into its broadcast of each FHSAA State Series contest a minimum of two (2) announcements concerning the FHSAA and its activities programs. Script for these announcements and/or cassette copies of professionally pre-produced spots will be provided by the FHSAA.
(a) The outlet may present scripted announcements in a manner of its choice, and may use sound and/or visual effects as it desires, provided the integrity of the FHSAA State Series in which the announcement is used, the Florida High School Athletic Association and its member schools is upheld.
(b) The two (2) mandatory FHSAA announcements must be incorporated into the actual broadcast of the contest. Airing the announcements and disclaimer during a pregame and/or postgame show will not satisfy the requirements of this policy.
11. The outlet must incorporate into each broadcast the following disclaimer establishing its broadcast rights as granted by the FHSAA:
“BROADCAST RIGHTS TO THIS F-H-S-A-A STATE SERIES CONTEST HAVE BEEN GRANTED TO (THE OUTLET) BY THE FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR (LISTENING/VIEWING) AUDIENCE. ANY REBROADCAST, RETRANSMISSION OR OTHER USE OF THIS PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE F-H-S-A-A IS PROHIBITED.”
The disclaimer must be incorporated into the actual broadcast of the contest. Airing the disclaimer during a pregame and/or postgame show will not satisfy the requirements of this policy.
12. Announcers are expected to handle broadcasts with efficiency and without introduction of objectionable comments such as criticism of an official, coach, team, player, school or other entity. Reports of any accidents, injuries or other incidents should be minimized and factual, in order to prevent undue anxiety on the part of viewers. Announcers should also make every effort to correctly pronounce the names of individual participants.
13. The terms “sponsor”, “sponsorship” or other like terms that imply or refer to the presentation and support of the activities under the jurisdiction and control of the Florida High School Athletic Association by entities other than the FHSAA must not be used during any broadcast of an FHSAA State Series event unless expressly approved, in writing, by the FHSAA. Announcers may not refer to or use words that imply a sponsorship of any FHSAA State Series contest by a commercial advertiser without the expressed written consent of the FHSAA (see Item E-9 elsewhere in this policy).
14. The outlet must abide by each and all terms and conditions of this policy. Failure to do so may result in the immediate revocation of the outlet’s immediate broadcast rights, and denial of future broadcast rights to the outlet for a period to be determined by the Commissioner. The FHSAA reserves the right to discontinue at any time an outlet’s broadcast of an FHSAA State Series contest if previous broadcasting by the outlet is considered by the FHSAA to have been in poor taste or incompatible with the educational dignity and propriety of the FHSAA State Series, the Florida High School Athletic Association and its member schools. The host school principal or contest manager will have the authority to act on the behalf of the Florida High School Athletic Association in enforcing this policy during all FHSAA State Series contests at his/her facility.
15. An outlet which broadcasts an FHSAA State Series contest without prior written approval of the FHSAA may be denied future broadcast rights for a period to be determined by the Commissioner. A host school principal or contest manager who permits the broadcast of an FHSAA State Series contest that has not been approved by the FHSAA will subject his/her school, organization or facility to a monetary penalty to include payment of the appropriate rights fees and, for member schools, a financial assessment in the amount of $50.00 per game broadcast.
16. An outlet which broadcasts an FHSAA State Series contest must agree to hold the FHSAA and its member schools harmless because of any injury to person or property on the premises. The outlet must further agree to assume all responsibility for any damages which are a direct result of the activities of the broadcast. The outlet must also agree to defend all claims made against the FHSAA or its member schools for damages occasioned by the outlet of whatever nature.
17. Venue of any civil action arising out of this policy will lie in Alachua County, Florida.
18. The FHSAA reserves the right to amend this policy at any time and in any manner deemed necessary. No exception to this policy may be made by an outlet, host school principal or contest manager except by written permission of the FHSAA.
C. Obtaining Broadcast Rights
1. Application to broadcast an FHSAA State Series contest must be made on the FHSAA Broadcast Application Form, a copy of which is provided in the FHSAA Forms Book and on FHSAA.org. An application also may be obtained by contacting the FHSAA communications department at (352) 372-9551 ext. 170.
a) It is the responsibility of an outlet feeding its broadcast to another outlet(s) to request permission for this feed on its application form, and to make payment of the appropriate rights fees for both itself and all other outlets accepting its feed.
b) The Broadcast Application Form shall be an agreement between the outlet and the FHSAA and will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida.
2. The broadcast application form must be received in the FHSAA Office not later than 3 p.m. Eastern Time on the business day immediately preceding the date of the contest or event to be broadcast. The form may be mailed to the attention of the Director of Communications, FHSAA, 1801 NW 80th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606-9176, or faxed to the FHSAA Office at (352) 373-1528.
3. A late filing fee of $25.00 shall be assessed an outlet that fails to meet the appropriate deadline for filing its broadcast application form. The FHSAA reserves the right to deny any request for broadcast rights which is filed after the deadline.
4. The FHSAA will not grant blanket broadcast rights to an outlet which intends to follow a school, until it is eliminated, through each level of an FHSAA State Series. An outlet must file a separate broadcast application form for contests on each level in which the school being followed participates, with the exception of district tournaments in the sports of baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball. Requests for broadcast rights to games or matches in district tournaments in these sports shall be processed as a single event for which a flat rights fee shall be paid regardless of the number of games or matches in the tournament that are broadcast. Levels of the FHSAA State Series are: Football – district shootout, each round of the regional series and the FHSAA State Championship game; Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball – district tournament, regional series and FHSAA State Championship tournament; Other sports –district tournament or meet, regional tournament or meet, and FHSAA State Championship tournament or meet. Individual rounds in the district and state championship tournaments are not considered to be separate levels of an FHSAA State Series.
5. Upon approval of an outlet’s broadcast application, the FHSAA will fax to the outlet the approved application form signed by the Commissioner or his/her designee which grants the outlet permission to broadcast the contest. The approved application form will also be faxed to the host school principal or contest manager. An outlet’s broadcast crew should have a copy of the broadcast approval in its possession to ensure admission to the facility.
D. Payment of Rights Fees
1. An outlet granted broadcast rights to an FHSAA State Series contest must pay rights fees as follows:
a) Live or tape-delay radio broadcast – $50.00
b) Tape-delay telecast or cablecast – $250.00
c) Live telecast or cablecast – To be determined by Commissioner.
An outlet must pay all rights fees, both for itself as well as $25.00 for each outlet to which it feeds its signal, to the FHSAA. Payment of rights fees must be by company check made payable to the FHSAA. Payment of rights fees must be received in the FHSAA Office not later than 30 calendar days following the event broadcast. A $25.00 late fee shall be assessed if payment is not received by the 30-day deadline.
2. An outlet which feeds its broadcast to another outlet(s) is solely responsible for collecting reimbursement for its $25.00 feeder fee payment to the FHSAA from each outlet to which the originating outlet feeds its broadcast. Any fees charged by an originating outlet to accepting outlets will be in addition to FHSAA rights fees.
3. A $30.00 returned check fee will be assessed to any outlet whose payment of rights fees is returned due to insufficient funds. Additionally, such outlet will be denied broadcast rights to future FHSAA State Series contests until such time as payment of rights fees and any other fees assessed by the FHSAA is made to the satisfaction of the FHSAA.
4. An outlet must pay all costs of collection to include reasonable attorney’s fees if it becomes necessary for the FHSAA or the host school principal or contest manager to place the account for collection and bills incurred. Venue of any such civil action relative to the collection of rights fees shall lie in Alachua County, Florida, or in the county of Florida wherein the host school or facility is located.
E. Commercials and Sponsors
1. An outlet must submit the names of all sponsors on the Broadcast Application Form, and must be able to produce in writing upon request of the FHSAA any and all commercials used during the broadcast.
2. The FHSAA reserves the right to reject any and all applications for broadcast rights, whether sponsored or unsponsored. The FHSAA reserves the right to approve or reject the product or service which desires to sponsor the broadcast.
3. Advertisements for the following are prohibited:
a) Promotions for the possession, use or sale of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, harmful drugs, firearms and contraceptives;
b) Bars, taverns and cocktail lounges or other establishments that serve alcoholic beverages;
c) Exotic dance clubs;
d) Political issues;
e) 900 call-ins for personal services, betting services, scouting services or other 900 call-ins which are in poor taste or are incompatible with the educational dignity and propriety of the FHSAA State Series or the Florida High School Athletic Association;
f) Parimutuels, excluding the Florida Lottery; and
g) Any other business, product, service or ideal that is incompatible with the educational dignity and propriety of the FHSAA State Series, the Florida High School Athletic Association and its member schools.
4. Combination businesses such as drug stores, grocery stores, department stores, hardware stores, hotels and restaurants which dispense alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, harmful drugs, firearms and contraceptives may be acceptable as sponsors provided no part of the advertising messages for these establishments refer to the dispensing of such products; or to a bar, tavern, cocktail lounge or other facility dispensing such products.
5. While advertisements for political issues are prohibited by this policy, political candidates may be acceptable as sponsors provided no part of their political advertisements raise controversial political issues.
6. Advertisements of the type prohibited in Item E-3(a-g) above are prohibited from use at any time during the broadcast from the time the pregame show begins until the completion of the postgame show. Advertisements of this type are prohibited from use in pregame and/or postgame shows whether such pregame or postgame shows originate from the site of the contest or from the studio of the originating outlet. At no time during the broadcast may a listing of broadcast sponsors be read which includes the name of such business, product or service listed in Item E-3(a-g) above and referred to in this note.
7. Sponsorship of a broadcast does not provide for display of sponsor banner(s) and/or other promotional items and such display is prohibited. Originating outlet name identification banners, however, are permitted.
8. Commercial announcements may not occupy time when actual competition is taking place. An outlet must, as near as possible, limit its commercial announcements to timeouts and other times when the contest is not in progress.
9. Outlets may not use or allow to be used during a broadcast, both live and tape-delay, any commercial announcement that implies a sponsorship of any FHSAA State Series contest without the expressed written consent of the FHSAA.
Example: Language may be used which indicates that contest coverage “is brought to you by ________,” “is sponsored by ________,” or “_________ is a sponsor” of this tournament coverage.
Outlets may not allow advertisers to claim that they are sponsors of FHSAA State Series contests.
10. The FHSAA will exercise immediately its responsibility to cancel all broadcast rights for the particular contest and subsequent contests of any outlet found to have violated the provisions of this section of the policy. The host school principal or contest manager will have the authority to act on behalf of the FHSAA in enforcing the provisions of this section of the policy.
F. News Film Crews
1. A film crew not to exceed three persons from an over-the-air television station or cable TV system will be allowed access, without charge, to an FHSAA State Series contest to shoot news film clips for use as part of the outlet’s regular news telecast or other special news programs. The outlet may not air a total of more than three (3) minutes of such footage. Any use of such footage must include visual credit to FHSAA.
2. The outlet must not sell, loan or give away any part of the footage shot and must use it only for the purpose set forth above unless permission for its use otherwise is granted in writing by the FHSAA.
G. Credentials
1. The FHSAA will not issue credentials to FHSAA State Series contests below the state championship level. Authorized working personnel employed by an outlet which has been approved to broadcast an FHSAA State Series contest must be admitted to the facility without charge upon presentation of proper identification and payment of appropriate rights fees to the host school principal or contest manager.
2. Application must be made to the FHSAA for credentials to certain FHSAA State Series contests on the state championship level. Please refer to the FHSAA Media Credential Policy for regulations governing state championship contest credentials.
