By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director 

The MHSAA again will recognize the efforts of its members participating in the School Broadcast Program through the fourth annual SBP Excellence Awards, which is now accepting applications for content produced during the 2016-17 school year.

SBP schools can submit up to three entries in each of six categories: Best single-camera production, best multi-camera production, best use of graphics, best produced local commercials/features, best student play-by-play announcers and best highlight clip.

The SBP Excellence Awards will be used in selecting the Program of the Year. Other criteria for Program of the Year include quantity and quality of productions and sports covered, best command of graphics software, initiative to cover home and away athletic contests, and initiative/creative in selling local advertising and subscriptions.

Montrose High School has won the Program of the Year award the past three years.

More details about the 2016-17 SBP Excellence Awards, and an online entry form, can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.  (For more details, CLICK HERE; to go to the entry form, CLICK HERE)

The deadline for submitting entries is 4 p.m. Feb. 15.

In its eighth year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events, with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. 

The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.  

All sporting events – Live or On-Demand – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.

Here’s the schedule of events School Broadcast Program members plan to stream for broadcast at MHSAA.tv. On-Demand listings may be available as soon as one hour following an event’s completion.

Wednesday, Jan. 4

• Wrestling – Quad at Lake Orion, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 5

• Girls Basketball – Bloomfield Hills at Lake Orion, 7 p.m.
• Boys Basketball – Ashley at Vestaburg, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 6

• JV Girls Basketball – Lincoln Alcona at Rogers City, 6 p.m.
  Girls Basketball – Lincoln Alcona at Rogers City, 7 p.m.
• Ice Hockey – Novi at Calumet, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 7

• Girls Competitive Cheer – Comstock Park Invitational, 1 p.m.
• Ice Hockey – Brighton at Calumet, 7 p.m.
• Ice Hockey – Detroit Catholic Central at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 7:15 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 9

• JV Boys Basketball – Whittemore-Prescott at Rogers City, 6 p.m.
• Boys Basketball – Whittemore-Prescott at Rogers City, 7 p.m.
• Boys Basketball – Ontonagon at Calumet, 7:20 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

• Girls Basketball – Oxford at Lake Orion, 7 p.m.
• Boys Basketball – Grand Rapids West Catholic at Comstock Park, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

• Girls Basketball – Merrill at Vestaburg, 7:30 p.m.

Be sure to check the Upcoming Events page at MHSAA.tv for schedule additions every day.

The NFHS Network has announced new pricing for 2016-17, eliminating the Day Pass and lowering the cost of a Month Pass to $9.95. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. Some schools also will be selling Annual Passes at a discounted rate. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.

A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website.

Fans can also access scores of games in-progress on the NFHS Network website via ScoreStream. Click on the Scores button in the upper right corner.

A weekly staple on the MHSAA.tv website and the MHSAASports Channel on YouTube is back for another year with highlights of selected games last week produced by members of the Association’s School Broadcast Program.

This week’s highlights package consists of clips of a boys basketball game between Saginaw Nouvel and Beal City and a girls basketball game pitting Traverse City Central and Traverse City West.

Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office.