NFHS Network

About NFHS Network

NFHS Network operates as a key digital media player in the high school sports market, providing live and on-demand streaming services. The company was officially formed as a joint venture on August 11, 2013, between the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and PlayOn! Sports. This partnership structure involves the NFHS and its 51 state associations owning 52% of the network, with PlayOn! Sports holding the remaining 48%.

PlayOn! Sports, the entity managing the day-to-day operations, was founded by David Rudolph. Rudolph, formerly a Senior Vice President at Turner Broadcasting, identified an unaddressed market for sporting events that lacked wide television exposure. He developed the concept for PlayOn! within Turner starting in 2005, before spinning it out as an independent company in 2008. The company initially focused on collegiate sports before pivoting to the high school market, broadcasting its first high school event, a Georgia state wrestling championship, in early 2009.

The network's business model is centered on a subscription service for viewers, offering access to events across a wide range of devices. For schools, the platform provides the necessary technology to broadcast events, often at no initial cost. This is facilitated by providing automated cameras and free production software. Revenue is generated through fan subscriptions, with a portion of the proceeds shared back with the participating schools and state associations. This model allows schools to generate revenue and increase their visibility. A significant milestone was reached in January 2022, when the network announced it had surpassed one million streamed events since its inception.

The primary service is a digital platform that streams regular season and postseason games for 27 different high school sports, as well as other school activities like graduations and band competitions. A key component of its strategy is the School Broadcast Program (SBP), which equips schools with the tools to produce their own broadcasts, fostering student involvement in media production. This dual approach allows the network to cover major state championship events while also enabling schools to stream a high volume of regular-season games that would otherwise go un-broadcast. The parent company, PlayOn! Sports, has expanded its ecosystem by merging with GoFan, a digital ticketing company, aiming to create an integrated platform for high school event management, from ticketing to streaming.