Live Streaming High School Football FAQ

Everything athletic directors and AV coordinators need to know about streaming varsity and JV football with HometownLive.

For Viewers

Do I need to create an account to watch a football game?

No. Free games are open to anyone — just go to your school's HometownLive page and press play. If your school has enabled Pay-Per-View for a particular game, you will need to create a free viewer account and purchase access. The purchase process takes under two minutes and grants immediate access.

Can I watch on my phone or tablet?

Yes. HometownLive works in the browser on any iOS or Android device — no app required. Open Safari or Chrome, navigate to your school's stream, and watch. For live games, a Wi-Fi connection is recommended, though cellular works too.

Can I watch on Roku from the parking lot?

Yes, if you have a portable Roku device (like a Roku Streaming Stick) and a mobile hotspot. Your school's HometownLive channel appears in the Roku Channel Store once an administrator enables Roku support. Search for your school's channel name to find it.

Tip: Can't find your school's channel on Roku? The channel must be activated by your school's HometownLive administrator before it becomes searchable. Contact your school's AV team if the channel isn't appearing.

What do I do if the stream is buffering?

Live video needs 5–10 Mbps of consistent bandwidth. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router, close apps you aren't using, and reload the page. If a quality selector appears in the player, choose a lower setting. See Troubleshooting for a complete checklist.

For Administrators

Can HometownLive stream both JV and varsity games?

Yes. Each game is set up as a separate event on a dedicated channel. With a 4-channel plan ($4,500/year), you can stream JV and varsity games simultaneously — two production crews running at the same time. With a 2-channel plan ($2,995/year), you can stream them back-to-back on the same channel in a single evening, or assign each team its own channel.

See Live Channels (Chapter 3) for how to set up and manage multiple channels.

What equipment do we need to stream a football game?

The core setup is straightforward:

• Camera — a PTZ camera on a tower or press box, or a shoulder-mount camera on the sideline
• Encoder — a laptop running OBS or the TKDS Streaming App, or a hardware encoder (like a Teradek or LiveU)
• Internet — a wired ethernet connection at the press box is ideal; 4G/5G cellular bonding is a reliable backup

You don't need a dedicated server or specialized networking knowledge. Your encoder sends a single RTMP stream to HometownLive, and the platform handles distribution to viewers. See Live Channels (Chapter 3) for RTMP configuration.

Can we show live football scores on the stream?

Yes. HometownLive integrates directly with ScoreBird to display a live scoring overlay on your video player. To enable it:

1. Enter your ScoreBird API key in Settings → General Settings → scorebird_api_key
2. When creating or editing the event, enable the ScoreBird checkbox
3. Enter the nest_id for the ScoreBird NeST device at the venue

Once active, the overlay updates automatically as ScoreBird scores the game — no operator needed to update the on-screen score. See Events (Chapter 4) for the full ScoreBird configuration steps.

How do we monetize football games — PPV, ads, or both?

You have two main monetization options, and they can run independently or together:

Pay-Per-View (PPV): When creating an event, set the access type to Paid and configure a PPV price in Admin → Monetization. Fans pay once per game and get immediate access. You set the price — HometownLive doesn't dictate it.

Advertising: HometownLive supports pre-roll and mid-roll ad placements. Configure ad inventory in the Monetization section and sell sponsorships to local businesses. You keep the ad revenue.

See Monetization (Chapter 9) for plan and pricing configuration.

How many cameras can we use?

As many as you can manage. HometownLive receives a single RTMP video feed from your encoder — you handle all camera switching on your end using a video switcher (hardware or software). A common football setup uses:

• Main camera — wide angle from the press box covering the whole field
• Sideline camera — close-up action and player reactions
• End zone camera — goal-line coverage for scoring plays

Run all cameras into a switcher, connect the switcher to your encoder, and send one clean feed to HometownLive.

Can we stream away games?

Yes. Your stream credentials (RTMP URL and stream key) work anywhere you have internet access. Common approaches for away venues:

• Cellular hotspot — a 4G/5G hotspot works for most games if you get a good signal at the venue
• Bonded cellular — devices like LiveU Solo or Haivision Connect bond multiple cellular connections for more reliable bandwidth, which is useful at venues with weak individual signal

Test your connection at the away venue in advance if possible. Aim for at least 10 Mbps upload.

What internet upload speed do we need at the stadium?

Plan for 10 Mbps upload per active stream for a 1080p/30fps broadcast. A wired ethernet connection from the press box is strongly preferred — outdoor WiFi at a crowded stadium is unpredictable. If wired internet isn't available, a 4G/5G hotspot is a workable fallback.

Test your connection before game day using a speed test tool (speedtest.net works well). Budget extra headroom — network congestion spikes during games when fans are also on the same network.

How do we handle halftime shows and band performances?

The stream keeps running during halftime — you decide what the camera shows. Common approaches:

• Keep rolling — the camera stays on the field and captures the band performance and any other halftime activities
• Intermission slate — cut to a sponsor slide or school logo graphic using your encoder's scene switcher while the band performs

Important: If the band plays copyrighted music, standard music licensing rules apply. Streaming a live performance can trigger ASCAP/BMI licensing requirements. Consult your district's legal counsel before streaming halftime band performances. Some schools mute their audio feed during copyrighted music to avoid takedown issues on recorded replays.

Can we sell sponsorship ads during football streams?

Yes. HometownLive's ad system lets you place pre-roll ads (before the stream starts) and mid-roll ads (during the broadcast). Local businesses — car dealerships, restaurants, sporting goods stores — are natural sponsors for high school football.

You configure ad inventory in Admin → Monetization and sell sponsorships directly to local businesses. HometownLive does not take a percentage of your ad revenue. You keep everything you earn from advertising.

Can we stream state playoff games?

Check with your state athletic association first. Many state associations have exclusive streaming agreements with NFHS Network that prohibit independent streaming of playoff and postseason games. Streaming a restricted game could expose your school to licensing violations.

Regular season games, jamborees, and scrimmages are almost always fine to stream independently. When in doubt, contact your state's NFHS member association before the season starts.

How long are game recordings available after the broadcast?

Recordings remain available on demand for as long as you keep the event active — there is no automatic expiration date. You control the archive entirely. To remove a recording, change the event's status to Inactive in Admin → Events.

Most schools keep varsity game recordings up for the season, then archive or remove them at year-end to manage storage.