ATTENTION: The UIL has released information reminding school districts that it is against all UIL rules for any event or contest, athletic or academic to be video live streamed in its entirety.

This rule prohibits any parent, student, community member, faculty, staff or sponsor to broadcast live in it’s entirety from any entity of social media or internet streaming including, but not limited to Facebook Live, Instagram Live, YouTube, Twitter. Live streaming is in direct violation of the UIL Rules and their agreement with their broadcast partners.

Below is the Texas UIL language:

Please find below important information concerning game broadcasts for schools participating in the playoffs and schools that will host a playoff game. As outlined in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, the UIL owns the telecast rights for all UIL playoff games.

FOX Sports Southwest has obtained the television and other telecast media rights, except for radio, from the UIL for all playoff games and will serve as the primary rights holder for those events. NFHS Network is the UIL’s secondary broadcast partner and will have first choice each week to select and games not broadcast by FOX Sports Southwest.

FOX Sports Southwest may sub-license the rights to broadcast football playoff games (either live or tapedelayed) to media outlets in markets across Texas. FOX Sports Southwest must approve any media outlet that wishes to televise or webcast playoff games, live or tape-delayed.

In order for a game to be broadcast, it must be approved by Fox Sports Southwest by noon the Wednesday
prior to the game each week of the playoffs. Approved sub-licensees should contact schools by the
Wednesday before the game.

The TV format for playoff games will mirror FOX Sports Southwest’s State Championship TV format so as
not to interfere with the flow of the game:
– Each school is encouraged to discuss with the broadcasters prior to the game when TV timeouts
should not occur.
– TV timeouts will not be taken during any series of downs or after turnovers to avoid impacting or
changing momentum and game flow.
– TV timeouts will occur during halftime, during injury stoppages and after a score.

The sublicensed media outlets that partner with FOX Sports Southwest will be responsible for communication with the schools selected for broadcasts. The sublicensed broadcasters will schedule the set-up and tear-down times for their TV equipment with the schools and the venues. FOX Sports Southwest,

NFHS Network, or FSSW sub-licensees are responsible for any expenses associated with the telecast.
Media outlets may not use a third-party web streaming service for live telecasts (i.e. Facebook Live, USTREAM, YouTube Live, etc.) Only one media outlet can telecast a game, except in cases where an over the air station and NFHS Network produce the same game side-by-side. NFHS Network and over the air television stations will be given priority. If more than one media outlet requests the streaming rights to a game, the UIL will select the preferred media outlet.

FOX Sports Southwest will have the ability to “cut-in” live to playoff games on its FOX Football Friday fivehour
programming block, a show dedicated to high school football televised statewide. FOX Sports Southwest will also promote ticket sales during the playoffs for the UIL Football State Championships at AT&T Stadium.