2019-20 OHSAA General Media Regulations Contents Contact Information Pg. 1 - Introduction and Commonly Asked Questions Web site: www.ohsaa.org (News & Media) Pg. 2 - Exclusive Tournament Video Coverage Twitter: @OHSAASports Pg. 3 - Section 1, General Broadcasting Regulations Facebook: /OHSAASports Pg. 4 - Section 2, Video Broadcast Regulations Fax: 614-267-2502 Pg. 6 - Section 3, Audio Broadcast Regulations Phone: 614-267-2502 Pg. 7 - Section 4, Webcast Regulations Pg. 9 - Section 5, Tournament Media Credentials Director of Communications: Pg. 12 - Section 6, Electronic Lighting & Photography Tim Stried Phone: 614-267-2502, ext. 124 Email: [email protected] Note: Underlined text or text with a strike-through (text) denote changes from 2018-19 media regulations. Introduction the “News & Media” page at OHSAA.org. * There are four state tournaments that do not require submission of a The Ohio High School Athletic Association develops the credential application: golf, tennis, field hockey and bowling. regulations for media coverage of all OHSAA tournament contests. Some policies shall also be in effect for regular- 3. What is the policy for photographers at events? season contests. Besides the following regulations, the During regular-season events, the host school is re- OHSAA Board of Directors may adopt additional media sponsible for determining which media and photographers regulations for OHSAA tournament contests. can have sideline access. During postseason OHSAA tour- nament contests, the site manager or media coordinator are responsible for determining access. For state tournaments, the OHSAA’s communications department is responsible for OHSAA Media Regulations credenialing and determining access. Commonly Asked Questions Bona fide newspapers may sell photos from any regular-season or OHSAA postseason tournament contest 1. Is live video (streaming and/or television) permitted through the newspaper’s website or physical office loca- for high school contests? tion. Individual photographers are permitted to sell photos Live video (streaming or television) is not permitted for from regular-season and pre-state tournament events if they any OHSAA tournament contest (in all sports) unless ap- are affiliated with one of the schools participating and that proved by the OHSAA Executive Director’s Office. Regular- school’s athletic director has given permission for him/her to season games other than Friday night football games may sell photos. However, the site manager or media coordinator be shown live if approved by the host school’s Athletic are responsible for determining if the photographer receives Director (see additional note below). special access. For regular-season football games, the host school Individual photographers may not sell photos from state may provide live video if the video will only be shown on the tournaments. See Section 6 for more information. school-owned website or TV channel, or a school-operated webpage. The OHSAA suggests that students are involved 4. When is flash photography permitted? in some aspect of the production. Flash photography is not permitted at any time in the For regular-season games, there is no fee due to the sports of gymnastics, diving, bowling and any OHSAA OHSAA for video or audio broadcasts, although schools or tournament contest in volleyball. Flash is allowed in regular- conferences are permitted to charge a rights fee. For most season volleyball contests only in gymnasiums that have a OHSAA tournament contests, rights fees apply and can be low light meter reading (see Section 6 for more information). found on the ‘News & Media’ page at OHSAA.org. In addition, in the sport of basketball, flash is not permitted from the area immediately behind the backboard (in the 2. How do I request media credentials? free throw lane area). Flash is also prohibited at the start For regular-season events, media shall contact the of a swimming race (so as to not interfere with the starter’s host school’s athletic department. For sectional, district and signal) and is not permitted in golf when a player is swing- regional games (as well as state semifinal games in soccer ing the club or addressing the ball. See Section 6 for more and football), media shall contact the site manager or the information. appointed media coordinator. For state tournament games, media credential requests must be submitted to the OHSAA by using the official credential application form. The forms are found on the “State Finals Media Credentials” page on FAQ’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 2018-19 OHSAA Media Regulations, Page 1 OHSAA State Tournaments - Exclusive Video Coverage Spectrum is the official television partner of the OHSAA. Spectrum’s coverage of an OHSAA postseason tournament event is exclusive and is permitted to be shown live. Any OHSAA tournament contest selected by Spectrum is not avail- able for any other video play-by-play coverage (TV or streaming). Live audio is permitted pending access permission being granted. 2019-20 State Tournament TV Schedule - Subject to Change FALL 2019 TV TV Event No Golf – October 11-12 (Div. II & III) – Ohio State University Golf Club, Columbus & NorthStar Golf Club, Sunbury No Golf – October 18-19 (Div. I) – Ohio State University Golf Club, Columbus No Girls Tennis – October 18-19 – Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason Available Field Hockey – October 31 and November 2 – Upper Arlington High School Available Cross Country – November 2 – National Trail Raceway, Hebron Available Volleyball – November 7-9 – Ervin J. Nutter Center, Wright State University, Dayton Available Soccer Finals – November 9-10 – Mapfre Stadium, Columbus TBD Selected Football Regionals and State Semifinals (Weekly Game Selections to be Announced Mondays by 2 p.m.) Spectrum Football Finals – December 5-7 – Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton WINTER 2020 TV TV Event Available Team Wrestling State Tournament – February 15 or 16 – St. John Arena, Ohio State University, Columbus TBD Swimming & Diving (Finals) – February 19-22 – C.T. Branin Natatorium, Canton TBD Bowling Div. II – February 28-29 – Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl No Gymnastics – February 28-29 – Hilliard Bradley High School TBD Individual Wrestling – March 13-15 – Schottenstein Center, Ohio State University, Columbus TBD Bowling Div. I – March 7-8 – Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl Available Ice Hockey Semifinals and Finals – Dates TBD – Nationwide Arena, Columbus TBD Girls Basketball State Semifinals – March 12-13 – Schottenstein Center, OSU, Columbus Spectrum Girls Basketball State Finals – March 14 – Schottenstein Center, OSU, Columbus TBD Selected Boys Basketball Sectional, District or Regional Tournament Games TBD Boys Basketball State Semifinals – March 19-20 – Schottenstein Center, OSU, Columbus Spectrum Boys Basketball State Finals – March 21 – Schottenstein Center, OSU, Columbus SPRING 2020 TV TV Event No Boys Tennis – May 28-29 – Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason TBD Girls and Boys Lacrosse Finals – June 6, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware TBD Softball State Tournament – June 4-6 – Firestone Stadium, Akron TBD Track & Field – June 5-6 – Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Ohio State University, Columbus TBD Baseball State Tournament – June 11-13 – Canal Park, Akron 2019-20 OHSAA Media Regulations, Page 2 2019-20 OHSAA General Media Regulations FAQ’s, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 d.) Broadcast rights for OHSAA tournament contests may not be sold, leased or given to any other media outlets without permis- 5. Who is the OHSAA’s official television partner and what sion from the OHSAA. A media outlet given permission to take a rights do they hold? feed from another outlet must apply for broadcast rights approval The OHSAA’s official television partner is Spectrum. Spec- before accepting a feed from that outlet and must abide by all trum has exclusive play-by-play video rights to selected OHSAA other OHSAA regulations, including payment of appropriate rights postseason events. See Page 2 and Section 2 for details. OHSAA fees. tournament contests not selected by Spectrum may be available Notes: A recording (DVD, videotape, electronic file, etc.) of for delayed play-by-play video coverage at the discretion of the a contest is considered a “feed.” Therefore, a television station, OHSAA’s Executive Director’s Office with the payment of a rights even if granted broadcast rights by the OHSAA, may not share fee. a video with any other station or stations without written permis- sion from the OHSAA and payment of appropriate rights fees. The 6. What is the policy for the use of the OHSAA logo? airing of a coach’s game or scouting video does not qualify for a The policy for use of the OHSAA logo by media outlets in rights-fee waiver. their coverage of school sports is posted on the “News & Media” page at www.OHSAA.org. Additional information is located in the e.) The OHSAA may enter into an exclusive contract with a com- OHSAA’s General Sports Regulations. pany to provide live and/or tape-delayed telecasts and/or video and audio webcasts of OHSAA tournament contests. No other 7. Can student-athletes accept an award from a media outlet, television originations or video or audio webcasts — live or tape- such as a “Player of the Game” award? delayed — are permitted during contests in which the OHSAA has Yes, provided the value of the award does not exceed $400. entered into an exclusive contract. Please see OHSAA Bylaw 5. f.) Broadcasts of OHSAA tournament contests may not be dupli- cated in any form for resale without the written permission of the OHSAA. Should permission for resale be granted, the OHSAA Section 1 reserves the right to collect a rights fee for such sales at rates to General Broadcasting Regulations be determined by the OHSAA Board of Directors. a.) Radio, television and webcast companies may originate broad- g.) During OHSAA tournament contests, advertisements for casts from regular season and OHSAA tournament contests pro- alcohol, tobacco, drugs of any kind, gambling of any kind, political vided OHSAA, school and local regulations and OHSAA exclusive parties or candidates or any other advertising considered in poor agreements are adhered to, space is available and the set-up at taste are prohibited.