Re: OSAA Contract with NFHS Network
This purpose of this letter is to inform Oregon SportsBeat clients and other non-NFHS Network affiliated broadcasting entities of a situation having direct negative effect on multiple OSAA member schools.  The broadcasting rights of OSAA member schools' playoff game broadcast's are being sold by the OSAA to a for-profit entity outside the state of Oregon, for significant financial gain by the NFHS Network and the non-profit OSAA. There is no evidence at this time that OSAA member schools are benefitting from the contract in place between the OSAA and the NFHS Network. 
On Saturday, October 27th, 2018, an email was sent out by the OSAA, on behalf of the NFHS Network, to Jesuit and Central Catholic High Schools, declaring that the NFHS was excercising their "right" to broadcast all of those schools' playoff football games in 2018. This mandate meant that JCTV, Jesuit's student broadcast program, and RamTV, operated by Oregon SportsBeat, would be excluded from representing their teams in the playoffs.   The intent of the mandate was to force JCTV and RamTV (Oregon SportsBeat) to affiliate with the NFHS Network, which would create a virtual monopoly in the high school sports broadcasting market in Oregon. 
Oregon SportsBeat, RamTV, and JCTV all declined to affiliate with the NFHS Network, and declined to produce these game broadcasts for the NFHS Network. The result was that the NFHS was without anyone to produce these game broadcasts, even though NFHS had claimed the rights. (As a side note, Lincoln Cardinal Football, who also happens to use Oregon SportsBeat (a different crew than RamTV) is Central Catholic's opponent for this Friday's game, the subject of the mandate. Lincoln Cardinal Football is also exlcuded from paying the $500 fee and broadcasting the game.) The NFHS has now went out and hired an independent broadcasting company to replace 3 (THREE) local broadcasting companies that were already in place, who have covered the entire seasons of both Jesuit, Central Catholic and Lincoln Cardinal football, and were ready to pay the OSAA the $500 fee to broadcsst the game. Meanwhile there are 9 first round 6A football playoff games that will not have any crew producing a video broadcast for their game. 6 ouf the 8 first round 5A football games also will not have any video coverage. 
The NFHS is intentially blocking out Jesuit and Central Catholic playoff broadcasts, as per their "right" via the "contract" in place with the OSAA. The reason these 2 schools are targeted is that these two 2 schools are the only ones who have opted to not affiliate with the NFHS network, and thus pose a threat to their business operations and profit gathering in the state of Oregon. 
The reason this is an important case is that it (today) indirectly affects every association member school in the state of Oregon, and it directly affects every non-NFHS participating school that does not yet have any broadcasting program in place. If the NFHS can claim any Jesuit and Central Catholic football game, then they can in theory and in practice claim any sport of any school at anytime during the playoffs as per their contract, critically hindering any other business such as Oregon SportsBeat, ReadyGo Productions, TableRock Sports, or others from operating in the state, providing broadcast services, providing a fundraising mechanism for schools, and competing with the NFHS Network.
When I requested to see the contract in place between the OSAA and the NFHS Network, my request was declined. In the past when I have requested details of the contract, such as the expiration date, I have been given different answers; first it is was 2022, then it was 2026. Yesterday when I again asked for the expiration date I was told that the OSAA was in talks with the NFHS for a 10-YEAR renewal of the contract. My call to OSAA Executive Director Peter Weber was not returned. 
 Please consider if you think this is an issue that  affects your school/ organization's ability to operate to it's fullest potential now and in the future. 

Here is the link to an article about high school sports broadcasting rights in Oregon being sold to the NFHS in 2013:
http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/6271841697297357449/osaa-to-be-part-of-new-national-high-school-online-broadcast-network/

Here is an article about the OSAA Executive Director who sold the rights to the NFHS in 2013 being named president elect of the NFHS Federation in 2014:
http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/-6763739271378215101/osaa-executive-director-tom-welter-named-president-elect-of-national-federation-of-state-high-school-associations/

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The Oregon SportsBeat brand is distinct from other sports broadcasting brands in the area; we pride ourselves on producing the highest quality non-professional sports broadcasts in the region.  This commitment to quality is what makes us different from others in the industry, and it's one of the main reasons why many thousands of fans watch our programming. This commitment to quality is also what drives our successful sponsorship model and keeps programming free for the viewers of my clients' games. My clients do not want restricted access to their games, including their playoff games. Restricted access limits the benefits of the game broadcast to their players, fans, alumni, and sponsors. The OSB sponsorship model also generates revenue for my clients. Oregon SportsBeat is proud to empower the program; it is the players and coaches who are doing the hard work that sets them apart from the competition and gives us something worth watching.  Abandoning my business model during the playoffs would be abandoning my clients, my brand and abandoning the Oregon SportsBeat mission of creating meaningful and entertaining locally based sports programming. My hope is that the OSAA sees value in this mission and stands for something that works to enhance the high school sporting experience for all Oregonians. 

In regards to the issue at hand, I have some questions pertaining to this new enforcement of the rules being passed down, via the OSAA, regarding playoff broadcasts. 

"I’ve been informed by the NFHS Network, rights holder for video streaming of OSAA playoff games and championship events, that it is not declining any 2018 OSAA playoff football games involving Jesuit and Central Catholic. 
NFHS Network vice president Jeff Kurtz asked that I contact you and let you know that NFHS Network is claiming all streams involving Crusaders and Rams and will coordinate to have these produced via its platform.
As rights holder of OSAA playoffs and championship events, NFHS Network can choose any postseason games it wants to stream.  NFHS Network School Broadcast Programs and affiliates have first right of refusal and can either claim games or decline for other outlets to stream for a fee per the schedule posted:
I want to be clear that the NFHS Network is not tryin g to play hard ball. "

Does that mean that the NFHS will be producing all game broadcasts for all Ram and Crusader football playoff games? If so, could this compromise the quality of the broadcasts, specifically with the quality of announcing which is a major component, and is this consistent with how other media outlets that follow specific teams throughout the state are being treated? 
Or, does that mean that just no other network will be hosting games for these 2 teams?  If so, does the NFHS have the right to push out every other network in the state?  If so, why is there a even a fee schedule in place? The NFHS does not have the manpower to staff all the football games on any given Friday. 
Put another way, is the NFHS just opting to push out the 2 video streaming entities in the state that haven't signed on with them?