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About > Rules and Regulations > Article 11 Radio & Video

Article 11: RADIO & TELEVISION BROADCAST

Section 1. Philosophy

  1. The Rhode Island Interscholastic League sponsors statewide tournaments in various locations across the state of Rhode Island. The RIIL strongly believes that these events foster opportunities for developing school and community spirit and support. The RIIL feels that media broadcasting of these activities is not absolutely essential to furthering these goals. However, the RIIL does not wish to exclude coverage of these activities from the media who feel that such broadcasts would be in the best interest of their communities and the student athletes. The terms of this agreement have been developed to provide the parameters within which interested media may broadcast an RIIL event.
  2. The Rhode Island Interscholastic League shall own the copyright of all broadcasts (live and delayed, excluding highlights – which are not longer than five (5) minutes in duration), films, videotapes, web casts, other electronic reproductions and recordings of events telecast pursuant to agreement. Notice of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League copyright shall be included as part of every Rhode Island Interscholastic League sports event telecast made pursuant to agreement. The notice shall consist of the symbol or the word “Copyright”, followed by the year that the event is first telecast and the name “Rhode Island Interscholastic League.” and shall appear in the opening and closing credits.

Section 2. RADIO BROADCAST AGREEMENT

  1. General Provisions:
  1. Broadcasting of any RIIL contest(s) is prohibited without prior written consent of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.
  2. Expenses incurred in the broadcasting of an RIIL sponsored event shall be the sole responsibility of the originating station.
  3. Advertising of and announcements relative to, non-approved sponsors, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or political candidates, parties or organizations are strictly prohibited during the broadcast.
  4. The station agrees to include early in the broadcast the following statement:
    1. “The rights to this broadcast have been granted by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League representing member high schools across the State and the boys and girls who participate annually in RIIL sponsored athletic competition. Any rebroadcast or republication of the programming without the written consent of the RIIL is strictly prohibited.”
  1. The station agrees not to expose negative or questionable activity if it occurs during the programming (e.g. fights, officials’ calls, crowd reaction).
  2. Payment in full of the negotiated fee, shall be required prior to the start of the established contest.
  3. The station retains the right to grant coverage of this event to other entities.
  4. The station agrees to indemnify, defend and save harmless the RIIL from any and all claims, demands, liability, suits and proceedings, arising out of permission granted in this agreement or any activities in connection therewith.

Section 3. TELEVISION BROADCAST AGREEMENT

  1. Fees:  The fee for a television broadcast of a RIIL sponsored contest shall be negotiated with the Executive Director of the RI Interscholastic League.
  1. General Provisions:
  1. Telecasting of any RIIL sponsored contest is prohibited without prior written consent of the RIIL.
  2. Expenses incurred in the telecasting of an RIIL sponsored event shall be the sole responsibility of the originating station.
  3. Advertising of and announcements relative to, non-approved sponsors, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or political candidates, parties or organizations are strictly prohibited during the broadcast.
  4. The station agrees to include early in the broadcast the following statement:
    1. “The rights to this broadcast have been granted by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League representing member high schools across the State and the boys and girls who participate annually in RIIL sponsored athletic competition. Any rebroadcast or republication of the programming without the written consent of the RIIL is strictly prohibited.
  1. The station agrees not to expose negative or questionable activity if it occurs during the programming (e.g. fights, officials’ calls, and crowd reaction).
  2. Payment in full of the established fee, as set forth herein, shall be required prior to the start of the established contest.
  3. The station retains the right to grant coverage of this event to other entities.
  4. The TV/Cable station agrees to provide a copy of the event to the RIIL within seven (7) days of the event.
  5. Telecasting of up to one (1) minute of video transmission of any RIIL final event for use as part of a local newscast shall be permitted without charge. Any such use shall include credit to the RIIL and shall be permitted only after completion of the athletic event in question.
  6. The station agrees to indemnify, defend and save harmless the RIIL from any and all claims, demands liability, suits and proceedings, arising out of permission granted in this agreement or any activities in connection therewith.
  7. The TV/Cable station provides a predetermined number of Public Service Announcements on behalf of the RIIL.
  8. The TV/Cable station provides interview opportunities for RIIL corporate sponsors of the event.
  9. The TV/Cable station with mutual agreement of the RIIL will choose on-air announcers/broadcasters.

Section 4. NFHS NETWORK: POLICY ON STREAMING VIA SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

  1. The ability of fans or news media companies streaming events through new streaming technologies is becoming more of an issue around the country and is only going to increase. These platforms include but are not limited to Facebook Live, Instagram Live and Periscope.  When fans broadcast events via social media or alternative streaming platforms the Network is adversely affected financially. The people watching the illegal stream are the fans most likely to be interested in buying a pass to watch the event and therefore the Network suffers a reduction in subscription sales.  We expect credentialed news organizations to know and follow policies, but fans are a different story. We assume that the majority of fans using these streaming technologies are unaware of the rights they are infringing upon. Therefore, we have outlined a strategy for States that focuses on building awareness to protect the rights of the NFHS Network.
  2. While States have limitations in what they can enforce during an event, here are the four recommended courses of action to educate schools and fans:
  1. Update media policies
  2. Add updated rules to website
  3. Disseminate information to participating schools, host sites and media outlets
  4. Notify fans and attendees through in-venue messaging
  1. Association Media Policies
    1. States should update published media policies with language that makes schools, fans, and other media outlets aware of the rules.
    2. The NFHS Network is the exclusive broadcast rights holder of this postseason event. Any individual streaming a game is strictly prohibited and in direct violation of the RIIL’s agreements with the NFHS Network. Any violation of NFHS’s exclusive broadcast rights may result in disciplinary action by the RIIL or legal action by the NFHS Network.
  2. Association Website Posting
    1. Since it is unlikely that a fan would ever read the media policy in the by-laws, States should also put messaging on the pages on their website where parents and fans would go to find the event information (i.e. event page or tournament page). This will ensure that interested parties are aware of the rules ahead of the event.
    2. The NFHS Network is the exclusive broadcast rights holder of this postseason event. Any individual streaming a game is strictly prohibited and is in direct violation of the RIIL’s contract with the NFHS Network. Any violation of the NFHS Network’s exclusive rights may result in discipline by the RIIL or legal action by the NFHS Network.
  3. Pre-Event Communication
    1. States should notify schools ahead of time through information packets they send out to participating teams as well as host sites. This is the most effective way to ensure all participating schools are made aware of the rules. The same messaging needs to be sent to anyone who has been granted a media pass for the event.
    2. The NFHS Network is the exclusive broadcast rights holder of this postseason event. Streaming all – or any part of – the game is strictly prohibited and in direct violation of the RIIL’s contracts with the NFHS Network. Please notify your fans and parents of this policy, and encourage fans who can’t attend to visit NFHSnetwork.com to watch the game live.
  4. In Venue Announcements
    1. PA announcements will need to be implemented during the events. Multiple times. Physical signs with similar messaging would be ideal where it is feasible.
    2. Fans are reminded that the broadcast and streaming rights of this event belong exclusively to the N-F-H-S Network. Any individual streaming of this game is strictly prohibited. To watch this game live please go to N-F-H-S-NETWORK-DOT-COM.

Section 5. MISCELLANEOUS

  1. USE OF DRONES (UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS OR UAS’s)
    1. Use of Drones (UAS), for any purpose, is not permitted at any RIIL state tournament event. This prohibition applies to all fields of play, courts, arena, mats, gym floor or pool, and covers a ban on the entire facility being used as part of the RIIL event, including the spectator stands and parking areas.
  2. Excluding RIIL playoffs and RIIL schedules for Hockey and Winter Track, the RIIL will grant television and broadcasting rights to home schools subject to the following conditions:
  1. Agreements should be of limited duration, no more than two years before renegotiation.
  2. Only the home team will have broadcast rights, subject to the consent of the visiting team. All school participation must be voluntary. Mutual agreement of both schools must be obtained and no school shall be coerced into participation.
  3. Revenue derived from commercial televising of games should be dispersed as follows:
  1. 75% of the fee should go to the home team.
  2. 20% of the fee should go to the visiting team.
  3. 5% of the fee should go to RIIL.
  1. Schools must require payment from the broadcaster within 30 days of the broadcast.
  2. Distribution of funds to the visiting team and the RIIL shall be made within 60 days of the broadcast.
  3. All contracts shall prohibit sponsorship by non-approved sponsors, Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco Products and Gambling Activities.
  4. Broadcasters should be required to announce once an hour that “the event is broadcast with the permission of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.”
  5. In the case of RIIL tournaments, Winter Track and Hockey contests which are operated by the RIIL itself, only the RIIL Office can make the necessary arrangements since these rights belong to the RIIL.
  6. Schools, however, are given permission to film or video tape their games provided that no commercial use of any kind is made of the film/videotape and provided that any showing of the film/videotape takes place in the school itself.
  7. The RIIL reserves the right to negotiate a game of the week involving the RIIL games in any sport which is operated in the home gymnasium or field of the member school; provided the schools chosen have agreed before the beginning of the school year to participate in the RIIL program. The revenue received will be distributed among the schools participating in the RIIL program with the greater share going to the home school. See Article 11, Section 4.A3.

Section 6. Media Credential Policy

  1. The RIIL has exclusive rights to all still photographs at all RIIL State Tournament events (including all Boys and Girls Indoor Track events and hockey games). Selling of any photographs (electronic or print) at either the venue or by the internet without the written consent of the RIIL is strictly prohibited.

Note: Media may only post on their website for commercial purposes those photographs that have been published in their newspaper.

  1. The RIIL will not issue Media Credentials the week of the event.
  2. RIIL Media Passes are only valid at RIIL Postseason events, not events hosted by individual member schools.
    1. Individuals who request access to an athletic event hosted by a member school must directly contact the member school prior to the event for permission to enter restricted areas
  3. School yearbook photographers or others requesting sideline access for a RIIL Championship:
    1. are limited to two per school
    2. are the responsibility of and have approval of the Principal
    3. must be communicated to the RIIL by the Principal/Athletic Director to the prior to the event
  4. The RIIL has a two-tiered system for media passes:
    1. Tier 1: Traditional Media Outlet representatives are provided with long-term media passes for the entire school year and are provided with sideline access at RIIL championships.
    2. Tier 2: Non-Traditional Media may be provided with a single game pass and a free general admission ticket to the game and are allowed to sit in spectator seating for the duration. There will be no sideline access at any time before, during, or after the contest until the team vacates the playing surface.
    3. Media Passes and all sideline access will be approved, denied, or revoked at the discretion of the RIIL.
  5. Media Reminders:
  1. All media photographers with the appropriate RIIL “Media Credentials’ will have access to the sidelines and permission to take photographs.
  2. Media cannot be located in any space or area where they may interfere with action in the playing/coaching/restricted area.
  3. Media journalists and photographers must stand clear of the awards presentation area and are asked to refrain from conducting post-game interviews until after the awards ceremony has been completed.
  4. FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CREDENTIALS AND REMOVAL FROM THE FACILITY OR MEDIA AREA