MANCHESTER, New Hampshire— Manchester public high school teams could soon set up a new video system for those who can’t make it to the games or who want to watch the games at a later date, but a final decision will have to wait until June.
The Manchester Board of Schools Committee (BOSC) heard a proposal from Play On/Pixellot to install cameras on the lawns and gymnasiums of Manchester’s three public high schools. The system would allow those not at those facilities to watch games at a later date for free on the National Federation of High Schools website or watch them live for a fee of $11 per month.
If approved, Manchester School District would make a five-year commitment with the Play On/Pixellot system.
According to Manchester School District athletic coordinator Christine Pariseau-Telge, Manchester Memorial and Central are the only two Division I NHIAA schools unable to live stream games in some capacity, with several lower NHIAA schools failing to do so level also have this capacity.
In the proposal, presented to BOSC members on Tuesday, Pariseau-Telge also said the live streaming and camera systems could provide a new revenue stream for the sports department, which will see ads in the could sell live streams, and the cameras could complement existing camera systems that help student-athletes study footage to prepare for future games, as well as develop highlight videos for college recruitment.
Pariseau-Telge also said that Manchester Public Television (MPTV)’s Jason Cote supported the camera systems, stating that they would supplement MPTV’s live coverage of matches and could cover matches that MPTV cannot.
Currently, all NHIAA football and soccer teams use a different highlights video system known as Hudl, which costs Manchester $33,000 to install.
BOSC members were generally supportive of the idea in principle, but felt further review was needed before a final decision could be made.
At-Large BOSC Member and BOSC Vice-Chairman Jim O’Connell raised concerns about the district’s ability to provide wording in the proposed agreement, which he says may remove control over what advertising content the district has during video playback.
O’Connell also expressed concern about the Better Business Bureau’s reviews of the company, which said some families are finding it difficult to cancel recurring monthly subscriptions to the service.
At-Large BOSC member Peter Argeropoulos asked if the district would incur any additional costs beyond the five-year term, and Ward 4 BOSC member Leslie Want wanted feedback from other school districts using the system. Ward 6 BOSC member Ken Tassey Jr. also asked if it was possible to continue negotiating to reach a better agreement.
Pariseau-Telge said the five-year commitment is likely non-negotiable, but other points may not be. She also told the BOSC that the system should be in place soon to give fall team staff enough time to get used to the system.
The issue was referred to the BOSC Finance and Facilities Committee, which meets on June 8, with a lying decision by the full board at its next full board meeting in June.
