How to Add Live Scores to Your NFHS Network Broadcasts

NFHS Network is how millions of families watch high school sports they can't attend in person. If your school broadcasts on NFHS Network, adding a live score overlay makes those broadcasts dramatically more watchable — and it takes about ten minutes to set up.

Here's exactly how to do it.

How ScoreBird Works with NFHS Network

NFHS Network uses broadcast software (typically OBS-based or a similar production environment) to capture and stream your games. ScoreBird integrates with that setup through a browser source — the same method used for OBS Studio, which NFHS Network's production workflow supports.

You add your ScoreBird overlay URL as a browser source in the NFHS Network production software. NeST reads your scoreboard and sends live data to that overlay. The score updates on-air automatically.

What You'll Need

• NeST device installed at your scoreboard controller
• NFHS Network production software set up on your streaming computer
• Your ScoreBird overlay URL (from your ScoreBird dashboard)

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Get Your Overlay URL

Log into your ScoreBird dashboard and navigate to Overlays. Select the sport you're broadcasting and copy the browser source URL. You'll need a different URL for each sport — basketball, football, volleyball, etc. each have sport-specific overlays.

Step 2: Open the NFHS Network Production Software

NFHS Network provides a production application to schools that stream through their platform. Open this application and find the sources or layers panel — this is where you add visual elements to your broadcast scene.

Step 3: Add a Browser Source

In the NFHS production software:

1. Click Add Source or the + button in your sources panel
2. Select Browser Source or Web Source
3. Paste your ScoreBird overlay URL
4. Set the dimensions: 1920×150 for a lower-third ticker, or your specific overlay dimensions if using a full scoreboard widget
5. Confirm and close the source settings

Step 4: Position the Overlay

Click and drag the browser source to position it in your broadcast scene. Standard practice is the lower third of the frame — bottom 10–15% of the screen. This matches what viewers expect from professional sports broadcasts and keeps your camera's action unobstructed.

Step 5: Verify the Connection

Before your game goes live, confirm NeST is connected and sending data. In your ScoreBird dashboard, the NeST status indicator should show "Connected." If you have a scoreboard test mode, use it to verify the overlay updates when the scoreboard changes.

Step 6: Go Live

Start your NFHS Network broadcast as usual. The score overlay is part of your broadcast scene and goes live automatically. As your scoreboard updates, NeST sends the data to ScoreBird, and your NFHS Network broadcast shows the live score.

Sport-Specific Overlay Notes

Basketball: Shows score, period, game clock, shot clock, and team fouls. Shot clock requires your scoreboard controller to transmit shot clock data — confirm with your scoreboard manufacturer if you're unsure.

Football: Shows score, quarter, game clock, play clock, down, and yards-to-go. The play clock display is particularly valuable for football broadcasts since viewers often can't read it on the physical scoreboard from camera angles.

Volleyball: Shows score and current set number. The overlay resets between sets automatically as your scoreboard resets.

Baseball/Softball: Shows score, inning (with top/bottom indicator), and balls/strikes/outs count.

Troubleshooting

Overlay is showing but not updating:

• Check that NeST is powered on and connected to your network
• In your ScoreBird dashboard, verify the NeST status shows "Connected"
• Right-click the browser source and select "Refresh" to reload it

Overlay URL shows an error page:

• Confirm you copied the full URL from your dashboard, including the trailing portion
• Make sure you're using the correct sport-specific URL

Overlay is visible but positioned incorrectly:

• Adjust the X/Y position in your source settings
• Check that the overlay dimensions match what's in your ScoreBird dashboard for your chosen overlay style

Maintaining Your Overlay Season-Long

Once the browser source is in your NFHS Network production scene, you don't need to reconfigure it for each game. The overlay persists in your scene. You may need to update the sport-specific URL at the start of each new sport season (e.g., switching from football to basketball URLs in November).

At the start of each broadcast, confirm your NeST is powered and connected. After that, the overlay takes care of itself.

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NFHS Network broadcasts with live score overlays consistently generate better viewer engagement than those without. Families watching from home can follow the game the way they would on a professional broadcast — with the score always visible, always accurate, always current. NeST and ScoreBird get you there without any game-day overhead.