02/15/17 – Sweet 16® Online Media Credentialing System

February 15, 2017 2016-2017 News Releases

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The media credentialing system for the 2017 St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls’ and Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen® State Basketball Tournaments is now available online, and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org. The St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls’ State Tournament will take place March 8-12 at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, followed by the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® March 15-19 at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

The deadline to apply for credentials is 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to each respective tournament – March 6 for the Girls’ Sweet 16® and March 13 for the Boys.

OWNERSHIP OF RIGHTS
The intellectual property, corporate, broadcasting and media rights to all State championship rounds of the KHSAA postseason championships belong exclusively to the KHSAA, including titling agreements and sponsorships. As such, the KHSAA is the only entity permitted to originate a live broadcast during the Sweet 16® (this includes the use of social media streaming platforms such as Periscope and Facebook Live by media members).

TITLE PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. ELIZABETH HEALTHCARE
St. Elizabeth Healthcare is in its 2nd year as title sponsor of the Girls’ Tournament and is on board to sponsor the event through the 2017 tournament.

When referring to the girls’ basketball state championship, the tournament’s full name, the St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls’ Basketball Sweet Sixteen® should be used in all first references, without exception. Sponsorship of KHSAA state championship events is vital to the livelihood of the Association. Please help us thank our corporate sponsors by recognizing their commitment to the KHSAA with proper identification of our events in printed materials, broadcasts, etc.

The St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls’ Basketball Sweet Sixteen® has an event-specific tournament logo which should be used with any accompanying articles, graphics, newscasts, etc. The KHSAA will provide a logo for authorized uses on request.

TITLE PARTNERSHIP WITH WHITAKER BANK
Whitaker Bank is in its 4th year as title sponsor of the Boys’ Tournament and is on board to sponsor the event through the 2019 tournament.

When referring to the boys’ basketball state championship, the tournament’s full name, the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Basketball Sweet Sixteen® should be used in all first references, without exception. Sponsorship of KHSAA state championship events is vital to the livelihood of the Association. Please help us thank our corporate sponsors by recognizing their commitment to the KHSAA with proper identification of our events in printed materials, broadcasts, etc.

The Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Basketball Sweet Sixteen® has an event-specific tournament logo which should be used with any accompanying articles, graphics, newscasts, etc. The KHSAA will provide a logo for authorized uses on request.

PARKING – GIRLS’ SWEET 16®
Parking is not provided to the KHSAA for media use during the St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16®. Game day parking will be available for purchase upon arrival at BB&T Arena for an anticipated rate of $5. Securing a parking spot does not guarantee approval of applications for media credentials.

PARKING – BOYS’ SWEET 16®
Parking is not provided to the KHSAA for media use during the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16®. Media members have the opportunity to purchase parking passes for the Boys’ Sweet 16® from the LCC Box Office. Parking passes are available for $60 apiece if purchased in person from the LCC Box Office, which covers the entire tournament, in the “Press Lot” located off of Manchester Street, adjacent to the player/press entrance to the arena. There is a $5.00 service fee if ordered over the phone for a total of $65. The LCC Box Office can be reached at 859-233-3535. Securing a parking pass does not guarantee approval of applications for media credentials.

DISTRIBUTION POLICY
1. Credentials will be provided to established and recognized media outlets that cover high school athletics on a regular basis (including, but not limited to, timely reports of regular season competitions);
2. No athletic recruiting organizations or media outlets that can be construed as recruiting publications will be credentialed. The level of regular season interscholastic coverage will be considered when applications are reviewed.
3. Media passes will not be issued to persons under 18 years of age (with the exception of a School Media Pass);
4. Passes may be revoked at any time for behavior deemed inappropriate for the intended use of the pass, including transferring a credential to someone other than its intended recipient, or using the pass to help others gain access to an event. A credential grants the bearer, and only the bearer, access to KHSAA events, and does not include admission for children and family members;
5. Media members are expected to act professionally and objectively at all times. Cheering or cheerleading during an event is strictly prohibited and can result in removal from the press area;
6. At any time, the KHSAA may request proof of a media outlets’ legitimacy. To help the KHSAA protect access to its events, media members applying for credentials may be asked to provide samples of their work as well as information such as circulation numbers (newspapers/magazines), Aribtron Ratings numbers or similar information (broadcast), page views/hits (online entities);
7. Freelance photographers not working for an accredited media outlet will be treated as Commercial Photographers, and will only gain access to an event by paying the media rights fee for the event in question;
8. Each team advancing to a state championship event can be represented by one (1) broadcast team (radio or online), which will be designated by the participating school’s principal;
9. Schools are permitted one (1) School Media Pass at each championship event, which is limited to students or full-time staff members at the participating school.

The distribution of credentials is conducted using the following priorities:
1. Daily Newspapers and Wire Services;
2. Statewide Media (TV, etc.);
3. Media Covering Specific Teams on a Regular Basis;
4. Regional Media;
5. All Other Outlets (Non-Broadcast Radio, weekly media, etc.).

Credentials may be issued on a limited basis to valid websites that report timely results and have regularly covered and promoted interscholastic events. They are not issued to message board websites or to websites that do not regularly contain Kentucky based high school regular season content throughout the year.

Due to space limitations, full tournament credentials are not issued to non-daily newspapers or to non-broadcasting radio stations with no specific coverage teams. Non-originating radio stations from the markets of participating teams will be issued a maximum of two credentials and will be assigned to the auxiliary media seating area. The KHSAA reserves the right to grant or deny any requests on an individual basis.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography passes are provided to accredited news media outlets in conjunction with print and television outlets and their directly affiliated websites. Commercial and freelance photographers can obtain fee-based credentials, space permitting, by purchasing a limited rights license. Information regarding rights fee payments will be confirmed through the online credentialing system.

While photographers own the intellectual rights to individual photos, the KHSAA owns the intellectual property rights to all state championship events; therefore photos taken during these games are not for resale by individuals unless the requisite media rights fee has been paid by commercial photographers. By accepting your credential you agree to all KHSAA terms and conditions. The KHSAA reserves the right to deny credentials to commercial and freelance photographers who do not agree to these terms and conditions. Failure to abide by the KHSAA’s policies and procedures could result in having your credential revoked and a loss of access to future events.

GIRLS’ AUXILIARY MEDIA SEATING
Auxiliary media seating at BB&T Arena is located in available seats in a section that will be designated upon check-in or the 206 or 207 level end zone.

BOYS’ AUXILIARY MEDIA SEATING
All auxiliary media seating is in the upper arena press row (at the bottom of sections 230-231-232) or the bottom half of rows 21, 24, 38 and 41 in the arena’s lower bowl. The upper arena press row area is serviced with an elevator that is just outside the media interview area at floor level. Those members assigned to the area will have full access to all media areas.
 
GIRLS’ CREDENTIAL PICK-UP
Credentials will not be mailed to media outlets. Credentials will be available for pickup on Tuesday, March 7 at the Tournament Headquarters at The Holiday Inn Airport in Erlanger from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (ET). Proper identification will be required to pickup media passes. Credentials can also be picked up at the BB&T Arena Media Pass Gate (adjacent to the loading dock) beginning three hours prior to tip-off of the first session on each day. All credentials are issued on a daily basis. You will need proper identification each day. Credentials are non-transferrable.

BOYS’ CREDENTIAL PICK-UP
Credentials will not be mailed to media outlets. Credentials will be available for pickup on Tuesday, March 14 at the Tournament Headquarters (Thoroughbred 1 off the Hyatt lobby) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (ET). Proper identification will be required to pickup media passes. Credentials can also be picked up at the Rupp Arena Media Pass Gate (Cox Street Arena entrance) beginning three hours prior to tip-off of the first session each day. All credentials are issued on a daily basis. You will need proper identification each day. Credentials are non-transferrable.

TEAM BROADCAST RADIO/INTERNET
Each participating team can be represented by one designated broadcast team (radio or online). Approved team broadcasts are audio only. Once the tournament field is set, the principal at each participating school will complete the online form and submit it to the KHSAA to designate one official team broadcast crew. The designated broadcast team will be permitted to originate broadcasts of games involving that specific school, so long as the requisite media rights fee is paid to the KHSAA. Absent those stations continuously grandfathered with the formation of the KU/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen® Radio Network, stations not receiving a school designation can make arrangements to carry a feed from the KU/KHSAA Sweet 16® Statewide Radio Network free of charge. A radio station not chosen by the participating school may apply for an auxiliary credential to attend the tournament, but will not be given transmission rights. KHSAA.org is the exclusive home for video webcasts of state championship events.

WEBCASTING/VIDEO STREAMING
Live video webcasts of all games will be available at KHSAA.tv through the NFHS Network (http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/), which is a subscription-based service. Subscription plans for the NFHS Network are available for $9.95 a month. A monthly subscription, priced less than the cost of admission to a state championship event, entitles users to every broadcast by the KHSAA and the more than 40 participating state associations.

A free audio-only feed of the games will also be available online through Mixlr (http://mixlr.com/khsaa/), which has a corresponding app available for iOS and Android devices. Radio stations interested in carrying the KU/KHSAA Sweet 16® Radio Network feed can make arrangements through Dick Farmer. A listing of affiliate stations for the KU/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen® Radio Network will be posted online at KHSAA.org.

All webcasts are produced by the KHSAA in partnership with First String Media and Prepspin.com.

LIVE STATS
Live stats for all games of the St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® and the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® will be provided by WL Stats and available for media and fans at KHSAA.org.

POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT BRACKETS/INFORMATION
The brackets for both tournaments are posted on the KHSAA website (www.khsaa.org/basketball). Outlets can also view district and regional schedules/results on the KHSAA/Riherds.com Scoreboard by clicking on the scoreboard icon at www.khsaa.org.

-KHSAA-

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 278 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions 43 state championships in 13 sports and 4 sport-activities, licenses and trains over 4,000 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its more than 70,000 member school student-athletes, as well as overseeing coaching education and sports safety programs.

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