Hastings High School and Hastings Community Television are preparing to put considerably more Raider athletics on screens this school year, but the new Raider Media Productions initiative is intended to do more than simply give fans another way to watch a game.
The Hastings School Board unanimously approved an agreement between Independent School District 200 and HCTV during a special meeting, along with a separate sponsorship agreement supporting the new program. Together, the agreements establish a student-driven media operation that plans roughly 125 athletic broadcasts during the 2026-27 school year, creates hands-on production opportunities for students and introduces a revenue-sharing system built around sponsorships and paid live viewing.
The arrangement also keeps the school district firmly in control of its product. Under the formal agreement, ISD 200 retains ownership and control of its athletic events and all video productions from those events, while HCTV provides technical and operational support, training, production infrastructure, streaming platform management and assistance with student operators.
Athletic Director Trent Hanson said planning for the project has been underway for roughly a year and a half. The leadership group includes Hanson, HCTV Executive Director Mike Bremer, HCTV Sports Director Hunter Pinke and media productions teacher and club adviser Josh Colvin, with other professionals brought into the process when needed.
Hanson told board members there are not many school districts with directly comparable programs.
“We’re innovative and emerging and kind of out front of this thing,” Hanson said.
The written agreements give a much clearer picture of what that innovation is supposed to look like.
Raider Media Productions is formally described as the district's student-driven livestream and digital media initiative, operated in cooperation with HCTV. Students will work alongside media professionals through classroom and co-curricular experiences to produce live and archived coverage of Raider athletic events throughout the school year.
The broadcasts are divided into three production levels.
Tier 1 will be the most recognizable to people who have watched HCTV sports coverage in the past. Those broadcasts will be directed by HCTV and can include multiple cameras, instant replay, graphics and announcers. The sponsorship agreement estimates approximately 60 to 80 Tier 1 productions during the year, with about 80 percent covering varsity events and 20 percent covering non-varsity competition.
Tier 2 broadcasts will be primarily student-run productions with limited HCTV support, with approximately 30 to 40 anticipated during the year.
Tier 3 will use a simpler approach with limited staffing or automated artificial intelligence cameras, without replay or announcers. Approximately 40 to 50 Tier 3 broadcasts are anticipated. The agreement notes that rotating sponsor banner graphics cannot be used on Tier 3 productions because of software limitations.
Those individual estimates are not guarantees and can overlap with the district's broader goal of approximately 125 productions. The agreements make clear that the actual number and type of broadcasts may change because of schedules, staffing, weather, technical issues and other operational considerations.
Hanson told board members he believes Raider Media Productions could ultimately exceed the 125-event target and potentially move closer to 150 broadcasts.
That represents a major jump from the roughly 40 to 50 athletic events Hastings and HCTV have traditionally produced together each year.
The increase will also spread coverage beyond the sports and competitive levels that typically receive the most attention.
Hanson said the district now has automated Hudl cameras in three high school gyms, along with other existing cameras and portable units that can be taken to fields and facilities that do not have permanently installed equipment.
That creates possibilities ranging from a traditional multicamera varsity football production to a non-varsity contest in a high school gym that previously could not have been watched unless someone was there in person.
Hanson told the board that 45 fall events were already prepared for livestreaming, representing six sports and three competitive levels.
The district's approach is also deliberately aimed at spreading coverage between boys and girls athletics rather than concentrating almost entirely on the highest-profile sports.
Hanson acknowledged there will still be limitations. Football, basketball, hockey and softball naturally lend themselves to traditional video production. Cross country and alpine skiing cover far more territory, while tennis creates the challenge of several matches occurring simultaneously on different courts.
Even so, the first home athletic event of the new year, a girls tennis match, is expected to serve as one of the program's early tests.
“We’re going to live stream it for free, so people can see it,” Hanson said. “We’re going to test it, and it might be a disaster, but we’re going to give it a shot.”
The student side of the program is one of the biggest departures from simply contracting with an outside company to broadcast games.
HCTV's responsibilities under the agreement include training and assisting student operators, providing production infrastructure, helping direct broadcasts, maintaining archives and assisting with the integration of sponsor materials.
Students will therefore have opportunities to learn the different pieces of sports production by actually doing the work, potentially including cameras, graphics, replay, announcing and production control.
Hanson said the collaboration fits with broader efforts to create learning pathways that connect classroom education with real-world experiences.
It also builds on a relationship between the district and HCTV that stretches back decades.
“They’re a video expert,” Hanson said. “That’s what they do best.”
Hastings took a different path from some school districts when high school livestreaming rapidly expanded during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hanson said livestreamed high school games were relatively uncommon before that period. When demand increased, some districts entered contracts with private third-party companies and essentially handed those companies responsibility for broadcasting and monetizing school athletic events.
Hastings did not take that route.
Instead, the district continued working with HCTV and expanded its use of Hudl, a company Hastings teams had already used for years for video analysis, coaching and statistics.
The formal Raider Media Productions agreement now establishes how money generated by the expanded broadcasts will be divided.
Business sponsorship revenue will be split 80 percent to the school district and 20 percent to HCTV.
Revenue the district receives from Hudl for subscriptions and pay-per-view broadcasts will be divided 60 percent to the district and 40 percent to HCTV. The district will make the required revenue-sharing payments to HCTV quarterly.
Hanson explained during the meeting that Hudl first retains a 40 percent hosting and production fee from pay-per-view revenue, with the remaining amount then divided between athletics and HCTV.
Three sponsorship agreements had already been secured when the board met, totaling approximately $15,500.
Hanson estimated that Raider athletics could receive approximately $15,000 to $20,000 in total revenue during the first year, although the livestreaming portion remains difficult to predict.
“We don't know if we're going to sell 50 all year passes or five or 300,” Hanson said.
The sponsorship agreement reveals how the district plans to build that side of the program.
Four sponsorship levels are available.
The top level is a single Founding Sponsor at $10,000. That sponsor receives category exclusivity and a 45 to 60 second pregame commercial on at least 75 percent of Raider Media Productions during the Aug. 15, 2026, through June 15, 2027, broadcast cycle.
The Founding Sponsor also receives premium placement on broadcast wallpaper graphics and rotating in-game sponsor banners, recognition through athletics and Raider Media Productions social media, help from HCTV with production of the commercial and consultation on logos and branding.
Up to three Anchor Partners are available at $7,500 each. Those sponsors also receive category exclusivity, along with a 15-second pregame commercial on at least half of Raider Media Productions, rotating in-game banner graphics and social media recognition during one full athletic season.
Three Broadcast Partner positions are available at $3,500 each. Those are non-exclusive and include rotating game-corner banner placement along with recognition on broadcasts or social media.
Five Digital Support Partner positions are available at $2,000. Those sponsors are also non-exclusive and receive recognition as official Raider Media Productions supporters on broadcasts or social media, along with inclusion in annual sponsor thank-you content.
The definition of category exclusivity became one of the subjects discussed by the board.
Under the sponsorship agreement, category-exclusive means the district will not accept another Raider Media Productions sponsor or advertiser that sells or provides the same product or service during the term of the agreement.
Board Chair Carrie Tate questioned how broadly those categories might be interpreted.
An automotive dealership can be relatively straightforward, Hanson said, but healthcare and financial businesses become more complicated. A chiropractor, physical therapist and hospital may all fit loosely under healthcare without necessarily being direct competitors. A wealth management company, bank and insurance company could similarly fall beneath a broad financial umbrella while offering different services.
Hanson said the goal is not to use exclusivity to shut local businesses out of the program.
“Trust me, if someone calls and says they’d like to sponsor us, I’m going to try to figure out how to make it work,” Hanson said.
The district's separate sponsorship agreement also establishes detailed standards governing what businesses can place in Raider Media Productions broadcasts.
Commercials, logos and other advertising materials require school district approval and must be consistent with the district's objectives and mission.
The submitted version prohibits advertising that promotes or references alcohol, tobacco, drugs, drug paraphernalia, electronic cigarettes, weapons, gambling, violence or illegal activities. It also prohibits lewd, vulgar, obscene or sexually explicit material, defamatory content, deceptive or misleading advertising, material that could disrupt the school environment and material contrary to district policies against discrimination.
Political candidates, political activity, political parties, ballot questions and promotion of a particular religion are also prohibited in the submitted agreement.
Tate requested that those protections be strengthened before approval.
She asked that the agreement specifically identify the superintendent or designee as the person responsible for district approval of commercials. She also proposed language stating that sponsorship materials must be commercial in nature and cannot be used for political, ideological or issue advocacy.
Her requested language further expanded the prohibition to include promoting, endorsing, opposing or advocating for or against political candidates, political parties, ballot questions, political or ideological causes, public policy positions, advocacy campaigns or political movements.
The board ultimately approved the sponsorship agreement unanimously with those edits.
Live viewing itself will also generate revenue.
A single streamed game will cost $7. A $10 all-event pass can cover multiple contests connected with the same event, similar to attending a high school basketball or volleyball night and watching lower-level games before varsity competition.
Tournament coverage will be available for $15 when multiple games are streamed during the same day.
A full-year Raider Media Productions pass will cost $110 and provide access to any game streamed during the entire school year.
Hanson compared those figures to the $10 adult admission charged to attend a Hastings High School athletic event in person.
He said the leadership group deliberately tried to balance affordability with the reality that producing substantially more broadcasts requires people, equipment and time.
“There’s a cost to doing business,” Hanson said.
At the same time, Hastings does not want digital viewing to discourage people from coming to games.
“We kind of like having people at the games,” Hanson said. “These are neighborhood community events that people really collect at.”
The paid portion only applies to watching events live.
Hanson told the board that all streamed events will become available free on a 24-hour delay through HCTV and Hudl, preserving the ability for people to watch games later without purchasing the live broadcast.
That distinction prompted discussion among board members about whether some viewers might simply wait for free access rather than paying.
Hanson acknowledged that the district will have to learn how viewers respond.
“The market will tell us if those prices are fair, if they’re a little low, if they’re a little high,” Hanson said.
He believes there will still be a market for live viewing, particularly among grandparents, relatives living outside Minnesota and family members who cannot attend a game because of work or other commitments.
The formal agreement between HCTV and the district runs for the 2026-27 athletic broadcast season, from Aug. 15 through June 15, and either side can terminate it with 30 days written notice. The agreement cannot simply be extended after expiration, although the district and HCTV can enter into a new agreement for a future year.
Individual sponsorship agreements operate over the same Aug. 15 through June 15 broadcast cycle but can be terminated with 15 days written notice. Refund provisions depend on whether the district or sponsor ends the agreement.
The school board also discussed security surrounding the additional cameras.
Board member Melissa Millner asked whether cameras installed inside school athletic facilities could potentially be accessed by unauthorized people while students are using those spaces during the school day.
Hanson said he did not want to pretend to have expertise he did not have and agreed to seek a more complete technical answer.
He said the district's Hudl systems operate under security agreements comparable to those used by other schools and explained that even authorized staff members must work through user accounts and password access before activating a broadcast.
Only a limited number of people currently have broader access, Hanson said, while coaches have access connected to their own sports and teams.
The same Hudl infrastructure that feeds Raider Media Productions also has another purpose that never reaches the public broadcast, helping coaches teach.
Hanson described how coaches can quickly search game video for specific actions or players instead of manually scanning an entire contest. The system can generate clips that can then be shared with athletes, slowed down or paired with voice instruction.
“Video is undefeated at its ability to teach,” Hanson said.
Board member Mark Zuzek also raised the possibility of eventually using Raider Media Productions beyond athletics, particularly for performing arts events.
Hanson said the district has explored options involving theater, choir and band, but music and performance rights can make livestreaming those events considerably more complicated and expensive.
The district intends to continue looking at what may be possible.
For now, Raider Media Productions begins with athletics, and with a model that combines several things Hastings has previously done separately.
HCTV already broadcasts Raider sports. Hudl cameras already record games. Coaches already use video. Students already have media production opportunities. Local businesses already sponsor Raider athletics.
The new program brings those pieces together under one structure and dramatically increases the amount of competition that can reach viewers.
It also means that a broadcast that once consisted primarily of professionals showing a varsity game may now have a Hastings student learning behind the camera, producing a replay or helping run the entire show.
Whether viewers embrace the paid live model, how many events can realistically be produced and how quickly students can take larger production roles are among the questions the first year will answer.
Hanson acknowledged those uncertainties while expressing confidence that Hastings is building something other districts may eventually study.
“We have an approach that is going to become a model that athletic departments and districts will want to copy,” Hanson said.
Being first, he added, can mean growing pains.
Beginning this fall, Hastings gets to find out what the model looks like once the cameras turn on.