Video Output

Once the stream is running, it is often the best view of the field in the building: it is framed, shows the score, and doesn’t have someone’s head in the way. Consider sending OBS’s program output to the venue’s projector as the main audience display.

This also helps the stream. When the audience is watching the same picture that viewers at home see, a camera that gets bumped or a view that is blocked by field staff gets noticed and fixed within minutes instead of hours.

Showing the Program Output

Use OBS’s fullscreen projector feature to send the program output to the projector as a second display. The projector then shows exactly what is being streamed, with almost no delay.

Don’t put the YouTube stream itself on the projector. YouTube adds several seconds of delay, so the audience would see each match end after it has already ended in the room.

Getting the Signal to the Projector

For short distances, a standard HDMI cable works. For longer runs, there are two common options.

Fiber optic HDMI cables

These carry HDMI over fiber inside an ordinary-looking cable. They don’t need extra power or adapter boxes, and 100 and 150 foot cables (about $42) have been reliable across many venues and projectors.

  • Fiber HDMI cables are directional. Connect the end labeled Source to the computer and the end labeled Display to the projector.

  • The fiber can break if the cable is kinked, bent tightly, stepped on, or rolled over by a cart. Route it along walls or under cable covers, and coil it loosely.

HDMI over Ethernet (HDBaseT)

These use a transmitter and receiver at each end of a network cable (about $40 for short-range kits and $100 for longer-range kits). They are useful when a network cable is already run through a wall or ceiling. Both ends need power, and some volunteers have found them less reliable than fiber HDMI.

Gold Tier: Displays Anywhere on the Network

At championships, OBS can send its program output over the network as an NDI source. An NDI decoder box (about $170) connected to any display on the same network can then show the program feed. This is useful for putting the audience display in a pit area on the other side of the building, without running an HDMI cable there.