How It Works
One Program. Five Steps. Zero Cost to Your School.
Here’s exactly how the DS Media partnership works from first conversation to first check.
STEP 1
Purchase
- Choose from three indoor scoreboard packages sized to your gym
- Packages include two LED displays and AV rack; shot clocks optional
- Equipment is manufactured and fulfilled by Digital Scoreboards
STEP 2
Finance
- DS Capital provides 7-year financing with one flat annual payment
- Immediate, guaranteed approval
- Year 1 payment due upon contract signing
- No credit surprises, financing is structured specifically for school districts
STEP 3
Contract with
DS Media
- DS Media signs a 7-year exclusive media rights agreement with the school
- DS Media builds, launches, and manages the full advertising program
- DS Media contractually guarantees 100% annual loan repayment at each anniversary date
- School earns an annual share of net advertising revenue starting year one
- Schools retain veto power over all advertising content
STEP 4
Software & Warranty
- 7-year prepaid ScoreVision software subscription included
- 7-year parts + labor warranty, industry-leading coverage
- 365-day in-house tech support and service center
- Onsite commissioning, training, and ongoing staff support
STEP 5
DS Academy
- 7-year prepaid DS Academy curriculum included in every package
- Students operate real scoreboard technology as part of classroom learning
- Curriculum covers graphic design, video editing, sports broadcasting, advertising, and more
- Turns the scoreboard investment into a career-readiness program
Partnership Lifecycle
Year 1
Hardware purchased and installed. One flat annual payment due. Ad program launches. Revenue share begins.
Years 2–7
Annual payment guaranteed and covered by DS Media at each anniversary date. School earns annual revenue share from net ad revenue.
Year 7
Contract ends. School owns the equipment outright — no buyout, no final payment.
Post-Term Options
- Manage ads independently
- Renew with DS Media on a revenue-share basis
- Upgrade scoreboard hardware and restart a new 7-year partnership
Already Have a Scoreboard?
Schools with existing modern digital boards are still viable DS Media partners.
Partner with DS Media to build, launch, and manage your advertising program
Revenue share program available, 5-year minimum term
DS Media handles all ad sales, content, and management
How It Works
Frequently Asked Questions
Who manages the advertisers? Does our school have to find sponsors?
DS Media handles all advertiser recruitment, sales, and account management. Our reps take full ownership of building and running your advertising program. That said, we do ask schools to participate in a brief onboarding conversation with their DS Media sales rep at the start of the program. Your local knowledge is invaluable: who already donates to the school or booster club, which local businesses you have existing vendor relationships with, any community politics or business conflicts we should know about, and any contacts you can share to help us warm up outreach. The more context you give us upfront, the faster we can land your first sponsors. After that initial handoff, your school's day-to-day involvement is minimal. We handle everything from there.
What happens if DS Media doesn't sell enough ads to cover our payment?
The DS Media contract guarantees the school's full annual loan repayment regardless of advertising performance. If DS Media does not generate sufficient advertising revenue in a given year, DS Media is still contractually obligated to cover the school's payment in full. The school's annual repayment is never contingent on ad sales results, that financial risk is carried entirely by DS Media, not the school.
Does the school have to do anything to run the program?
No. The DS Media program is designed to be zero-burden on school staff. DS Media manages all advertising operations, including ad scheduling, content updates, sponsor communication, and revenue distribution. The school's involvement is limited to approving advertising content before it runs, which DS Media facilitates through a simple review process. Athletic directors and administrators are not expected to manage any aspect of the advertising program.
Can we use the scoreboard for non-advertising purposes?
Yes. The scoreboard is your school's equipment and can be used for any school purpose, assemblies, graduation ceremonies, pep rallies, community events, and non-athletic programming. The DS Media advertising program runs during athletic events and designated game-time windows. Outside of those times, the school has full control of the display. ScoreVision software makes it easy to switch between game mode, event mode, and custom content at any time.
What happens to our advertising contracts if DS Media ever closes?
In the event DS Media ceases operations, all active multi-year advertising contracts are contractually assigned and transferred directly to the school. The school would then have the right to invoice advertisers directly on the existing contract terms and collect all future advertising revenue. This protection is written into the DS Media contract; the school's revenue stream is never dependent solely on DS Media remaining in business.
Who owns the equipment at the end of the 7 years?
The school owns the scoreboard equipment outright at the end of the 7-year term, with no buyout payment, no final fee, and no additional obligation. The school financed the purchase through DS Capital and DS Media covered the annual repayments throughout the term. When the contract ends, the school holds full ownership of the LED displays, AV rack, and all installed hardware. At that point, the school can manage the scoreboard independently, renew with DS Media on a revenue-share basis, or upgrade to new hardware.
Get Started
Ready to See How This Works for Your School?
Contact DS Media
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