How to display a scoreboard on a TV
A quick introduction on how you can show a scoreboard on a TV, including the recommended hardware and software
Displaying a scoreboard on a TV is a great way to keep participants engaged and informed during a sporting event or contest. In this article, we will go over the different ways to display a scoreboard on a TV, including the necessary hardware and software.
What you'll need
You will need one computer with a browser to control the scoreboard.
You'll also need a TV. This TV must either be connected to:
- a laptop or computer. This can be the same computer as the one controlling the scoreboard, or a different computer. OR
- a streaming device such as Chromecast or Apple TV
Each of these options has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
Option 1: One computer and two displays
Use one computer for controlling and displaying the scoreboard. This means that you need 2 displays connected to the computer. One display will show the control panel, the other display will show the "display" scoreboard. Each will be running in their own browser windows.
So you need to show 2 browser windows on 2 different displays. How this is setup will depend on your operating system and is beyond the scope of this article, but here is a good guide to get you started.
Option 2: Two computers and two displays
The second option is to use a second laptop or computer to show the "display" scoreboard, and connect it to the TV via and HDMI cable. The second computer needs to show a browser which has the "display" scoreboard link opened.
Option 3: One computer and a streaming dongle
If you decide to use a streaming device such as Chromecast (pictured above) or Apple TV, you will need to attach the device to your TV and connect it to your Wi-Fi network.
Once connected, you can use your primary computer to stream the scoreboard to the TV. You can do this by only streaming the browser window that is showing the "display" scoreboard. Refer to your Chromecast or Apple TV documentation for how to do this.
This option is great for those who want to display the scoreboard on a TV in a public space, such as a sports bar or corporate lobby. Basically any situation where the TV is hard to reach and it is impractical to run an extra cable to it.
Using Keepthescore.com
These days, instead of downloading and installing a software package, a common solution is to use web-based software. This works wherever you have a working internet connection and doesn't require any installing.
We are going to be using Keepthescore.com, which is one of the leading solutions for creating online scoreboards for sports like basketball, football, and wrestling. You can literally be up and running in under 30 seconds, no registration nor payment required.
How to create the scoreboard
Here are the steps you need to take:
- Create your scoreboard. Go to this page to create a sports scoreboard and click on "Start here".
- Congrats, you've now created a new scoreboard and are on the "control panel". You have the option to carry out some customizations, such as choosing team names and choosing custom colors.
- In the control panel, scroll down to the SETUP panel. Here you should change the layout to "Scoreboard layout". This will make your scoreboard fit onto a TV screen.
- Get the "display" link for your scoreboard by clicking on "GET SCOREBOARD LINK" (at the top).
- Depending on which option you chose above, open this "display" link in a new browser window.
- Double-click on it to open it in full-screen mode
- You're done 🍹
💡 Do you need a leaderboard?
Keepthescore.com also offers leaderboards which are also well-suited for being shown on a TV. Go to this page to create a leaderboard.
How much does the scoreboard cost?
The basic scoreboard is free, and you can start using it right away.
Some extra features, such as setting team logos, cost money. You can read more about that on our pricing page.