PalcoTV Community Guidelines

Version 1.0

Effective Date: March 10, 2026

Welcome to PalcoTV

PalcoTV is built for one thing: watching someone react to a game while you watch the game yourself. It is built by sports fans, for sports fans.

These guidelines exist to keep PalcoTV safe and enjoyable for everyone. They are written in plain language because we want you to actually read them. If you stream on PalcoTV or watch streams on PalcoTV, these rules apply to you.

Our Philosophy

Sports passion is welcome. Safety is non-negotiable.

We know what sports fandom looks like. People yell. People curse. People jump out of their chairs when a last-minute goal goes in. That is the energy that makes PalcoTV great, and we will never punish someone for being passionate about their team.

But there is a clear line between passion and harm. These guidelines draw that line.

What IS Allowed

You are free to:

React however you want to the game. Scream, shout, celebrate, cry, throw your hat -- it is your stream.
Use strong language. This is sports, not a library. Cursing is expected and not moderated.
Share your opinions. Criticize players, coaches, referees, teams, leagues, and anyone else involved in the game. Opinions and hot takes are protected on PalcoTV.
Show alcohol on stream. PalcoTV users are 17+. Having a beer while watching the game is fine.
Discuss sports betting. Talking about odds, bets, or predictions is allowed. Sports betting is legal in most of our target markets.
Play music. Background music during your stream is at your own risk regarding copyright, but PalcoTV does not proactively moderate background audio. If a rights holder files a DMCA takedown, we will follow our DMCA Policy.
Collaborate with other streamers. Mention, shout out, and interact with other PalcoTV streamers.
Promote your other social media accounts. Share your Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Kick, or Twitch links.

What is NOT Allowed

The following are prohibited on PalcoTV. Violations will result in enforcement actions as described in the Strike System section below.

Hate Speech and Discrimination

PalcoTV has zero tolerance for hate speech. This includes:

Racial slurs, ethnic slurs, or derogatory language targeting someone's race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Homophobic or transphobic slurs or language.
Sexist or misogynistic language directed at specific individuals.
Religious discrimination or derogatory language targeting someone's religion.
Dehumanizing language, symbols, or imagery directed at any protected group.

The line: Saying "that referee is terrible" is fine. Using a racial slur about a player is not. Criticizing a team's strategy is fine. Targeting a player with slurs based on their identity is not.

Harassment and Bullying

Targeted harassment of viewers, other streamers, or any individual.
Sustained personal attacks directed at specific people (not public figures in their public capacity).
Encouraging your viewers to harass someone ("go raid their chat and tell them...").
Doxxing: revealing someone's personal information (real name, address, phone number, workplace, school) without their consent. This is an immediate permanent ban.

The line: Arguing with a viewer in chat is fine. Repeatedly targeting a specific viewer with personal insults across multiple streams is not.

Nudity and Sexual Content

Full or partial nudity.
Sexually explicit or suggestive behavior.
Sexual solicitation or promotion of sexual services.

PalcoTV is a sports reaction platform. There is no reason for nudity or sexual content on stream.

Match Rebroadcasting

This is PalcoTV's most important rule.

You may NOT show the actual game feed on your stream. No screen sharing of the match. No pointing your camera at a TV showing the game. No picture-in-picture of the game within your stream.
PalcoTV is a REACTION platform. You show your face and your reaction. Viewers watch the game on their own app using PiP.
Broadcasting, rebroadcasting, or retransmitting copyrighted sports content through PalcoTV exposes both you and PalcoTV to serious legal liability from sports leagues and broadcasters.

What is OK: Showing your face reacting to the game. Referring to specific plays verbally ("Did you SEE that goal?!"). Showing a scoreboard or app notification on your phone briefly.

What is NOT OK: Pointing your camera at your TV so viewers can watch the game through your stream. Screen-sharing your streaming app. Displaying match footage in any form.

Violation of this rule will result in immediate stream termination and a minimum Tier 2 suspension (7 days) on first offense. Repeated match rebroadcasting will result in a permanent ban.

Broadcast Audio

Rule: While you are live on PalcoTV, your stream must not contain copyrighted broadcast audio.

This means you must use earphones or headphones while streaming, OR mute the device displaying the game before you go live. Pick one -- both work.

Why this matters: Even if viewers cannot see the game on your stream, broadcast audio (TV commentary, play-by-play, crowd audio from a broadcaster's feed) is copyrighted content owned by leagues and broadcasters. Capturing it through your microphone and transmitting it on your stream is unauthorized retransmission -- the same legal problem as pointing your camera at the TV. The fact that you are not "showing" the game is not a defense.

What IS OK:

Your own voice and your own reactions.
Music you have the rights to play (subject to the music policy above).
Natural ambient sound from where you are watching (crowd noise if you are at a stadium, for example).
Asking "Did you see that?!" -- you can reference plays verbally all you want.

What is NOT OK:

TV broadcast commentary bleeding through your speakers into your microphone.
Play-by-play or color commentary from a sports app playing audibly in your stream room.
Crowd audio from a broadcast feed captured by your mic (stadium atmosphere from a TV broadcast is still copyrighted content).
Open-back headphones or earbuds with significant audio bleed that allow broadcast audio to reach your microphone.

How to comply: Use in-ear monitors, closed-back headphones, or noise-isolating earbuds. Alternatively, mute your TV or device completely before going live. A second device displaying the game in a separate room (with audio off) is also acceptable.

Enforcement: First offense is a Tier 1 suspension (24-hour stream ban). Repeated violations escalate through the normal strike system and may reach Tier 2 (7-day suspension) or Tier 3 (permanent ban). Deliberate or egregious violations -- such as setting up a microphone directly next to a speaker broadcasting the game -- may be treated as match rebroadcasting and receive a minimum Tier 2 response.

Threats and Violence

Credible threats of violence against any individual.
Incitement of violence or encouraging others to commit violent acts.
Threats of self-harm. (If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.)

The line: "I'm going to kill this ref" in the heat of the moment during a game is understood as hyperbole. A specific, credible threat against a named individual is not.

Illegal Activity

Using, displaying, or promoting illegal drugs on stream.
Promoting or facilitating any illegal activity.
Streaming while operating a motor vehicle.

Child Safety

Any content that sexualizes, exploits, or endangers minors in any way. This is an immediate permanent ban and will be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement.
You must be 18 or older to stream on PalcoTV. If we discover that a streamer is under 18, their account will be immediately suspended and their identity verification will be reviewed.

Spam and Scams

Spam messages in chat (excessive repetition, meaningless characters, flooding).
Scam promotion (fake giveaways, phishing links, crypto scams, "send money to get money" schemes).
Impersonation of PalcoTV staff, moderators, or other streamers.
Using bots to artificially inflate viewer counts or chat activity.

Chat Rules

Chat is part of the stream experience. The same rules that apply to streamers apply to chat, plus:

No spam. Do not flood the chat with repetitive messages.
No targeted harassment. Do not direct personal attacks at the streamer or other viewers.
No doxxing. Do not share anyone's personal information in chat.
No scam links. Do not post phishing links, scam promotions, or malware.
Respect slow mode. If a streamer enables slow mode (a delay between messages), respect it.

Streamers have the ability to ban individual users from their chat. Platform moderators can issue platform-wide chat bans.

Gambling and Alcohol Policy

Discussing sports betting is allowed. Talking about odds, spreads, parlays, and predictions is a natural part of sports conversation.
Promoting specific gambling services for compensation (paid sponsorships from gambling companies) requires clear disclosure to viewers. This is an FTC requirement, not just a PalcoTV rule.
Alcohol visible on stream is allowed. PalcoTV users are 17+. Drinking responsibly while watching a game is not against the rules.
Excessive intoxication that results in harmful behavior (passing out on stream, incoherent broadcasting, vomiting) may be addressed on a case-by-case basis as it degrades stream quality and viewer experience.
Promoting illegal gambling is not allowed.

Copyright and Broadcasting Rights

You own your reaction content. Your face, your voice, your opinions -- that is yours.
You do NOT own the game. Sports matches, broadcasts, and highlight clips are owned by leagues, broadcasters, and rights holders. Do not rebroadcast them.
Music on stream: If you play copyrighted music during your stream, you do so at your own risk. If a rights holder files a DMCA takedown notice, we will follow the process described in our DMCA Policy.
Using other creators' content: Do not use another streamer's content (clips, images, etc.) without their permission.

Strike System

PalcoTV uses a progressive discipline system. Violations are addressed based on severity.

Tier 0: Warning

When it happens: Minor violations. Borderline content. First-time minor guideline breaches.
What happens: You receive an in-app notification and an email. Your stream is not interrupted.
How long it lasts: The warning stays on your record for 90 days, then expires.

Tier 1: 24-Hour Suspension

When it happens: Second violation within 90 days, OR a first moderate violation (targeted harassment, hate speech, NSFW content).
What happens: If you are live, your stream is terminated immediately. You cannot stream for 24 hours. You can still watch other streams.
How long it lasts: The 24-hour suspension ends automatically. The strike stays on your record for 180 days.

Tier 2: 7-Day Suspension

When it happens: Third violation within 180 days, OR a first severe violation (doxxing, threats, explicit content, match rebroadcasting).
What happens: If you are live, your stream is terminated immediately. You cannot stream for 7 days. You can still watch other streams. When you return, you must re-accept these Community Guidelines before streaming again.
How long it lasts: The 7-day suspension ends automatically. The strike stays on your record for 365 days.

Tier 3: Permanent Ban

When it happens: Fourth violation within 365 days, OR ANY instance of: illegal activity, child exploitation content, credible threats of violence, doxxing, or a campaign of systematic harassment.
What happens: Your stream is terminated immediately. Your account is permanently banned from both streaming and viewing. Any pending payouts for previously earned amounts will still be processed (we will not withhold money you have already earned).
How long it lasts: Permanent. You may file one appeal after 12 months (see below).

Automatic Permanent Bans

The following violations result in an immediate permanent ban regardless of prior history:

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) -- also reported to NCMEC and law enforcement
Credible, specific threats of violence against named individuals
Doxxing (revealing personal information with intent to harm)
Systematic harassment campaigns targeting individuals

How Strikes Are Counted

Tier 0 warnings expire after 90 days.
Tier 1 strikes expire after 180 days.
Tier 2 strikes expire after 365 days.
Tier 3 (permanent bans) do not expire.

Once a strike expires, it no longer counts toward escalation. Example: if you receive a Tier 0 warning and then have zero violations for 91 days, the warning expires and your next minor violation would be treated as a first offense again.

Appeal Process

If you believe a strike or suspension was issued in error, you can appeal.

How to appeal:

Email [email protected] with the subject line "Strike Appeal -- [Your Username]"
Include: your username, the date of the strike, and a clear explanation of why you believe the decision was incorrect.

What happens next:

We aim to review your appeal within 5 business days.
Your appeal will go through an independent review process.
Possible outcomes: strike upheld, strike reduced (e.g., Tier 2 reduced to Tier 1), or strike overturned (removed from your record).

Permanent ban appeals:

You may file one appeal 12 months after a permanent ban.
You must submit a written statement demonstrating that you understand the violation and will comply with these guidelines.
If approved, your account is reinstated with "last chance" status. Any subsequent violation results in an immediate permanent ban with no further appeal.

How to Report a Violation

If you see someone breaking these guidelines, please report it.

To report a live stream:

Tap the flag icon on the stream viewer screen.
Select a reason for the report from the list.
Optionally, add a brief description (up to 500 characters).
Tap "Submit Report."

To report via email:

Send an email to [email protected] with the streamer's username, a description of the violation, and the approximate time it occurred.

Reports are reviewed by the PalcoTV moderation team. You will not receive a notification about the outcome of your report (to protect the privacy of the reported user), but we take every report seriously.

False reports: Submitting reports in bad faith (mass false reporting, coordinated report campaigns against a streamer) is a violation of these guidelines and may result in action against the reporter.

Enforcement Transparency

PalcoTV is committed to fair and transparent enforcement.

Every moderation action (warning, suspension, ban) is logged with the specific violation, evidence, and the moderator who made the decision.
Every streamer who receives a strike is told exactly what they did and which guideline they violated.
The appeal process ensures that no single moderator has unchecked authority.
We strive to never issue a strike or ban without evidence of a specific violation.

Changes to These Guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines from time to time. When we do:

We will post the updated guidelines at https://palcotv.app/guidelines.
All active streamers will be required to re-accept the updated guidelines before their next stream.
We will provide at least 7 days' notice before new guidelines take effect.
The version number and effective date will be updated at the top of this document.

Questions?

If you have questions about these guidelines or are unsure whether something is allowed, reach out to us at [email protected]. We would rather answer a question before a stream than issue a strike after one.

These Community Guidelines were last updated on March 10, 2026.