Setting Up an OBS Stream Overlay for Taekwondo Live Scores

If you are streaming a taekwondo event, the difference between a hobby stream and a 'wow, that looks pro' stream is the overlay. Here is how to wire OBS Studio to a live competition manager so scores update on the broadcast in real time, with no manual typing.

What an overlay actually is

An overlay is a transparent web page positioned on top of your camera feed in OBS. It shows the fighters' names, scores, round, and time. Because it is a web page, the scores can be driven by any web app — including a competition manager that updates the scores live.

The magic word here is browser source. OBS lets you add any URL as a layer in a scene. Point that browser source at your competition manager's overlay URL and you have a live score on your stream.

The TKD Manager overlay URL

If you are using TKD Competition Manager (Standard plan and above), every ring has a dedicated overlay URL — typically /ring/N/overlay. It is a transparent HTML page that shows fighter names, current score, round number and timer. Drop that URL into OBS as a browser source and you are streaming.

For other tools, check whether they expose an overlay URL. Many do not, in which case you are stuck typing scores manually into a Stream Deck — which is not a stream, it is a part-time job.

Step-by-step OBS scene setup

1. Create a scene called 'Ring 1 — Live'
2. Add your camera as a Video Capture Device source. Position it to fill the screen.
3. Add a Browser Source. URL = your ring overlay URL. Width 1920, height 1080. Enable 'Refresh browser when scene becomes active'.
4. Position the overlay. The overlay should already be transparent — drag it where you want the scoreboard to sit (usually bottom-centre).
5. Repeat per ring. One scene per ring. Use OBS scene switching to cut between them.

Multi-ring streaming — the realistic setup

If you have multiple rings, you have two choices: one stream per ring (multiple OBS instances, multiple YouTube streams) or one stream that switches between rings (single OBS, one YouTube stream, scenes per ring).

For most clubs, the second option is dramatically easier. Use a USB number pad as a hotkey switcher — pad 1 = Ring 1 scene, pad 2 = Ring 2, etc. One person can drive a 4-ring stream from a single laptop.

Common OBS overlay mistakes

• Browser source not transparent. Make sure the overlay HTML uses background:transparent. If you see a white box, check this first.
• Wrong dimensions. If your overlay was designed for 1920×1080 and your scene is 1280×720, the overlay will be cut off. Always match.
• Frame drops on browser source. Disable hardware acceleration in the browser source settings if frames drop.
• Audio routing. Don't forget to route the venue mic / commentary into OBS — silent streams kill engagement.

Where to go next

For the full streaming workflow including cameras, audio and going live on YouTube / Twitch, see our companion guide: How to livestream your martial arts competition with OBS Studio.