Half Life 2: TV allows for the broadcasting of matches on the Source engine. This technology allows spectators to see a "bird's eye view" of the playing field (or map) and to watch the competition develop. The technology is freely available to the public, but often gamers will purchase an Half Life 2: TV server for their team from a game server company to provide the bandwidth to support tens or hundreds of spectators.

Half Life 2: TV also has the ability to record (or more appropriately, create demos or replays of) matches in online amateur leagues and of scrimmages between competing teams. Team members or other people with an interest can then replay the demo to evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies and to improve their teamwork.