Image of Phantom Cam via Fox Sports
The broadcast of professional sports, particularly basketball, has progressed immensely, as creative minds have developed more fan-friendly means of viewing the game.
Some of the recent storylines in the NBA–notably the Cleveland Cavaliers’ acquisition of LeBron James–have pushed the ascension of the TV product to another level. Fox Sports’ emergence as a dominant network permits the opportunity for the showcase of their latest technological developments. The network now hosts a plethora of different camera angles that really make viewers feel like they’re at the event, or at least consuming an equally valuable and engaging product.
Many of the discussions involving Fox Sports include Cavs’ Owner, Dan Gilbert– who throughout his career has developed the reputation of being one of the most tech-savvy owners in professional sports. Because of his extensive history of results and well-known expertise, Fox Sports has utilized Gilbert in their long-term approach to the presentation of their product.
“We’re giving them better coverage,” notes the Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of Fox Sports, Michael Connelly, to Sports Video Group.
“We met and sat down with [Cavaliers owner] Dan Gilbert and his staff and laid out how we can best broadcast Cavaliers basketball. It’s all about not missing a beat and giving the talent the best tools for breaking the game down.”
Since the commencement of the Fox Sports expansion, the most noticeable improvement has come in the form of camera angles. There are currently a wide range of advanced cameras, including high-speed cameras, new backboard slow-motion cameras, and a sparkling new graphics package. One of the more unique cameras with goals of future implementation–the LDX XtremeSpeed 6X system–will exist in nine of the Fox Sports regions.
The XtremeSpeed along with the Highspeed serve as the first handheld Xtreme motion cameras in the market.
The 6X system provides live, real-time coverage. As a result, viewers can experience more clarity in questionable calls as they transpire instead of waiting for the subsequent replays.
Perhaps the most intriguing of the cameras is one tabbed the Phantom Cam. This cam, prevalent in the recent World Series broadcasted by FOX, usually records between 400 and 1,000 frames per second, but can reach as high as 5,000 FPS. In fact, at the elevated levels of frames per second, the camera is so precise that one can view the dent the bat makes for the first miniscule fraction of a second that it comes in contact with the ball during a swing. This is just one example of many mind-boggling occurrences impossible for humans to see without advanced technological assistance. In addition to the World Series, Fox Sports also broadcasts certain NBA games, which allows basketball fans to receive coverage equally as engaging.
The new, more aesthetically pleasing cameras being implemented can only enhance the viewing experience for fans; and ensure there is never a dull moment of a game being broadcasted on the Fox Sports Network. However, these camera systems could also potentially serve as threat for ticket departments league-wide, when they conduct their SWOT analysis because as TV quality improves, individuals will be more inclined to view games from home.