The evolution of sports broadcasting
Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Laurie Frost
Advances like robotic cameras and solid-state recorders put viewers right at the sporting match.
Developments in HD
Many remote-controlled POV cameras were installed by Camera Corps for the China Olympic Games.
So that's where the technology stands. Where is it going next? An important recent development is the availability of highly robust recorders capturing 1080i/720p HD video and high-quality audio to solid-state memory devices such as Compact Flash. We recently implemented just such a system in the latest series of “Gladiators,” produced by Shine for the Sky 1 channel early this year at Shepperton Studios Stage C in England. The series achieved international success during the 1990s and early 2000s in Australia, Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and the United States. The show was revived in 2008 in Australia, Britain and the United States. Everyday athletes battle against the show's own gladiators (often semiprofessional or former athletes) to claim points in several events that require speed, strength and skill.
A new feature introduced in the latest “Gladiators” series, Rocket Ball, gives contestants the opportunity to play what amounts to basketball on steroids, launching themselves into the air on a motorized line attached to their harness. They then try to pitch the ball into baskets defended by other players. Solid-state video capture was ideal as it is far more resistant than videotape against the bumps, thumps and fast acceleration to which sports contestants subject themselves. Individual Rocket Ball games last 90 seconds and were captured to QuickTime video files, which were later forwarded to the program editors.
File-based capture to RAM or disc has one drawback compared with tape: The recorder has to terminate each sequence before it is safely in the bag. “Gladiators” is a tough environment both for the contestants and the equipment, and a few files disappeared down a digital black hole, probably due to momentary discontinuity in the power supply. The results overall were gratifying and prove the benefits of solid-state video capture. A miniature camera worn as part of a safety helmet fed each recorder.
The original “Gladiators” program concept is an example of the way in which television can directly influence the development of sport. The game's Rocket Ball element takes that a logical stage further by making great play of the vertical dimension instead of being restricted to an essentially horizontal field of play. The future of sports television looks to be influenced by the video medium itself. An example of this is the increasing use of infrared cameras in reality TV programs, which resemble sports because of their competitive element.
Another important factor influencing the future of television sport is the shift from SD to HD production and delivery, meaning the ability to deliver more detail onto a larger canvas. I started my career in the film industry and am delighted to see television getting seriously close to the real “big screen” experience. Increasing use of the Internet as a parallel medium to traditional terrestrial and satellite offers a mechanism through which broadcasters can offer sports viewers the option of selecting their choice of secondary or multiple camera view in addition to the main program feed. The extent to which they will do so remains to be seen.
The industry will see strong demand from program producers for reliable, compact, cost-efficient HD cameras that can be fielded at any location and any height without the usual restrictions of, “What if it gets wet?,” “Will it interrupt the view from other cameras?” and “Will it still work if it gets hit by the ball?”
Outside broadcasting in its early years often carried a high price tag, not least to cover the cost of technicians needed to align equipment before transmission and the sizeable crew required to operate the cameras. A practical solution to the latter task is the implementation of devices capable of operating, steering and switching between multiple remote camera heads from a single control unit. These no longer have to be brand-specific as cameras from multiple manufacturers can now be controlled and even color-matched on a switch-selectable basis. The drive for increased efficiency looks set to steer the development of sports television technology, spurred on by the growing number of sports-specific and club-specific channels appearing on the Internet.
Conclusion
In the future, sports broadcasting will strengthen along two distinct development paths: live and post-produced. Many sport followers look forward to tomorrow's match but are relatively uninterested in yesterday's. Baseball and football are classic examples. With motor racing and horse racing, this fixation on the current or upcoming contest is even more extreme as some viewers may be gambling on the outcome.
But imagine fitting all the players in a large team sport with their own HD POV cameras, worn on or in a safety helmet, plus a high-quality solid-state video recorder in a padded waist pouch. Provided the event itself permits time for offline post production, as many television-oriented rather than live-sports contests do, then the potential exists for exciting content to be assembled from individual close-ups. That could be a powerful tool in the armory of today's creative program designers and producers.
Laurie Frost is founder and managing director of Camera Corps.
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