Drones to Invade Sports Broadcasts Soon?

The drones are coming. Maybe. Someday. I hope. Fox Sports tested flying cameras in a high-flying sport over the weekend as it used drones to capture video during the AMA Supercross Series broadcast at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. According to USA Today, Fox will utilize drones in upcoming golf coverage, as well.

“If we can track a motorbike doing 30-40 mph, we can track anything in sport,” Brad Cheney, director of technical operations at Fox Sports, told USA Today. “We can certainly track a wide receiver only doing 19 mph.”

HeliVideo, a company based in Austin, Texas approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, developed the eight-propeller drones used during the test run. Each unit costs $25,000. While ESPN used drones in limited action during the X Games, it’s believed this is the first use indoors. Monster Energy, the named sponsor of the motocross event, published the below video on YouTube Saturday as licensed pilots flew three drones during a simulated race.

While this is a positive step towards the use of drones in telecasts of the big three sports, the USA Today reported “it took layers of approval from lawyers and risk management types” to pull off this coverage, so imagine the bureaucratic headaches involved with securing permission from say, the National Football League.

Leagues aim to protect themselves from injuries to players, or even worse, fans. But come on, corporate suits. These are *licensed* pilots. How could you not trust one?

Awful Announcing reasonably estimates, based on the USA Today report, that live play telecasts will include drones within the next three years. But why do we have to wait that long? The technology is here today. Take a year, test the use of these drones on practice fields, Little League games or studio back lots during staff pick-up games. How about bringing some publicity to attention-starved sports like AVP Beach Volleyball or Major League Kickball ? I’m pretty sure Bradley Woodrum’s softball team will sign any and all releases put in front of them for a 24-pack and a new team bat.

Drones would make the wire-supported camera, limited in its use and documented to be dangerous, obsolete. A Fox Sports cable camera broke and injured ten fans in the stands during in 2013 during a Spring Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway and damaged several cars, some severely, that were traveling at 195 mph.

It’s an obvious next step in sports broadcasting, and it’s frustrating that the tech, which is ready now, has developed faster than the heads of broadcast companies and the hand-cuffing legalese that bind the hands of network story tellers.